Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Describe a time when you felt it was necessary to significantly modify or change a marketing plan because of an unforeseen problem.

Why was change needed?
What was changed?
What was the result?

Clarity of thought process.
Good results.

Tell me about a time when you felt especially innovative in solving a marketing problem.

Why was this innovative?
What was the result?

How innovative was this?
Good results?

Explain an especially difficult marketing problem you have had to resolve and how you handled it.

Why was the problem difficult?
What was the result?

How creative was the approach? Good results?

Describe a time when you had to convince others that your proposed solution to a marketing problem was the best one?

Who did you have to convince?
What was the result?
What would you do differently in a similar future situation?

Proper tact and diplomacy.
Flexibility regarding future situations.

Tell me about a time when you felt that it was necessary to abolish a current marketing plan.

Why was change needed?
What was the result?

Ability to recognize when something isn’t working and take the proper action.

Considering your current (or last) job, to whom do you turn for assistance in resolving work problems?

Do you sometimes turn to others as well?

Ability to get the right information to get the job done quickly.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Please describe the most significant marketing presentation you have ever made.

Why was it significant and what was the result?
Is there anything you would do differently if faced with the same challenges in the future?

How significant was this?
Success in results.
Flexibility for future situations.

Describe the last time you had to make a presentation to attendees at an industry conference and how you tailored the presentation to meet the needs of that group.

What adaptations did you make for this group in particular?
What was the result?

Ability to recognize when adaptation is necessary and take proper action.
Good results.

Tell me about a time when you had to communicate with another person even when that individual disliked you or wasn’t interested in communicating.

Why was this person difficult to deal with?
What considerations went into determining your final approach?
What was the result?

Good insight in dealing with difficult situations.

Proper results.

Tell me about the last time that you had to communicate negative information to a supervisor?

Why was the information negative?
What was the reaction?

Proper tack and diplomacy.
Proper grasp of anticipated reactions of the other person.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Give me some examples of firm brochures you have developed?

Were these independently developed or did you have assistance?
Can you provide samples if needed?

Degree of independence.
Quality of work.

Give me some examples of direct mail promotions you have developed?

Were these independently developed or did you have assistance?
Can you provide samples if needed?
How large was the mailing list?
How did you go about targeting the recipients?

Degree of independence.
Effective selection of target audience.
Quality of work.

Tell me about your most successful direct mail promotion.

Why do you think this one was especially successful?
How large was the mailing list?

Degree of success.
Significance of size.

Tell me about your least successful direct mail promotion.

Why do you think this one was especially unsuccessful?
How large was the mailing list?
How would you avoid a similar situation in the future?

Ability to recognize and face failure.

Describe your philosophy and experience in general advertising.

Where is it good (not good) to do general advertising?

Solid grasp of where to best spend general advertising dollars.

Describe your experience in writing and issuing press releases.

What steps do you take to assure that a press release is accepted and distributed?
Can you provide samples of your press releases?

Good savvy regarding how to get press recognition.

Tell me about any magazine articles you have written and gotten published.

Can you provide samples?
What did you do to enhance the odds of making it to publication?

Good savvy regarding how to get magazine articles published.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Describe a time when you were the receiver of a complaint from another department within your company concerning the services of your department.

What was the resolution?

Ability to resolve internal squabbles.

Tell me about a time when you experienced a significant change in your work environment.

What were your feelings and what did you do to adapt?

Ability to adapt to change.

Describe a time when you were involved in an ineffective teamwork situation.

What actions did you take to improve the situation?
What was the result?

Ability to recognize ineffective teamwork and willingness to take proper action to get on track.

Tell me about a time when you took the lead in a teamwork situation even though there was no official leader.

Were you immediately accepted in this role or was there some resistance from other teammates?

Proper tact and diplomacy with drive to get the job done.

Tell me how you react to criticism? Tell me about the last time that you received criticism.

Did you think the criticism was warranted?

Recognition of the value of appropriate criticism and proper acceptance of it.

Tell me about a time when you had a problem getting along with a coworker?

What was the result?

Ability to remain cool headed and take proper steps for resolution of conflict.

Tell me about a time when you had a problem getting along with a supervisor?

What was the result?

Ability to remain cool headed and take proper steps for resolution of conflict.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Describe how your previous experience has prepared you for this position?

Firm grasp of his/her own abilities and how they relate to the position.

Describe a time when you had to take a marketing idea and run with it.

What problems did you have to resolve?
What was the final result?

Ability to start with only a concept and turn it into a program.

Tell me about the most creative marketing plan you have implemented.

What was the result?
Would you do anything differently if you had it to do again?

Signs of creativity and innovative marketing approaches.

Which of your previous jobs did you enjoy most?

Why did you enjoy this one?

Good reasoning.

What kinds of references would you expect from previous employers?

Probe for specifics.
Do we have your permission to verify your references if necessary?

Honesty.

Which of your previous jobs did you enjoy least?

Why?
Probe for specifics.

Good reasoning and no undo badmouthing of previous employers.

Explain any reprimands or discipline you received on previous jobs.

Did you think the reprimand was warranted?

Investigate any severe reprimands.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Describe the various ways you make use of computers in the development of marketing plans.

Probe for specifics.

Firm grasp of how to use computers effectively.

Tell me about your experience in tracking and analysis regarding project information.

What software did you use for this?
What types of data was included in the final analysis?

Sufficient knowledge and proper use of software.

Describe your fluency with the use of Microsoft Access and ACT software.

How have you made use of these?

Proper grasp of how to utilize software.

Tell me about any databases you have designed/maintained?

Using what software?

Proper grasp of data base design.

Describe your experience in designing data base queries and reports.

Probe for specifics.

Proper grasp of data base queries and reports.

Tell me about your successes and failures in telemarketing.

How did you determine target audiences?

Proper grasp of telemarketing and its pitfalls.

Please describe the most complicated project you have done that made use of graphics and photography.

Probe for specifics.

Adequate experience in combining resources into a final outcome.

What job related seminars have you attended in the last several years?

Efforts to keep abreast of the latest technologies and practices.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Tell me about a time when you had to identify who the client’s key decision makers were.

What went into your analysis?

Describe one of the most difficult work decisions you have had to make and describe how you went about deciding it.

What was the result?

Proper approach to difficult decisions.

How thoroughly do you gather & analyze facts before making a decision?

Ask for supporting examples from past employment

Proper balance of thoroughness and ability to get the job done in a timely fashion.

Tell me how you feel about making a decision that could be wrong?

Everyone makes mistakes. What was your last “wrong” decision and what did you do about it?

Understanding of risk management in decision-making.

Tell about a time when you made a decision prematurely..... before the necessary information was attained and analyzed.

Get the specifics.

Ability to recognize errors in judgment and admit to them.

Describe a time when you had to make a decision when relevant information was limited or incomplete.

Get the specifics.

Ability to move ahead after considering proper risk.

Interview Question

Probing Questions (if needed)

What you’re looking for

Describe any personal improvements have you made in the last few years?

Why did you feel this was needed?

Interest in continual self- development.

What is your most important personal asset?

Which of your personal assets would you most like to improve?

Ability to make self-assessments.

Our dress code for employees includes the following:

Are there problems you might have adhering to this policy.

Resolve any problems.

Our smoking policy is:

Are there problems you might have adhering to this policy.

Resolve any problems.