What should you talk about when you interview for a marketing position? First off, keep in mind that this person will be spending potentially 40 hours or more with everyone at your business. How will this person influence the workspace? You want to hire someone who will mesh well with your team and contribute to a positive atmosphere.
You must tailor your questions in a way that shows if the candidate is listening and interested. Think about your company values and determine if they will fit within those guidelines.
Start with these basic questions to figure out if the candidate has potential with your company.
Basic Questions to Ask the Marketing Candidate During An Interview
- Why do you want to work here?
- An applicant who is passionate about the company will often be an employee that is committed.
- A passionate new hire who is driven to succeed can prove to be more valuable than someone who may have had more skills or qualifications and no passion.
- Simon Sinek, a leadership guru says, “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.”
- What do they need to succeed?
- Hiring is a two-way street and if your new hire is happy, that will likely influence their performance positively. Know what their needs are and if you can meet those expectations. Having this information before hiring someone for a marketing position sets everyone up for success.
- How do they handle stressful situations and deadlines?
Do they want to grow within your company and what are their long term goals?
Discuss Your Company Culture in a Marketing Position Interview
Building a successful marketing team starts with a deep understanding of your company culture. Brent Gleeson, the author of Taking Point and a leadership expert says, “I’d argue that culture fit is the most important aspect of retaining great employees above anything else.” Get a solid grasp on how your company culture operates and know it is working well before interviewing.
See if They Are A Cultural Fit
- Do you feel comfortable asking your management questions?
- If they are entry-level marketers, they will definitely have questions and need to feel comfortable asking them.
- How did you get along with your previous co-workers and management?
- If they have nothing nice to say about their previous work environment, they might have been the issue.
- Are you comfortable with the specific workplace requirements you have set in place?
- Talk about your company’s specific hours, dress code, expectations, etc.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to marketing strategy?
- Make sure their strengths lie in the shortfalls of your current team.
- What was your most successful marketing strategy?
- They should be able to back up these claims with concrete evidence. If they brought the evidence with them to the interview, even better!
- What excites you about working with our team specifically?
- If a candidate has a passion for your company, that will drive their efforts to market well for you.
What should the marketing candidate ask you?
If a candidate comes pre-loaded with questions for you, they have done their research. A marketing applicant with questions is a good sign that they are passionate about the company and the position. Here are a few examples of what marketing applicants might ask during the interview.
- How does your company measure success for this position?
- Where does your company’s strength lie in your marketing team and where are you the weakest?
- What was the ROI of the person I am replacing?
Get To Know Your Applicant’s Personality
Try to get to know your marketing applicant on a personal and professional level during the interview. Keep in mind, you are hiring a whole person and think about how they will fit into your current workplace vibes.
Discuss These Personality Elements In The Marketing Interview
- The applicant’s life story
- The candidate will most likely be caught off guard so this is a good place to see how they create on the spot.
- Discussing the applicant’s life story can reveal desirable qualities that their resume couldn’t. Maybe they do stand-up comedy for fun.
- What is your proudest life moment, professional or personal?
- What they are most proud of will show you what they value most. Evaluate if their values fit with your company’s.
- What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
- Hobbies might reveal skills you may find useful around the workplace and will give you an inside scoop as to what they are like outside of work.
- If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?
- This question can reveal what motivates and inspires them.
The more you can learn about your applicants during the interview process, the better your chances are of hiring the right person. Many businesses consider hiring a marketing recruiting company to help with this process.
For more great Business advice, check out the other blogs on Career Geek.
