Plenty of candidates can “talk the talk”—dropping buzzwords and impressive metrics as they move through the interview process.
Very few can back up their experiences with an in-depth understanding of successful, modern demand gen.
I just hired a Demand Generation Manager for our team, and let me tell you, I had to sift through a lot of BS before I found the great demand generation expert who eventually joined our team.
Getting hired at a trailblazing company like Next Generation Marketing is no easy feat. With their reputation for innovation and delivering results through cutting-edge marketing strategies the competition for jobs is fierce. This means you need to bring your A-game to the interview if you want to land the coveted spot.
The key lies in understanding what they look for in candidates and being ready to showcase those attributes when the tough questions start flying. To help you get prepared, I’ve compiled the 20 most common Next Generation Marketing interview questions along with tips on how to craft winning answers
Overview of Next Generation Marketing’s Hiring Process
While each interview varies based on the role, certain patterns have emerged in how Next Generation Marketing vets and evaluates candidates. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:
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Initial phone screen – A recruiter will have a short screening call to discuss your resume and experience. This is a chance to briefly highlight your relevant skills.
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One to two in-person interviews – For most roles, there will be one or two face-to-face interviews, usually starting with the hiring manager. Some candidates may also speak with a panel of interviewers.
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Interview questions get more in-depth – The initial interview tends to cover broader questions about your background. Subsequent interviews will get more granular with role-specific questions that test your competencies.
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Personality and skills assessments – Some applicants are asked to complete tests or assessments after interviews. This helps assess culture fit and skills like analytical thinking.
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Interview process is quick – From initial screening to final decision, the interview timeline is fairly fast-paced. They aim to complete the process within a week or two.
With an overview of what to expect, let’s get into the 20 most pressed interview questions and how to ace your answers.
Top 20 Next Generation Marketing Interview Questions and Answers
1. How do you stay on top of the latest trends and technologies in marketing?
With the marketing landscape constantly evolving, staying on the cutting edge is crucial. In your answer, speak about:
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Proactive learning – Outline how you stay abreast of trends through things like reading industry publications, attending webinars and events, and monitoring thought leaders.
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Practical application – Share examples of how you’ve successfully applied emerging tools or strategies, quantifying the results and impact when possible.
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Innovative mindset – Emphasize that you’re excited by change versus intimidated by it. Show yourself to be an early adopter when it comes to new marketing tactics.
Example answer: “I make a point to immerse myself in the latest trends and technologies by reading marketing blogs daily, subscribing to newsletters like Adweek, and listening to podcasts from leaders like Neil Patel. This allows me to be an early adopter when new tools and strategies emerge. For example, when I first learned about conversational marketing through various channels, I implemented a chatbot for one of our key clients. This led to a 15% increase in lead generation from the website, along with very positive feedback from customers. I’m always seeking ways to evolve our marketing through innovation.”
2. Tell me about a successful marketing campaign you led from concept to execution.
Use a compelling case study here that positions you as a strategic thinker and innovative doer. Be sure to discuss:
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The campaign objectives – What business or marketing goals did it aim to achieve? How did the concept align with these objectives?
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Key strategies and tactics – Summarize the high-level strategies you used and some key tactics that made the campaign unique or innovative.
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Collaboration involved – Highlight any stakeholders, cross-functional teams, or agencies you collaborated with.
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Final results – Share metrics and data that demonstrate the campaign’s success and your contributions.
Example answer: “As Marketing Manager for ACME Tools, I led a highly successful integrated campaign to promote our new cordless power drill. The objectives were to increase product trial and purchases from our target buyer personas. My team and I developed the ‘Power Up’ concept, which showcased the drill’s efficiency, mobility, and ease of use. Key tactics included producing viral social videos, leveraging influencer seeding, and creating a user-generated content campaign where consumers submitted stories and photos of projects powered by our drill. This campaign drove a 300% increase in drill sales over the previous model’s launch. It also won an industry award for innovative marketing, which was a great validation of the strategy’s success.”
3. How would you convince a potential client to hire Next Generation Marketing over another agency?
This tests your ability to persuasively communicate the company’s value proposition. In your response, focus on:
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Speaking with credibility – Demonstrate your command of their capabilities, results they’ve achieved, and what differentiates them.
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Addressing client needs – Customize your pitch to the prospect’s specific challenges, goals, and industry.
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Evoking emotion – Stir feelings by painting a compelling before and after picture centered on their success.
