Interview Tips-

When you are contacted by a recruiter who’s reaching out to schedule a job
interview, you might feel a surge of excitement—along with some nerves. It’s
normal to feel a bit apprehensive about the interview process. If you have a better
idea of what to expect, however, it can help you feel more confident and prepared.
This reading will help you understand how the interview process typically works in
the field of digital marketing and e-commerce. Although the interview process can
vary widely from one company to another, the process covered in this reading is
fairly common in the industry.

Getting contacted by a recruiter

After you apply for jobs, you may receive a call, email, or message from a recruiter
expressing interest in your application and asking to schedule a call or meeting. It’s
a good idea to reply to this message as soon as possible—preferably within 24
hours—to show that you are responsive and interested in the position.

Preliminary interview
In most cases, the first step in the interview process is a preliminary interview—
sometimes called a screening. This usually involves a conversation with a recruiter
over the phone, in person, or on a video call.

The preliminary interview is typically shorter than a regular interview and might
only last 20 or 30 minutes. The recruiter will share information about the company
and the job opening. Then they’ll ask you questions to help them get to know you
better and understand your experience and skills. The recruiter will also hold time
for you to ask questions about the job. It’s a good idea to have questions prepared
beforehand since asking questions helps demonstrate your interest in the position.
You might also think of more questions to ask during the interview.

At the end of the preliminary interview, the recruiter will thank you for your time
and usually let you know the next steps. If they don’t mention the next steps, feel
free to ask. You can also take this opportunity to thank the recruiter for meeting
with you and express your interest in the position.
After the interview, send a thank-you note to the recruiter within 24 hours. Email is
often the best way to do this. Express your gratitude for their time and briefly
restate why you would be a good fit for the position.

Additional interviews
Once you’ve passed the preliminary interview stage, you may be invited for
another interview. This interview is typically with the hiring manager, the
employee in charge of deciding who will be hired. You may also meet with other
individuals on the team, or other managers within the department, in a group
interview.

This interview is often longer than the preliminary interview. It could be in person,
over the phone, or on a video call.

The interview usually opens with introductions and a brief description of the
company and job position. Then, the interviewer will ask you questions about your
background, skills, experience, and how you work. Next, you’ll have an opportunity
to ask questions about the company, the role, and job expectations.

Finally, you’ll hear about next steps and thank everyone for their time as the
interview comes to an end.

There may be multiple rounds of interviews, depending on how the company’s

interview process works. These additional interviews could be longer, include
future teammates or other employees at the company, and feature questions that
take more time and thought to answer.

As with the preliminary interview, send a thank you note to the people you
interviewed with after each round of interviews. Your thank you note can also be an
opportunity to follow up on anything discussed in the interview, such as
highlighting a project you worked on, or anything you wish you’d said during the
interview but didn’t think of until later.

Final offer
Now comes the exciting part: receiving a job offer from one or more of the
companies you interviewed with. The company may reach out to you by phone or
email. After the company extends their initial offer, you can negotiate salary or
benefits. When the company provides their final offer, you’ll need to decide
whether or not to accept it. Feel free to ask for a day or two to make your decision,
but let the company know as soon as you’ve decided.

Building perseverance
If the company lets you know that you didn’t get the job, take a moment to process
the emotions you might feel. If you’d like, you can let the company know that you
appreciate the opportunity to have interviewed and that you’d be interested in any
future roles that might be a good fit. You can also ask for feedback on what you
could do better next time. Although you might not receive a reply, it demonstrates
that you are eager to learn and grow.

Key takeaways
Interviews are a great opportunity to learn more about a job position and the
company you’d be working for. By preparing for the interview process and
continuing to persevere in your job search, you’ll be well on your way to building a
career in digital marketing and e-commerce.

You have been exploring the interview process in digital marketing and e-
commerce. You have also been learning about the types of research that will help
you prepare for interviews in these fields. As we’ve discussed, no two companies
are alike, so you will need to research each company with which you interview. As
part of your research, you should learn the size of the company and how long it has
been in business. This is because the interview process at larger, more-established
companies can differ greatly from that of smaller companies and start-ups. In this
reading, we will discuss the common differences between interviews at these types
of companies. Knowing these differences can help you prepare and know what to
expect, which can ultimately help you make a great impression.

