Your first staffer will make call sheets, keep track of volunteer schedules, the campaign's schedule, fundraising records, voter contact data and more. Ask the staffer specifically how he or she would organize it all. For instance, does she use project management software? Separate notebooks for communications, field and finance? There's no wrong way to stay organized, but disorganization spells disaster.
2. Can you pivot with the ball?
Ask the potential hire about a time something went wrong in a past campaign and how they responded. It's a common interview question, but helps reveal how the staffer would handle the challenges facing an upstart organization. Every campaign is going to make mistakes; what matters is how you respond.
Let's say you're working a congressional race and you mail out thousands of invitations to a town hall event with the incorrect address. Are you willing to drive to the address you put on the mailer and wait there all day until they agree to rent you the building for that night? That's the kind of pivot required early on in a campaign.
3. Are you afraid to pick up the phone?
Your first staffer will spend at least half the time with a phone to his or her ear setting up donor meetings, speaking engagements, recruiting local officials and even making low-dollar donor asks. With that in mind, candidates should look for a resume with finance or volunteer recruitment experience-jobs where the potential hire became used to making dozens of asks over the phone every day.
4. How do you handle disagreement?
We've established that your potential hire needs to have coordination and leadership abilities, but this person also needs to be able to execute on a decision he or she disagrees with. No matter how great your campaign team is not everyone will agree with every decision. Whether it's the consultant or the candidate, eventually the staffer will be over-ruled, yet still have to execute. Look for a resume that doesn't just have management experience and ask potential hires how they dealt with decisions they felt were wrong.
5. How would your former colleagues describe you?
This is a sure sign that the interviewer likes you and is already thinking about contacting your previous employer for a reference. And this is the time when you realise how important it is to choose your referees carefully. So answer this question in the way that you would like to think your employer would respond.
For example:
I have an excellent working relationship with my manager and we have mutual respect for each other. He considers me to be hard working, dedicated, reliable and able to work well using my own initiative.
6. Do you have campaign management experience?
Even if it's managing a legislative or municipal campaign, that kind of experience demonstrates that your potential hire has dealt with field, communications, and fundraising all at the same time. Excelling in a management position also shows that your potential hire has the ability to lead and maintain his or her composure while under pressure.
7. Give an example of how you have effectively used online marketing tools?
In answering this marketing manager interview question, focus on your skills in online marketing including search engine tactics and optimization, click-through advertising, writing for the Web using keywords, designing for customer usability, utilization of social media and tracking success of the online campaign.
8. Tell us What Types of Marketing Campaigns Have You Run in the Past?
As you answer questions about your accomplishments with other companies, be specific. Simply stating, "I ran several online marketing campaigns" does not adequately show what you can do for the company. Better answers should resemble, "I started a social media campaign that utilized targeted advertising systems to market the company's services to youth in North America." You will also need to elaborate. Use numbers that support the campaign, such as "Within three financial quarters, sales increased by 427% and brand recognition vastly improved by 10% within the target demographic."
Key marketing manager competencies that this question explores include accurate research and analytical skills, the ability to develop realistic and workable objectives and the ability to initiate and monitor strategies and activities that support these objectives.
Efficient utilization of resources reflects sound judgment, planning and organizational skills. Use this question as an opportunity to highlight your strengths as a marketing manager.
10. Explain What Do You Think You Bring to the Company?
This common job interview question is often asked in every type of interview. But for marketing jobs this question is especially important. It provides you with a chance to tout your interview preparation by suggesting effective marketing strategies based on the research you completed on the company.
Start by discussing your overall qualifications and experience, but then amend those answers with statements such as, "As I researched your company, I noticed that while your online marketing presence was strong, there are several areas that could be built upon including…" and following up with your ideas. However, you should refrain from this answer if you are interviewing with the head of the marketing department, as you may be undermining their beliefs.
11. Can you give me an example of a campaign that did not work out as you had planned?
It is important that you are able to recognize why a plan went wrong and to learn from the experience.
Your analytical and problem solving skills are under scrutiny. Campaigns often fail due to poor research and groundwork, inappropriate objectives, or ineffective communication.
Be open about why the campaign failed, avoid defensive explanations, take accountability and focus on the steps you took to prevent a repeat experience.
12. Tell Me How Effectively Do You Think You Can Work within Budgetary Constraints?
Interview questions about the future should be brought back to accomplishments of the past. In other words, when asked about how you would deal with possible future scenarios, refer to your past accomplishments. Your answers should focus on successful campaigns with statement such as, "While I was with company XYZ, I initiated both low cost lead generation strategies and several viral marketing campaigns, using an almost inexistent budget to boost profits by 200%."
