I’m sure you’ve been there. Walking out of an interview and not having a clue how it went. Not sure if you asked enough questions, said the right things… or if the interviewer actually found your jokes funny. So, if you’re looking for a role at a leading digital marketing agency, what can you do to put your best foot forward? As one of the biggest digital agencies in North America, with a growing footprint around the world, we at DAC know a thing or two about hiring the best of the best. Here’s what we look for when searching for our #GeeksWithPersonality.
1. Go beyond the basics
This may seem obvious but do your homework. Initial phone calls are usually with Human Resources and it is their job to see if you “have what it takes” and to go over housekeeping questions. It’s never a good sign if you haven’t looked up the location of the company or given the job description a read-through (this happens more often than you’d think).
It’s also important to have a sense of the “agency life”; it’s different than working client-side. Be prepared to talk about your interest in working for an agency and why you think you’d be a good fit for the fast-paced, sometimes crazy (but never boring!) agency lifestyle.
There are a lot of digital marketing agencies out there, so find out what makes your potential agency unique. At DAC, our team drives performance at every level, connecting buyers to sellers at the right place and time. So draw on your experience to highlight how you can help support that — whether that’s referencing an award-winning campaign (we love awards!) or blog posts you’ve written on marketing to millennials.
2. Showcase your personality AND your work
Try to find the right balance between answers that highlight your personality and why your skills will be a great addition to the team. If the question is “Why are you interested in DAC?”, the answer should speak to what interests you most about the company, instead of using it as a chance to deliver a lengthy summary of your previous experience. Take the time to learn our values (E2 + C2 – enthusiasm, execution, curiosity and courage) and tell us why they resonate with you — personally and professionally. Talking about who you are and what you’ve done provides more insight into whether you are a team player who can fit right into the constantly-shifting digital environment.
3. Ask the right questions
Everyone knows coming prepared with questions is a must for job interviews, but generic questions won’t cut it. After all, a cardinal rule of marketing is “know your audience”! If you’re being interviewed by your prospective manager, ask different questions than you would of the CEO. Interviews are a two-way street. It’s ultimately up to you to decide whether the company will be a good fit for you — and asking the right questions is the best way to do that. This can be anything from finding out thoughts on industry trends to what the person’s favourite campaign was this year and why.
One of the Cs in E2 + C2 is curiosity. Asking questions also shows you’re prepared and are taking the interview seriously. We always ensure interviewees meet with people from a variety of teams, so use the opportunity to showcase your curiosity and enthusiasm. Draw on previous conversations from different interviews and bring that information forward to find out more about what makes the agency a great place to work.
At the end of the day, we look for driven #GeeksWithPersonality to help clients grow and expand their businesses. And like your mom probably told you as a kid, the most important thing to remember is to relax and be yourself.
Catherine Johnson is a Talent Acquisition Specialist based out of Toronto. To see if your next dream job is with us, please check out our careers at DAC page.