Example answer: “I would convince potential clients to choose Next Generation by emphasizing your unrivaled expertise in leveraging cutting-edge strategies to drive measurable results. Specifically, I would showcase how your data-driven, highly-targeted digital campaigns help brands dominate in competitive markets through greater personalization, innovation, and consumer insights. I’d reference clients you’ve helped grow market share by double digits, reduce customer acquisition costs by 30%, and exceed revenue goals quarter over quarter. Your proven success in helping brands thrive would provide the assurance prospects need that you are the top choice to maximize their marketing ROI and propel their business growth.”
4. Describe a time you had to balance speed with quality in your work. How did you handle this?
This tests your judgment, prioritization ability, and time management skills. In your response, cover:
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The situation – Provide context around the competing priorities and tight deadline.
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Steps you took – Explain how you prioritized effectively, set micro-deadlines, obtained help if needed, etc.
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Outcome – Share how your strategies ensured speed and quality were met, despite the challenges.
Example answer: “When our team was tasked with creating a new webinar in just 48 hours to respond to a competitor’s product launch, I knew we had to move fast but not sacrifice quality. To achieve both speed and quality, I had my team focus only on the critical 20% that would drive results – great content, crisp visuals, flawless presenter coaching, and thorough testing. I also got extra help by involving a colleague from our product marketing team as a backup presenter, freeing up my time for guiding creative. With this focused approach we were able to rapidly produce an engaging, highly polished webinar that became our highest-rated to date.”
5. Tell me about a time you successfully persuaded an internal or external stakeholder to support one of your ideas. How did you influence them?
Use this question to discuss your persuasion skills, strategic thinking, and professional influence. Key
What are your thoughts on marketing attribution?
Marketing attribution is a sticky subject. Some marketing folks think demand gen should be able to (or try to) attribute everything. I am not one of those people.
I think it’s a red flag if the candidate says that attribution is important for justifying marketing spend or making the most of their demand generation efforts but doesn’t go on to explain why.
A great candidate, in my mind, will take a more thoughtful approach to attribution. “Look,” they might say, “You can’t always attribute good opportunities. That’s OK. ”.
The very least I want them to do is admit that what drives the purchase decision is often not something we can measure as marketers. It could be word of mouth, it could be social proof, it could be good branding.
The best answer is: “Attribution is a sign, but it’s not the whole story because we know that not all experiences that lead to a sale can be measured.” ”.
A follow-up question about their thoughts on branding, influencers, or social media may be asked if we’re still not clear. Sometimes it really gets the discussion going.
Do all B2B companies need to run an ABM program?
This one’s a little more straightforward: I’m looking for an emphatic (if not vehement) no. Beyond that, a great answer will start with “Not really. It depends on…”.
Because, if we’re being honest, whether or not ABM works depends on a lot. It depends on your ICP. It depends on your marketing budget. It depends on how well sales and marketing are already aligned. It depends on your ACV.
Instead, if a candidate starts by saying “Yes! ABM programs are great for…” you may have run into that LinkedIn echo chamber I talked about earlier.
Yes, they should know how to run an ABM campaign. But they should also know when it’s smart not to.
Digital Marketing Interview Questions To Ace Your Next Job Interview
FAQ
What questions are asked in a demand generation marketing specialist interview?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
How do you prepare for a digital marketing interview?
If this is your first digital marketing interview, aim for 10 hours of prep time. Here’s how to break it down: Research (20%). Learn about the company and the industry landscape. Q&A prep (40%). Review the job description and identify key concepts and techniques you’ll need to discuss, as well as questions you might be asked. Q&A practice (40%).
What should you expect in a marketing interview?
In a marketing interview, you can expect to talk about your experience, your interest in the industry, what value you envision adding to the team, and your general work preferences. You can also anticipate getting answers to your questions about the position or company.
How do you answer a marketing interview question?
The hiring manager’s goal of this open-ended interview question is to get to know your industry passions and discover how you became interested in marketing. For an effective answer, briefly describe what led you to marketing, such as: Example: “I’ve always had a creative side, and I discovered my passion for marketing while I was in school.
Should a marketer answer a marketing interview question?
Marketers aren’t strangers to promotion. After all, their main job is to showcase the virtues of products or services and get people to buy. When you think about it, they should be naturals when it comes to answering marketing interview questions, right? Highlighting their expertise should be right up their alley. Well, not necessarily.
