Getting a new job is exciting but a bit scary. Even the most experienced candidates tend to have certain doubts when it comes to having a job interview. However, the digital marketing industry has grown a lot recently, and it’s no wonder why so many people want to change their careers. And there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do that, too. Even if you have experience with this niche, it can be beneficial to prepare for this kind of interview and get the wanted position. In this article, we’ll help you get ready. Here are the main things you should know to crack a digital marketing interview and stand out from the competition.
Prepare your CV
CV is the first step of getting a job. The most common mistake is applying for different positions with the same CV. To be chosen as the most suitable candidate, your CV needs to tell the company the reasons for it. That’s why you should look at the information in your CV and adapt it for the digital marketing industry. If there are any skills or experiences related to this field, make sure they stand out. You must describe your skills precisely and be informative and concise at the same time. CVs should contain all the critical information, yet they shouldn’t be overly lengthy and unclear. The main thing is that information in the CV is coherent and related to the job the company offers.
Learn more about the company
This step is essential when applying for any job. Apart from covering the basic interview questions, be sure to research the company and know what they do. Digital marketing is a vast field, and companies provide different services. They can be related to SEO, web design, social media, digital ads. There are also full-service digital marketing agencies that offer a wide range of services. Either way, learn more about their business, what they are trying to achieve, and most importantly – how your skills and experience will contribute. This will show you’re interested and that you respect what they do.
Learn more about the niche
If you don’t have much experience in the field, make sure you research all the relevant topics. It will show you want to learn more and develop your career in this direction. Here are some main topics to cover:
- inbound vs. outbound marketing – these are two very different techniques. Inbound marketing deals with social media, webinars, e-books, etc., while outbound marketing uses calls, ads, and emails to reach customers.
- SEO – optimizing online content is one of the digital marketing basics. It is used to adapt websites, blog posts, and other aspects of the digital world to be easily accessible by customers and discoverable by search engines.
- SEM – this technique is used to improve the SERP score. It tries to enhance the visibility of a website on search engine results pages.
- Linkbuilding – if you know how to build backlinks and avoid link penalties, many digital marketing companies will be more than happy to accept your application. Link-building is a crucial part of digital marketing and if you know how to handle potential link-building problems, you will be an excellent candidate. But, if you don’t have much experience in this field, make sure you do the research and show interest in this topic.
- Social media marketing/mobile marketing/email marketing – there are different ways to communicate with old customers and reach new ones, be sure to know more about them.
Be confident and clear
The way you speak to the company representatives is a massive factor in getting the job. It is essential to be positive but not overly cheerful and silly. Also, make sure you speak about your experiences and skills by using clear language, precise situations, and giving concrete answers. Rambling about a particular topic and giving no specific information is just a waste of time and patience. Make sure you point out why you can be helpful for the job and what skills make you perfect for the position. Everything you say should have a purpose and show that you know well what you’re doing.
Have your own digital brand
As you’re applying for a job in the digital marketing industry, you must be present in the online world as well. Nowadays, everything we need is online, so you need to invest some effort in your online presence. Make sure you update your LinkedIn profile, as well as other prominent social media networks. They will illustrate your interests and show that you can be trusted in terms of digital marketing knowledge.
Avoid buzzwords
Jargon is not a wrong word, yet you should use a minimum of buzzwords if you want to crack a digital marketing interview. Using them can make the interviewer perceive you as less serious about the job, and you can lose their interest. Be quite formal and give answers that are clear and easy to understand.
Be honest
It’s absolutely fine not to know everything about a particular topic. If you want to change your career direction and start doing something else, go for it. Just be honest with the interviewers and tell them what your interests are. Also, try to find a correlation between your current skills and the ones you want to develop.
Pick the right company
If you’re switching your career direction, make sure you do the research and pick a company that will suit you the best. If you’re into backlinks, choose a company that can help you develop your knowledge. For example, if you are interested in link-building strategies, applying for a job in a company such as Link Department is a sound decision. Digital Marketing is a huge field, with so many options, so be sure to pick the one that suits your interests and skills.
Find a balance
In order to crack a digital marketing interview, you need to find a balance between uninformed and too informed, negative and too cheerful, quiet and overly chatty, underdressed and overdressed. Just do your best to be yourself, and show your skills in the best light.