Suppose, an organization manufactures a product under its own name. The product turned out to be an instant hit and started gaining widespread recognition among the millennial. Such a situation would not only increase the profitability of the company but would also enhance the popularity of the concerned organization. Such is the power of establishing a brand name, that a company can sell almost anything under it with ease and comfort. An organization is recognized through its brand name and they strive to maintain its feasibility at all costs. For this, they hire a brand manager to manage its brand-related activities.
Latest 21 Interview Questions To Study
1) Explain In Brief The Steps Involved In Marcom Advertising?
This question enables an interviewer to judge your grip on your core principles of advertising.
Sample Answer
Sir, Marcom advertising technique is essential in establishing the brand name of an organization from the scratch. It includes:
- Searching the target audience for the company’s products and services
- Identify the communication objectives
- Design effective communication methods
- Select the communication mediums and
- Clearly define and estimate a communications budget
2) What Are The Two Best Ways To Build Brand Loyalty?
This question helps an interviewer to check the level of understanding of the candidate in relation to the core marketing principles.
Sample Answer
Establishing brand loyalty is essential to enhance the market share of an enterprise as well as enabling repeat purchases. In my opinion, establishing effective Loyalty programs for the customers which cater to their needs and requirements as well as creating a stress-free return policy are the two most effective ways to establish brand loyalty for a particular product.
3) How Will You Promote A Brand On Digital Platforms?
This questions tests your knowledge of the latest methods and procedures to follow while promoting a product.
Sample Answer
With the advent of technology, it is almost unimaginable to think of promotion without using any digital/social media platforms. As per my understanding, the best way to promote a brand is to tie up with influencers/YouTubers who will in turn promote your product using their entertainment videos. Further, creative advertisements on the basis of an attractive storyline can be made and displayed on prominent mobile applications.
4) What Is The Worst Element In You, That You Want To Change?
This question is just another variation of ‘What is your biggest weakness?’ A candidate must answer this question after a careful analysis of the self and post careful self-scrutiny.
Sample Answer
No one is perfect in this world and needs to make improvements in his or her attitude, mindset, approach, or maybe behavioral aspects. I believe, I too have a shortcoming. I get irritated and frustrated on even the least sensitive talks in relation to me. This makes me short-tempered at times and affects my performance and overall efficiency adversely. I am changing such an attitude of mine and have even joined online classes for self-grooming and improvement in attitude.
5) Name At Least Five Tools To Effectively Communicate With Your Target Audience?
This questions tests your knowledge of the tools or methods and procedures to follow for promoting a product.
Sample Answer
These are:
- Company’s annual publications, like:
- Newsletters
- Magazines
- Journals
- Exhibitions, like:
- Trade fairs
- Festival specific gatherings
- Major sports events, etc.
- Newspapers
- Social Media Platforms, like:
- Youtube, etc.
- Direct marketing or door to door marketing using sales personnel
6) What Is The Importance Of Target Audience In Promotion Of A Brand?
This question tests your knowledge of the core principles of advertising and brand names.
Sample Answer
The importance of the target audience is supreme in designing an effective storyline, framing advertisement content, and selecting communication channels. Suppose the company developed a health drink powder that helps in bodybuilding and muscle enhancement. The target audience for such a product would most probably be the age group between 18 and 40. But, if you tap the elder population and advertise it as an age-enhancing medicine then you are bound to fail. Hence, selecting an appropriate target audience is pivotal to ensure an organization’s success.
7) What Do You Mean By Loyalty Programs?
This questions tests your knowledge of the latest methods and procedures to follow while promoting a product.
Sample Answer
Loyalty programs could be anything that provides an additional sense of satisfaction to a customer, which is distinct and apart from using a particular product. The loyalty programs must always lower down the cost of the product upon subsequent purchase or provide instant additional benefits. It could be:
- Monetary cashback
- Loyalty points
- Discount coupons
- Vouchers, etc.
8) What Motivates You To Work?
This is a common interview question that enables an interviewer to know your primary reason for working.
Sample Answer
Sir, motivational needs or factors are different for different individuals across the world. These are largely dependent upon a person’s circumstances, living conditions, desires, and financial background. For me, my desire to achieve great heights in my career motivates me to work and secure nest senior position in the organization. Through this not only I would gain recognition but also would fetch a higher salary and incentives. This motivates me to push my limits and work for long stretched hours.
9) When Can You Start?
It is common for interviewers to ask about your availability during the interview session itself. This question in no way guarantees your selection and must not be construed in a wrong sense. A candidate must remain calm and focused instead of becoming excited.
Sample Answer
- For Employed Individuals: Desperate for a job change, I had already submitted a notice with my employer. It is our organization’s policy to issue a relieving letter within 14 days of the receipt of the notice. I would like to take into consideration 3 more days in order to provide a cushion to any unexpected event. Hence, I can confirm (___mention the date of your joining_____) as my date of joining.
- For Freshers/Unemployed Individuals: I have the ability to join immediately, as I don’t have any prior commitments or obligations to fulfill.
10) What Is More Important – Quality or Advertising?
This question tests your understanding of the practical working procedures.
Sample Answer
Sir, in my humble opinion, both of them are the pillars of success for a product. However, If asked to choose one, I would pick Quality. A customer who enjoys the quality of a product and becomes satisfied becomes your invisible marketing agent. He or she would not only explain the importance of a product in their lives but would also justify their selection. This helps in publicity using word of mouth, which is the cheapest and the most effective way of establishing a brand name. Hence, superior quality itself is a form of marketing and must be maintained at every juncture.
