We asked W. P. Carey Alumni: What are your tips on how to best prepare for marketing role interviews?
Here is what they shared:
- Develop a Marketing Strategy for You
- Know the Company and Show What You Can Do
- Brand Yourself
- Make Sure You Leave a Lasting Impression
- If You Have Experience, Lead With It
- Ask the Right Questions to Better Understand the Role and Organization
Develop a Marketing Strategy for You
Job interviews are inherently a marketing exercise, no matter the role, so it’s really critical for candidates for marketing roles to get this right. Think of yourself as the product and the hiring company as the customer.
What is your true value proposition? What are the differentiators your competitors can’t copy? What are the problems your “customer” is trying to solve by hiring you, and what are their next-best alternatives? Use those answers to develop a focused message that makes the hiring team view you in a class by yourself.
Jennifer McAlpine, MBA Information Management ‘19, Product Marketing Manager, Benchmark
Know the Company and Show What You Can Do
As the head of growth and marketing at BriteCo, I would suggest that the best way to prepare for a marketing interview is to do your research on the company and its target audience. Start by researching the company’s mission, values, and goals. Look for any recent news or updates that might impact the company’s marketing strategies.
Next, try to understand the company’s target audience. Who are they trying to reach with their products or services? Then, in the interview, make sure to clearly express this research in your answers. By knowing the company, you will be far ahead of many less-prepared interviewees.
Pose potential marketing ideas that are relevant and well-thought-out for the company. It honestly doesn’t matter if the interviewer thinks they are a fit for the company. What it shows is that you already can think strategically and are a self-starter. Showing these characteristics is worth 100 times what simply saying them is.
Dustin Sitar, MBA Finance ‘19, Head of Growth and Marketing, BriteCo Inc
Brand Yourself
Working in marketing requires you to wear many hats. From research to creative direction to sales initiatives, you will have the opportunity to work with numerous different companies and brands during your career. It is crucial, however, to never forget your brand.
So, my favorite tip to best prepare for marketing roles is to get those creative juices flowing and create a personal brand for yourself. Be yourself, but stand out. Spice up your resume by adding some color, creating a personal logo for yourself, or starting your own blog.
This allows you to show your creative side along with your sales abilities, two admirable qualities of a successful marketer. These are just a couple of my favorite personal branding touches, but if you choose to show off your brand, it is up to you! Don’t forget: how you present yourself, from the clothes you wear to your body language, also serves as your brand!
Carly Rothbort, MBA Marketing and Leadership Areas of Emphasis ‘22, Director of Marketing and Business Development, LakeView Asset Management, LLC
Make Sure You Leave a Lasting Impression
The first three minutes of an interview and first impressions are important. The interviewers can quickly assess whether they can imagine themselves working with the interviewee and how the person will fit into the company culture.
Think about what “lasting” impression you want to leave behind once the interview is finished and people have to make a candidate decision.
An interview is dense, with many questions and many angles explored. Don’t expect interviewers to remember 100% of everything you said.
When you tell your story, focus on what you can say that will echo and have a vibrant impact. What anecdote will help you stand out from the crowd and “stick?” What is the one element you want the interviewer to remember you for?
There are many great candidates out there. Your amazing accomplishments and qualities are worth something if the interviewers remember them once you have left the room.
The way you tell your story is as important as the story itself.
Sebastien Willefert, BS Marketing ‘03, Head of Sales, Ampler Bikes
If You Have Experience, Lead With It
If you have experience, lead with it. As a soon-to-be graduate, you’ll be tempted to feature your fresh degree and GPA. (And why wouldn’t you? You paid a lot of money for it.)
If the role requires around three or fewer years of experience and you’ve held any position anywhere, explain how those roles relate to the one you’re applying for. Extra credit if you weave in the language used in the job description.
Clea Nabozny, BS Marketing ‘08, Senior Account Manager, Helix House Advertising Agency
Ask the Right Questions to Better Understand the Role and Organization
The questions you ask during an interview are an indicator of your interest, preparation, and approach to your work. Besides the clarifying questions you may have about the role specifically, I would also try to ask about other departments that may partner with the role to better understand the DNA of the organization.
For example, the synergy between marketing and IT is imperative to success in many marketing roles, so understanding the relationship in the firm you’re interviewing with can be helpful. You can also get insight into what success could look like for the role by asking questions like, “If I were to speak with someone who just recently held this role, what would he/she say about it and the skills gained in the position?”
Finally, print out your questions and pull out the sheet of paper when it’s your turn to ask questions. This shows your thoughtfulness and how seriously you’re taking the opportunity to come in and meet with the team.
Douglas Kwong, BS Marketing ‘05, Vice President, Marketing, Urban Air Adventure Park
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