Marketing Interview Preparation
Preparing for a marketing interview will take research on the company, the products it offers and how it divides its work. Prepare for each interview as you would for an exam, by taking notes, understanding key concepts about the company and also writing down questions that you'd like to ask during the interview. The more research and preparation you do before the interview, the more engaged you will be during the interview.
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Research the Company
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Researching the company is a big step in marketing interview preparation. Be sure to know key information such as how large the company is, how its labor is divided and where the open position lands within the work layout. Many companies have both a marketing department and a public relations department, however some do not. If your company only has a marketing department, will you be responsible for some of the public relation aspects of company? By knowing the division of labor and how the company operates, you'll be able to ask well-informed questions about your position.
Research the Product
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Knowing the product you'll be marketing is a large part of being prepared for an interview. You must have the ability to have a well-informed conversation about the product or products that you'll be working with if you are employed by the company. Be sure to know the range at which products sell for, different marketing and advertising programs that the company has used for products in the past and any information that is available about the development or new marketing schemes going on in the future. Knowing these key points will help you to connect with the interviewer in an engaging conversation versus the interviewer being required to tell you about the product before you can answer any questions regarding marketing it.
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Prepare Your Portfolio to Match the Company's Needs
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Having a portfolio with your resume, work samples and a list of references will be key. You always want to leave your interviewer with a physical reminder of you, and having a well put-together portfolio is the perfect way to do so. Be sure to tailor your portfolio to the company you are interviewing with as best you can. For example, if your going into a marketing interview with a pharmaceutical company for the position of a marketing representative and have past experience in working with drug marketing, be sure to use different client's work that you have done in your portfolio. This will show that you have experience working with this specific product, which means that you'll require less training time before you can hit the ground running.
Prepare a Sales Pitch for One of the Company's Products
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Sometimes a company will want to see what you have when put on the spot. The interviewer may ask you to create a quick marketing pitch or campaign for any product, including the pencil you're using to write with at the interview. To prepare for an event like this, create a campaign or pitch that is generic. This way you can tailor it on the spot to any product the interviewer may choose if he asks you this question. By having a 30 to 45 second "elevator speech" that can be tailored to any product, you'll be well ahead of your competition.
Be Sure to Develop Answers to Tough Questions Ahead of Time
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During an interview, you may be asked tough questions that can make you feel uncomfortable. Questions such as what is your biggest weakness, name a time that you failed at a job related task or name a time that you didn't meet a deadline can all be difficult questions to answer. The best way to answer these questions is with honesty; however, to really answer these questions well, be sure to provide what you are doing to make sure you don't make the same mistake twice. For example, if you are asked name a time that you failed at a job related task, you can respond with "I once failed at preparing a client's campaign on time because I micro-managed the project, thinking that I knew what was best for it. However, I learned from this experience that it really is better to spread the work out among the team because not only does it result in more productivity, but sometimes the ideas that are developed among many people versus just one can create something really incredible." By always putting a positive spin on your answers, you'll be able to show that you are willing to grow and learn in your career.
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References
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