Who conducts the interview

Established companies often have well-developed human resources (HR)
departments. Interviews at these companies are likely to be designed or conducted
by experienced HR professionals. The application process might involve a series of
interviews—from a preliminary interview with an HR associate to interviews with
potential teammates to an interview with the actual manager you would work for if
you were hired.

Startups and smaller companies, however, may not have an HR department at all.
Applicants are likely to be interviewed by someone high up in the company, such
as senior leadership or the CEO. Startups are also unlikely to require as many
rounds of interviews as larger companies due to limited resources and time
constraints.

Structure of the interview

Interviewers at established companies will usually ask questions that relate to your
technical skills and competence level. These companies want to determine if you
will fit well into the available position. The interviewers will generally ask you a
series of common interview questions about your experience, training, and how
your past roles have prepared you for a position in a company of their size.

At startups and smaller companies, on the other hand, the interviewer may ask a
few questions and then allow you to steer the interview’s direction. Interviewers at
smaller companies may also pay more attention to your ability to fit into the
company culture. Additionally, since these businesses often require that people
perform their jobs with less supervision than at more established companies, they
tend to seek employees who are independent and proactive. Being able to actively
drive the conversation with your own ideas can help display these qualities.

Expectations for the role

The interviewer’s expectations for the role might differ based on the company’s
size, and you will need to emphasize different competencies based on these
expectations. At a small company, for example, you may be expected to take on
many roles—perhaps acting as the entire marketing department. At a larger
company, you might be asked to mostly perform one task that you do
exceptionally well on many projects.

At a larger company, there may be more established processes to follow, and you
may often need to get approval from stakeholders to move forward on tasks. At a
smaller company, you might have fewer approvals processes to navigate, but you
will need to be able to execute tasks with little guidance.

One way you can demonstrate these different competencies is in the way you
respond to behavioral interview questions. These are types of questions that
require you to share a time when you were faced with a particular situation or had
to use a certain skill. In an upcoming activity, you will practice a strategy for
responding to these types of questions.

Length of the process

Established organizations may require you to go through several interviews before
making you a job offer. They do this because they can generally afford to take time
to find the best fit for the role. These companies may take three weeks or more to
screen and interview applicants.

Startups tend to have a much quicker interview-to-hire process—generally around

two weeks. Because people higher up in the company conduct the interviews and
make the hiring decisions, not as many rounds of interviews are typically required.
Additionally, since smaller companies and startups may have fewer employees
available to get the work done, they often aim to fill open positions quickly.

Level of formality
Interviews at established companies tend to be more formal and structured than
interviews at startups. Since the interviewers generally want to assess all the
applicants on the same basic criteria, the process can seem somewhat
conventional. Your behavior, dress, and the language you use is generally expected
to be more formal in interviews at these companies.

Interviews at startups tend to be more casual. The structure of the interview is

looser, and the dress, behavior, and language you are expected to use may be less
formal, as well.

Key takeaways
The norms discussed in this reading can vary from industry to industry and
company to company, so be sure to research the specific company you are
interviewing for ahead of time to learn what to expect. This will prepare you for the
different aspects of the interview, such as what to wear and the kind of questions
you may be asked. But regardless of the company’s size or how long they have
been in business, you should always be prepared to share your qualifications and
skills, convey what you know about the company and the role, and describe why
you would be an excellent fit for the position.

In addition to an interviewer asking you questions, it’s important that you ask the
interviewer questions as well. Asking questions helps you learn more about the
role and it shows your interest in the role.

In this reading, we list several questions you should consider asking your
interviewer and explain why you should ask the question and the intention behind
it.

Why ask your interviewer questions?

One reason to ask your interviewer questions is that it helps you determine if you
are interested in the role. One mistake people make in interviews is believing they
are the only one being interviewed. Remember, you are also interviewing the
organization to determine if you would like to work there! Ask questions to help
determine if the organization is a good fit for you.

Another reason to ask questions is that it shows your interest in the role. When
possible, make your question specific to the company you are interviewing for. For
example, imagine during your pre-interview research, you come across an article
discussing the company’s entrepreneurial culture. You can mention that you read
about the organization’s entrepreneurial culture. Then, ask how that culture gets
represented in the company.

When to ask your interviewer questions?