11) How Relevant Is Product Packaging In Establishing Brand Name?
This question tests your understanding of the practical working procedures.
Sample Answer
The more attractive is the packaging of a product, the more lured a customer is to buy that product. This is a common rule widely followed in the manufacturing industry. Therefore, tens of thousands of organizations lay a lot of effort and energy in establishing an appropriate packaging for their product that distinguishes it from the other products and makes it distinct. The primary motive of establishing a brand name is to promote the sales of a product, and the same can be achieved through attractive packaging.
12) How Will You Handle A Situation In Which Your Team Exceeded The Marketing Budget?
This question tests your understanding of the practical working procedures.
Sample Answer
Maximum efforts must be laid in order to control costs. The advertisement expenses incurred by an organization, would not reap benefits instantly, rather an organization would gain from them over the years. Hence, the budget must be respected and strictly adhered to. However, there are always some unprecedented situations that lead to a hike in advertisement expenditures. The reasons for this must be inspected and variances must be noted and analyzed to prevent the re-occurrence.
13) What Is Umbrella Branding?
This question tests your knowledge and grip on the core advertising principles .
Sample Answer
Umbrella branding refers to a type of marketing, in which a single organization uses its name to sell multiple products in the market. For example, Cadbury, a chocolate manufacturing company, uses its brand name in all of its products. This helps in an instant increase in sales of the newly launched product, as people are aware of and impose faith on the already established brand name, which, in the instant case is Cadbury.
14) What Do You Mean By Cause-Based Brand Management?
This question tests your understanding of the practical working procedures and the various techniques used in establishing a brand name.
Sample Answer
There are always situations and events that unfold in a community or nation or world as a whole. These events are sometimes so drastic or impressive that they tend to remain a part of our memory for a fairly long period of time. A brand manager can take advantage of such causes and design its marketing strategy accordingly. For example, In the event of a Football World Cup, advertisements can be placed, that involve and cover the major sporting event.
15) How Do You Prioritize Between Tasks?
This is a personality evaluating question that enables an interviewer to evaluate your mindset, approach and attitude towards different situations.
Sample Answer
It is important to prioritize between tasks in order to complete them in a time-bound manner. I always do so, by arranging my tasks on the basis of difficulty level. The toughest tasks are always completed by me in the beginning and then slowly and gradually I move towards easier tasks. By doing tough tasks at the starting of the day, you are able to complete them efficiently and in a lesser time than usual, which will eventually leave ample time at the end of the day to finish your easy tasks.
16) What Do You Mean Google Adwords?
This question tests your level of proficiency and awareness of the online marketing agencies and software.
Sample Answer
Sir, Google ad words is an online marketing agency that enables you to place your ads on different websites and/or mobile applications. It is an important marketing tool and can really help an organization in enhancing its sales and boosting its performance.
17) How Do You Perceive Kaizen?
This question tests your knowledge of the various established benchmarks and standards for improving performance.
Sample Answer
Kaizen is a Japanese technique that primarily lays focuses on constant improvement in the processes, working methods, and procedures. I am a big fan of this technique and always implement it in my work zone. I perceive it to be the way or manner that can improve my individual performance. This in turn would ultimately benefit the organization as a whole.
18) What Is Your Biggest Strength?
This is a common interview question which enables an interviewer to know the level of understanding of your attitude and behavior.
Sample Answer
The biggest strength, in my honest opinion, is my ability to create some impressive and creative, situation-based advertisement campaigns that will promote the product of a company effectively. Further, I never quit upon any particular task, and have the ability to increase the sales of a product as well its brand loyalty by generating positive traction.
19) Are You, Willing, To Travel Overseas On A Short Notice?
This is a common expectation from established and client-rich organizations. They want you to move overseas and handle their foreign projects too. Hence, always answer this question positively.
Sample Answer
Yes sir absolutely. I have the ability and willingness to serve the organization not only domestically but on foreign projects too. I assure you that I have a valid passport for this purpose and can move really quickly in case a need arises.
20) Why You Selected Our Organization?
This is a common interview question through which an interviewer wants to know your level of awareness, commitment, and loyalty towards the organization you wish to work for.
Sample Answer
Being an esteemed organization, with so many individual brands and products, that are fully developed in the market, I believe working for this organization can add a lot of value to my resume and would help me in career advancement to a great extent. In addition to this, I am completely impressed by the work culture and infrastructure on offer by the organization. Further, a lucrative pay package and impressive employee benefits entice me towards joining this prestigious organization.
21) Do You Have Any Questions For Us?
This is the last question in an interview session, that requires you to ask a few questions from your interviewer related to the job profile, organization’s ethics and culture, work timings, benefits offered, etc. It is advised that you frame a few relevant questions related to the organization during the interview process itself. Skipping this question can prove fatal to your selection chances drastically.
Sample Questions
- What are the work timings?
- Is there a provision for overtime allowance?
- What health benefits are offered by the company to its employees and their families?
- What is the reimbursement policy in the case of maternity?
- What are the additional benefits upon achieving the targets allotted by the company?
Download the list of questions in .PDF format, to practice with them later, or to use them on your interview template (for Brand Manager interviews):
References
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002224379403100203
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/bm.2012.44
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