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Got an interview with a marketing company

8 replies

nappyaddict · 25/10/2011 14:03

It's an outsourced sales and marketing company who provide a tailored face to face service for their top UK and Worldwide clients. What exactly is an outsourced sales company? Here is their website

I've never done this type of work before, I've always worked in bars and Itrestaurants up to now. I have applied for 2 job adverts within the same company Customer Service Advisor and Retail to Sales

They said the interview will last about 15 minutes and it is with the managing director. The email said "we will find out more about your goals, your employment history and how you demonstrate certain skills such as leadership qualities, customer service skills and examples of when you have met targets."

"We are working with clients including The British Heart Foundation, The British Red Cross and we have recently started to work with Lovefilm.co.uk. Due to these new campaigns and the opening of a new office we are looking to expand our team."

I'm really nervous and don't know how to prepare .... help!!

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nappyaddict · 25/10/2011 16:50

bump

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DiddyMary · 25/10/2011 22:31

'Outsourced sales and marketing company' means that they provide sales and marketing to companies rather than those companies having their own in-house sales & marketing departments.

Sales and marketing isn't my area, but from what I know of interviewing I'd say:
15 minutes isn't long, so they won't have time to cover lots of questions, and you'll need to get your points across clearly but fairly briefly.
I was always advised a recruiter is trying to answer three questions about you - Can they do the job? (have you got the right skills)

  • Will they do the job? (are you hard working or a lazy so and so)
  • Will they fit in (are you right for their office culture, though nowadays not everyone will consider this a right thing to look at.)

To rehearse look at the qualities they say they want - e.g. "People who work well in a team environment" and think of real examples from your own experience that prove you have those qualities. Good examples from outside work might be suitable e.g. if you've never had any leadership role in a bar but were captain of a sports team (corny example, but best I could think of!) quote that.

Look over your work history - are there any things that they might want to ask about - e.g. places you moved on from very quickly. Have a good reason for them if asked.

Do a bit of Google research on the clients they mention, check out their current marketing campaigns, in case they ask what you know about them.

Practice answers till you're confident with them and won't be nervous.

Pay attention to the questions (and show you are doing - e.g. nod to affirm you're listening) and show a confident manner throughout.

Hope that helps - with any luck someone with more knowledge of the field will give you more specific tips.

Good luck!

nappyaddict · 26/10/2011 10:45

Thanks DiddyMary

I've never been a captain of a sports team or anything like that. I'm really worried if they ask me about leadership qualities because it's one thing I don't really have experience of.

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nappyaddict · 26/10/2011 10:55

Also not really sure what to say about my goals .... I can't really say I've been applying for 9-5 jobs left, right and centre and you're the only people who called me to interview!

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lktoday5 · 26/10/2011 11:28

Hi nappy, Ive worked in Marketing for over 15 years now so hopefully can help here. Ive had a look at their website and the ads you linked to. I would say this company specialises in offering sales and service advisors for other companies. Normally with this type of company this is telephone / call centre based, although it looks like they also offer a face to face sales capability which I'm guessing would either be door to door or at locations like shopping centres etc dependent on the client / brief etc.

So, for instance if the client was lovefilm you might either be answering questions from existing customers about their accounts, subscriptions etc or you might be trying to sell or upsell them a monthly package of services.

The first ad was much more service based - they'll be looking (for instance) to see if you are personable and outgoing and can problem solve and stay calm (and would have a good telephone manner). As well as the usual things like can you work as part of a team etc.

The 2nd one is much more sales - for this they'll be looking to see if you either can currently, or have the skills to be trained to sell, potentially from cold leads. Skills they'll be looking for here (aside from any previous experience you may have) are assertiveness (but not aggression), persistence, resilience, and the ability to find out peoples needs and craft whatever you are selling to match them quickly. Oh, and the achievement vs targets they mentioned.

Re your 'goals' question. You can always say something like 'I know that I really enjoy working with people, so I'm really looking for a first opportunity to demonstrate what I can offer to a company and progress from there. My ultimate goal is to find a job I love doing and that I find rewarding.'

I would also make sure you can talk through your CV well, make sure you can expain why you liked certain roles (especially where its relevant to the jobs advertised) Eg 'I loved working behind the bar because i really enjoy meeting people as and giving customers a good experience' and also make sure you can explain in a positive light why you may have moved on from jobs.

Dont panic about 'leadership qualities' it's more likely to be 'drive' they're looking for - especially for sales roles. If you have any examples of starting something from scratch, being an integral team player in a project, even something like setting yourself a weight loss goal and having the determination to achieve it all give them a picture of what you are like as a person.

A 15 minute interview will literally be a 'does your face fit, do you have the right skills' so make sure you sell yourself as much as you can, be confident, look smart (I know, but you'd be amazed) and make them think that this job is the only one you have ever wanted and you've gone to a lot of effort to get it.

Hope that helps ....apologies for war and peace!

AgentProvocateur · 26/10/2011 11:33

TBH, it looks to me like you'll be chugging.

AgentProvocateur · 26/10/2011 11:37

A quick google shows plenty of disgruntled job-seekers - looks it's commission based, door-to-door selling.

nappyaddict · 27/10/2011 19:31

Thanks for the advice. I saw those posts AP so before I went I asked which role I was being interviewed for and they said customer service, not sales. The interview went well and I got called back for a 2nd interview, although I was annoyed I forgot to ask questions about what the job entailed and salary. However the hours are 11:30 - 8:30 which is not really what I'm after so I haven't taken it any further.

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