Often, at the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask you if you have
questions. This is the perfect time to ask your questions. The interview may end
without any questions, that’s OK too. It’s typically best to respect the interview
time frame rather than ask questions past the time.
If the interviewer doesn’t confirm they will allow time at the end for questions, one
way to fit them in before time runs out is to ask during the interview. When asking
during an interview, ensure the questions don’t disrupt the flow. For example, if
the interviewer mentions available training for the role, you can comment that you
are interested in the company’s training. You can then ask them what type of
training is available for the position and its delivery.

Additionally, if you are unable to ask any questions during the interview, you can
follow-up with an email. Make sure your questions are directly related to the role
and related to something you are genuinely interested in.

Example questions to ask your interviewer

How do you evaluate success in this role?

This question helps you better understand what skills or qualities make someone
successful in the role. If the interviewer mentions skills or qualities you have, you
can then discuss how you applied them in your previous experience.

Can you describe the typical day of someone in this role?

It’s important to know the day-to-day activities of the position. Does this match
with the type of role you’re interested in? If it doesn’t, the role may not be a fit for
you. This question also confirms that the tasks for the role match the job
description.

How would you describe the company’s culture?

A company culture is the attitudes and behaviors of the company and its
employees. Asking this question helps you better understand if the company’s
culture is a fit for you. For example, if you’d like to work for a company that
supports creativity and encourages new ideas, look for that type of information
when someone describes the culture.

What do you like about working here?

Similar to the question about culture, this question provides the positive qualities
of a workplace. Ensure these qualities match with what you’re interested in for a
work environment.
Is there any training for the role and how is the training delivered?

If you’re interested in receiving training for a role, consider asking this question.
Additionally, you may want to ask how the training will be delivered, such as
digitally, in-person, shadowing a current employee, or another method.
Shadowing is when you closely observe another employee perform the role.

Do you have any questions or hesitations about my qualifications or experience?

If you ask this question at the end of an interview, it gives you a chance to address
any concerns the interviewer has about your work background. Sometimes the
interviewer is interested in an experience that you have, but you haven’t included
on a resume. This is the perfect question to address that discrepancy.

Key takeaways
When interviewing, you should ask questions to learn more about the organization
and show your interest in the role. When doing pre-interview research, write down
any questions you may have for the organization or the role. It’s a best practice to
have at least four questions prepared before the interview. If there is time available
and the question seems appropriate, ask it!
Now that you have the skills and knowledge to work in e-commerce and digital
marketing, it’s time to start preparing for interviews. Interview Warmup is a tool
that helps you practice answering questions to get more confident and
comfortable with interviewing.

Get started
Follow these steps to start a 5-question practice interview related to e-commerce
and digital marketing:

1. Go to [Link]/certificates/interview-warmup.
2. Click Start practicing.
3. Select the “E-commerce” practice set.
4. Click Start.

It takes about 10 minutes, and the questions will be different every time. Each
question set will have two background questions, one behavioral question, and
two technical questions, simulating what you would encounter in a real interview.
You can try as many practice interviews as you want.

You’ll also have the option to access the full list of interview questions if you’d like
to review more of the questions available or focus on specific topics.

How it works
Interview Warmup asks interview questions for you to practice answering out loud.
It transcribes your answer in real time so you can review what you said. You’ll also
review insights, which are patterns detected by machine learning that can help you
discover things about your answers and identify ways to keep improving.

Here are a few examples of questions the tool might ask:

• Why do you want to work in digital marketing?

• Could you share more about your knowledge and background in SEM?
• Please describe your experience with creating social media content.
• How do you measure the success of an email marketing campaign, and how
do you identify areas for improvement?
• Tell me about a recent project or campaign you worked on.
 • How would you investigate why a new product line missed its first two
monthly sales targets?

Here are some of the insights that Interview Warmup provides:

• Talking points: The tool lets you know which topics you covered in your
answer, such as your experience, skills, and goals. You’ll also be able to view
other topics that you might want to consider covering.
• Most-used words: The tool highlights the words you used most often and
suggests synonyms to broaden your word choices.
• Job-related terms: The tool highlights the words you used that are related
to the role or industry in which you are preparing to work. You’ll also be able
to view an entire list of job-related terms that you might want to consider
including in your answer.

Interview Warmup gives you the space to practice and prepare for interviews on
your own. Your responses will be visible only to you, and they won’t be graded or
judged.