Focus on your planning and organizing skills to get the best return on the marketing budget. Detail what controls were put in place to track and stay on top of expenditure and how plans were adjusted when necessary. Discuss your ability to react quickly and accurately to meet new demands and constraints.
14. Tell Us What is an Example of a Marketing Tactic That Did Not Succeed?
For interview questions about marketing failures there are several things to note about your answer:
► Do not get defensive. If you had an expectation that failed, admit it.
► Explain how you found out it failed using numerical, analytical measurements as examples.
► Describe the adjustments that you made in order to make the campaign more successful.
15. Group based Campaign Manager interview questions:
► How much preparation on files for trial do you do?
► What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
► Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
► What do you see yourself doing within the first days as Campaign Manager?
► How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
► What do you like and dislike about Campaign Manager job we are discussing?
► Tell me a suggestion you have made that was implemented.
16. Basic Campaign Manager interview questions:
► Tell me about yourself?
► Why did you leave your last job?
► Please tell me about long-term career goals for Campaign manager?
► How would you describe yourself as a Campaign manager? How do you think others would describe
► What kind of salary are you looking for Campaign manager?
► What are key tasks for Campaign manager?
► If you knew a manager is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it?
► What are your strengths as a Campaign manager? Weaknesses
► What was the most difficult management decision you've ever had to make?
► What have you learned from your previous jobs that related to Campaign manager?
► Please tell me your experience that related to Campaign manager job?
► Which term best describes you as a manager - a micromanager or a macromanager? Why does this approach work best for you?
► Who was your best manager and who was the worst?
► As Campaign manager, please tell me the application of ISO 9001 for your job?
► Please tell me top 3 mistakes for Campaign manager job and how to solve them?
► Please tell me top key skills for Campaign manager?
► Do you have any questions?
17. Difficult Campaign Manager interview questions:
► What are your most significant achievements?
► What can you do for us that someone else can't do?
► Why were you given these promotions at your present or last company?
► What new goals or objectives have you established recently?
► What did you do on your last job in order to help build teamwork?
► What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met?
► What type of salary are you worth and why?
18. Basic Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions:
► Describe some ideas that were implemented.
► What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision?
► What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
► Are you willing to work overtime?
► What are your career goals for Marketing Campaign Manager?
► Describe a situation where you had to plan or organise something.
► Did you ever not meet your goals? Why?
This is your chance to show your depth and dimension as a person.
The best way to tackle these Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions is to answer as honestly as possible. These are most common Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions.
19. Phone based Campaign Manager interview questions:
► How did that job influence your career?
► What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
► When you go on holiday, when do you pack your case?
► Describe the last time that you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.
► How do you define teamwork?
► What are the major influences that encourage you to take a job?
► What's the most important thing you learned in school?
20. Informational Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions:
► Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it.
► Why did you apply for this Marketing Campaign Manager position?
► Example of a time you have placed yourself in a leadership position.
► What will you do if you don't get this position?
► What have you gained from your Marketing Campaign Manager work experiences?
► What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
► How do you handle a heavy workload? How do you prioritize day to day tasks?
21. Face to Face Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions:
► What motivates you to do a good job?
► How do you establish good communication and information flow with others?
► What percentage of your time is spent doing each function?
► Situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise.
► Explain a time that you took initiative as Marketing Campaign Manager.
► How do you keep track of things you need to do?
► What are your expectations regarding promotions and salary increases?
22. Panel Based Campaign Manager interview questions:
► Do you work well under pressure?
► Do you think that your school prepared for practical working tasks in a real company?
► How have you gone about making important decisions?
► What are you looking for in terms of Campaign Manager career development?
► Are you willing to relocate?
► Tell about a Campaign Manager training program that you have developed.
► What have you done to contribute toward a teamwork environment?
23. Telephonic Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions:
► Situation where others disagreed with your ideas.
► Tell me a suggestion you have made that was implemented.
► What is the most enjoyable part of Marketing Campaign Manager job?
► What did you do to prepare for this job interview?
► How would you decide on your objectives?
► Tell about a problem that you solved in a unique or unusual way.
► Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it.
Think of recent strong strategic examples of work you've done. Let the interviewer know how the company's mission reflects your values.
If you have changed careers make a logical argument as to why you did so.
24. General Campaign Manager interview questions:
► What was the name of your most recent employer?
► Who was your best boss and who was the worst?
► Why did you choose our company?
► What were your responsibilities?
► What can you do for this company?
► Which of your jobs was the best?
► What motivates you?
25. General Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions:
► Do you know anyone who works as Marketing Campaign Manager at this company?
► How did you go about making Marketing Campaign Manager assignments?
► What irritates you about other people?
