Interview Preparation Guide

Preparing for Marketing Recruiting Owen Career Management Center Fall 2013

Skills MBA Recruiters are Seeking

ESSENTIAL MBA SKILLS            Leadership Teamwork Problem solving and analytical skills Initiative Adaptability to change Interpersonal and communication skills Strategic thinking and planning abilities Global orientation Ability to leverage technology Time management and project management skills Prior history of results and progressive experience

MARKETING SPECIFIC SKILLS            Ability to motivate others not under your control Strategic thinking Multi-functional team experience Tolerance of ambiguity; flexibility Creativity Quantitative / analytical / research skills Coordination/project management skills Presentation skills Ability to recognize key factors in extensive data Passion Knowledge of basic marketing principles

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How to Begin Preparing        Read Brand Week (www.brandweek.com) and AdWeek (www.adweek.com) Read Advertising Age (www.adage.com) If interested in CPG, read GMA SmartBrief (www.smartbrief.com) Think about joining the American Marketing Association and attending their local meetings (www.marketingpower.com) If interested in digital or media marketing, read sites like eMarketer (www.emarketer.com) or iMedia Connection (www.imediaconnection.com) Read the Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) If you have no marketing experience, consider a project during the school year through class if possible or a local company

What to Expect from Marketing Interviews  Behavioral Based • Most marketing interviews will contain a large number of these types of questions; tell me about a time you…. • • • • •  

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Led a team to accomplish a challenging goal Had to sell an idea Had to overcome a challenging situation Had to work without a lot of direction Made a mistake

General Marketing & Company-Related Questions Marketing Scenarios Crazy Marketing/Creative Questions

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Basic Frameworks to...