Key takeaways
Practicing for interviews is an important skill for your career in digital marketing
and e-commerce. Using Interview Warmup can help you practice interview
questions and receive feedback in real time. As you practice, you will gain
confidence and be able to prepare more polished responses for common interview
questions.

When interviewing with potential employers, it’s important to communicate who

you are, your value as an e-commerce or digital marketing professional, and what
you’re searching for in a job. A simple way to do this is with an elevator pitch. An
elevator pitch is a short, memorable description that explains an idea, business, or
service in an easy-to-understand way, typically in 60 seconds or less (the average
amount of time of an elevator ride).

While an elevator pitch is usually specific to an idea or a product, you can also use
it to sell yourself as a professional to potential employers. In an interview, a strong
elevator pitch can be used to stand out to your interviewer. It can be used to help
explain why you’re a good fit for the role or to answer the popular interview
question “tell me about yourself.” This reading helps you prepare your elevator
pitch to sell yourself and the value you can provide as a digital marketing
coordinator or e-commerce analyst.

Provide an introduction
Start by providing an introduction. Introduce yourself and give a brief overview of
your professional background. Explain some job roles you’ve had, your years of
work experience, and the types of industries you’ve worked in. If this is your first
job in digital marketing or e-commerce, mention some of your past roles that are
unrelated.

Describe your work-related background

Even if you’re interviewing for your first internship or job in digital marketing or e-
commerce, it’s important to clarify that this is what you want to do as a career.

For example, you could say, “I want to apply my excellent retail and customer
service skills to create e-commerce shopping campaigns for shoppers worldwide.”

Show your excitement

This is where you share your passion for the field and why you want to work in the
industry. If you’re motivated to sell products online, mention that. This is also a
good time to talk about your goals.

For example, you could say, “I love digital marketing because it allows me to
research keyword trends that people are interested in. Long term, I’d love to
develop my knowledge of search engine optimization.”

Communicate your interest in the company

Communicating why you are interested in the company—and not just the role—is a
great way to help the interviewer recognize that you are knowledgeable about the
company.

For example, if you were interviewing for a position for Google’s Shopping
team, you could say, “Google Shopping helps connect millions of people to the
products they desire or need. As a long-time Google Shopping user, I’m looking
forward to the opportunity to be a part of that mission and provide outstanding
support.”

Elevator Pitch Examples

To bring the structure of an elevator pitch to life, check out two examples of
elevator pitches at Google. The first is by Sean, a Marketing Manager on the Google
Ads team. The second is by Joi, an Associate Product Marketing Manager.

Sean
Marketing Manager, Google Ads

I’m Sean, a Marketing Manager for Google Ads, with over a decade’s worth of
experience in the field of digital marketing, most of that with Google. When I went
to school, I didn’t even know this industry existed. I majored in English because I
liked reading and writing. My first employer in digital marketing took a chance on
me because of my experience with client management and spreadsheets, and they
figured they could teach me about digital marketing. I’m glad the industry and I
found each other. Google is always innovating, which means when you work in this
field you never stop learning. My first company actually ran a blog all about the
latest changes to Google Ads (then called AdWords), and because of my English
degree, I took a keen interest in the blog. In a few months, I was managing the blog,
and it was through my posts on that site that Google found me. It’s been wonderful
to be on the team that announces the latest changes and updates to Google Ads.
Because of my hands-on experience buying ads myself, I can immediately see how
somebody’s workflow will change after an announcement. I love being able to tell
Google’s story to our advertisers so that companies of all sizes can continue to find
success and grow their businesses.

Joi
Associate Product Marketing Manager

I’m Joi, an Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google with 10 years

experience as a content creator for YouTube and organic social channels. Outside
of work, I run my own beauty e-commerce business, an experience that has helped
me develop a plethora of skills around digital marketing and paid advertising,
project management and operations.

My entrepreneurial mindset paired with my love for creativity is what led me to a

company like Google. I thrive in ambiguity and love strategizing and solving
problems from the ground up.

Key takeaways
Creating a 60 second or less elevator pitch is a great tool to use to quickly share
who you are. Use an elevator pitch to introduce yourself to career and business
connections in the future. You can even use your elevator pitch in other types of
situations, like meeting new friends or new colleagues.

A remote interview is an interview that is done virtually. Typically, the interview is

completed on a computer using a video platform. This type of interview provides
challenges that face-to-face interviews do not, such as use of technology, lighting,
and sound.