► Have you ever had to deal with conflicting deadlines?
► Did you have faults as a leader? Describe the situation.
► Did you ever postpone making a decision? Why?
► What are you most proud of?
26. Behavioral Campaign Manager interview questions:
► What awards or honors have you received?
► Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
► What motivates you in a job and in personal life?
► What do you feel were the most significant things you got out of going there?
► What can you do for this company?
► Why do you want to work for us and not for our competitor?
► Why do you want to change jobs?
27. Campaign Manager Role Specific Interview Questions:
► Talk about one of your most effective campaigns. What made them so effective?
► How do you know when a campaign has failed? What metrics do you use?
► What does the conversion funnel look like at your company?
► How many people are on your current marketing team? What are their roles?
► How would you describe your current brand's tone of voice and visual identity?
► How do your customers inform your approach to brand-building?
► How do you get product feedback from your customers?
► What tools do you use to stay organized?
► Talk about your experience with editorial calendars.
► What is the relationship between SEO and content marketing?
► What are some common SEO mistakes in digital content production?
► What are the most important and effective social media channels for your brand?
► What is your experience with marketing automation?
► What role does paid advertising play in your overall strategy?
► What is your experience with co-marketing campaigns?
► What is the importance of thought leadership at your current organization?
► Describe a time you worked with a team to create a campaign on a tight budget.
► What is your approach to structuring a marketing budget?
► What is your approach to editing copy?
► Describe a time you gave constructive feedback to a colleague.
► Describe a time your team didn't agree with your direction. How did you handle it?
► How would you handle negative feedback about your brand?
► What's interesting about our current marketing? What could we do better?
28. First Marketing Campaign Manager interview questions:
► How do you handle a heavy workload? How do you prioritize day to day tasks?
► What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
► Give me an example of a high-pressure situation for Marketing Campaign Manager.
► Examples of strategic thinking in past situations.
► How would you describe your presentation style?
► Give me an example of when you involved others in making a decision.
► What was your best learning experience?
You win an election by consistently outworking your opponent. Ask your potential hire, how many times did you pull an all-nighter or sleep in the office? It shouldn't be every day or you'll have an exhausted team, but any staffer worth his or her salt has made walk books or call sheets all night in order to meet their goals.
30. Tell us what are your weaknesses?
Career manuals abound with ways to tackle this question. And most of them seem to suggest that you should take one of your strengths and portray it as a weakness. For instance, I work too much. But this will actually work against rather than work for you because it may imply that you do not organise your workload effectively, or that you have poor time management skills. Instead, opt for a genuine weakness.
For example:
I used to struggle to plan and prioritorise my workload. However, I have taken steps to resolve this and now I have started using a planning tool and diary system on my laptop.
31. Describe a situation in which an innovative course of action was necessary?
Your ability to evaluate a situation, problem or opportunity and understand the action that needs to be taken is key to success as a marketing manager. Gaining a clear perspective is necessary before deciding on the focus of your innovation.
Taking into consideration the available resources and how they can be best used is important in determining the best course of action. Your ability to capitilize on the situation should be highlighted.
32. Why did you leave your last job as Campaign Manager?
You know this question will be asked at some stage, so have your answer ready in advance. The rule of thumb is to always remain positive about your current and previous employers because you never know when your paths may cross again. Besides, who are you going to turn to for a reference?
For example:
I learned a lot from my previous employer and enjoyed my time there. However, promotional opportunities were few and far between and I am keen to advance my career sooner rather than later.
In your marketing manager interview answer show how cultural factors, social factors, personal and psychological factors all impact on consumer behavior. Provide an example of a marketing campaign or project you developed and how you utilized these four key factors to develop and optimize your project.
34. If you were a car ... tree ... animal what would you be?
Baffling though it may seem, some interviewers still insist on asking silly questions, such as If you were a car, what type of car would you be and why? There are no right or wrong answers. The interviewer is simply testing your reactions under pressure to see how you will cope with the unexpected in an attempt to gain an insight into your personality and how you view yourself. Don't get hung up on the implications of what type of car you say you would be, just be mindful that you will be expected to explain your choice.
For example:
I would probably be a 1962 Alpha Romeo Spider -- classy, stylish, driven and fast off the mark
35. WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE IN THIS FIELD OR FOR MARKETING CAMPAIGN MANAGER POSITION?
► Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
► If you are being asked this question from your employer then you can explain your experience. Tell the employer what responsibilities you were performing during your job. You can tell what programs you developed and what modules you worked on. What were your achievements regarding different programs.
I have been working with computers since 2001. I also have a degree in network support/computer repair. I have built my last 3 computers, have work with Dell as an employee. So I have around 15 years experience working with computers.