In this reading, you will learn tips to have a successful remote interview.

Test your technology

The first tip is to test your technology before the interview. Ideally, a day or two
before. This allows you to resolve any technical issues you may have.

You should test your computer’s camera, microphone, and video platform
software. If possible, test the video platform software with a friend. Ensure that
your camera and microphone work well with the software.

Perfect your lighting

When interviewing remotely, ensure that you are well lit for the interview. You may
need to rearrange your desk or furniture to ensure good lighting.

If possible, situate your desk or camera in front of a window with natural lighting.
Always try to have light behind your camera so that it will shine on your face.
If you can’t position your desk next to a window or don’t have enough light coming
from the window, consider using artificial light. Move a lamp or light fixture behind
the camera.

You should avoid having a light or window directly behind you. Having a light
source behind you may cause the video to be blurry and make it difficult to see
your face.

Practice communicating through video

Communicating through video can be a challenge because there is less body
language and a slight sound delay. The sound delay can make it difficult to know
how long to wait for someone to stop speaking and for you to start. This is
somewhat a learned skill and you will become comfortable with how long to pause
with practice.

If you don’t have experience communicating through video, consider practicing

with friends and family before the remote interview. This will help you learn how
pauses affect video communication.

Look into the camera when speaking

When communicating through video, try to look into the camera when speaking
instead of at the video of the person you’re speaking to. Looking into the camera
gives the person you’re speaking with the feeling that you are maintaining eye
contact. If you look down and speak at their image, it will appear on the video as if
you are looking slightly down

Dress appropriately
Just because the interview isn’t in person doesn’t mean you should dress down for
the occasion. Depending on the type of role and company you’re interviewing for,
you may need to wear formal business attire. Whereas for another position, more
casual clothing may be appropriate. Do research on the company to determine
which type of interview outfit is suitable for the role and company.

Choose a professional interview location

Review your video background before the interview. Typically, you should avoid
having an unorganized background or any objects that may distract the
interviewer.

Depending on the video software, there may be virtual backgrounds available. A

virtual background displays an image or video behind you during a meeting, which
can provide you with privacy and a more professional look. Make sure to use a
background that is professional and appropriate for the role and to test it out
before going into the interview.

Sign in early
Ideally, before the interview, you should have already tested your technology and
feel confident that everything will work. However, technology and software can be
unpredictable. Sign in to your remote interview early to ensure everything is
working properly.

Additionally, signing in early indicates to your interviewer that you respect the
interviewer’s time and are a punctual person. These are two positive qualities that
the interviewer may be interested in.

Key takeaways
If you’ve never interviewed remotely before, it can feel intimidating. Follow the tips
in this reading to give yourself more confidence with the process. Always test your
technology before the interview and, if possible, the video software as well. This
will increase the likelihood the remote interview goes well, and you present
yourself in the best way possible.

Congratulations on earning your Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate! Now

it’s time to let the world know about the skills you gained to help advance your
career and share some of the artifacts you created along the way. We recommend
adding the completion of this certificate to your resume and LinkedIn profile and
creating a shared folder that contains all of the assets you created throughout this
program. Read on and follow these tips to get started.
Add the Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate
to your resume and LinkedIn profile
You may have already started on a digital marketing and e-commerce resume
earlier in the certificate. If not, there are a variety of digital templates for creating
your resume available at Enhancv, Big Interview, Google Docs, or Microsoft Word.
You can find additional resume creation guidance in this lesson from Google
Applied Digital Skills: Start a Resume.

Update your Education or Licenses and Certifications section

• To add the completion of this certificate to your resume, update your
Education or Licenses & Certifications section.
• To add the completion of this certificate to the Licenses & Certifications
section of your LinkedIn profile, follow the steps listed in this article.

Update your Skills section

• If applicable, update the Skills section of your resume.
• Below is a comprehensive list of skills that this certificate was designed to
help you develop that you could potentially add.
• To update the Skills & Endorsements section of your LinkedIn profile, follow
the steps listed in this article.
Update your Summary or About section
• If your resume has a Summary section, you can include this certification as a
qualification.
• To include a summary that mentions this certification in your LinkedIn
profile, update your About section by following the steps listed in this article.

Add your badge

Check out the next course item to learn how to claim your certification completion
badge and add it to your LinkedIn profile!