How to Market Yourself in an Interview…

Interviews can be daunting, but nailing one requires a special blend of technical know-how and engaging communication. No matter what sector you are in, how you present yourself and communicate your expertise is critical. Here’s how to stand out in your next interview and leave a lasting impression.

First things first: understand that most companies now demand more than just skill—they require adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate across teams. The way you communicate your experience and fit for the role needs to reflect this, including senior based answers to paint a picture for your interviewer. Remember, if successful, the person sat across from you will one day need to rely on you, so how can you prove this in such a short period of time.

Here’s a guide on how to hold yourself in an interview, blending professionalism with confidence:

1. Prepare for Role-Specific Questions

Both IT and creative roles require you to demonstrate a deep understanding of your domain, but with a different emphasis.

• For IT: Expect questions about problem-solving, troubleshooting, and technical challenges. Be ready to walk the interviewer through real-world examples of issues you’ve faced and how you’ve resolved them. Where possible, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers concisely.
• For Marketing: Be prepared to showcase creativity and strategy. You’ll likely face questions about your approach to campaign management, digital marketing tools (SEO, PPC, social media, etc.), and/or creative design. Demonstrating how you measure success in past campaigns is key here.

2. Align Your Answers with the Job Description

Come with a clear set of expectations, so be sure to study the job description carefully. This may even mean you have to pull on your recruiter to get you more information and give you a greater understanding of the company, role, and team. Use the language in the job listing to guide your responses and highlight specific experiences that match what they’re seeking.

• For IT: If the job listing emphasises proficiency in certain programming languages or cloud platforms, tailor your answers to emphasise those skills. Discuss projects where you used those tools successfully and try to make them as relevant and recent as possible.
• For Marketing: If the role is heavily focused on digital strategy, talk about how you've built successful campaigns, optimised ads, or improved brand visibility through social media.

Being specific in your answers shows that you understand the position deeply and are the right fit for the role.

3. Showcase Problem-Solving Abilities

Whether you’re in IT or marketing, problem-solving is at the core of both roles.

• For IT: You’re often expected to diagnose and resolve technical issues or improve systems’ efficiency. Explain past challenges, how you identified the root cause, and the steps you took to fix them.
• For Marketing: Show that you can identify gaps in the market, troubleshoot underperforming campaigns, and quickly pivot strategies when needed.

Demonstrating that you can think critically and adapt will set you apart from other candidates.

4. Communicate Cross-Functionality

IT and marketing roles often require working closely with other departments, with certain roles requiring this more than others, so it’s important to demonstrate that you can collaborate effectively and think on your feet.

• For IT: Highlight how you’ve worked with non-technical teams, like marketing or sales, to implement solutions that align with business goals. Speak about your ability to explain complex tech concepts in simple terms.
• For Marketing: Emphasise how you’ve partnered with IT to implement marketing tools (CRM, automation software) or worked with designers and copywriters to launch campaigns.

Being able to communicate across functions and work collaboratively is a key skill that recruiters are looking for, so don’t skip this aspect.

5. Ask Insightful Questions

When the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for us?" don’t pass on the opportunity to shine and show you can add value to their future vision.

For IT: Ask about the company’s current tech stack, upcoming projects, or challenges with their current IT infrastructure. This shows you're thinking about how you can add value from day one.

• Example: “What are the biggest technical challenges the company is facing, and how does this role help address them?”or even “How would you describe your company culture, and how would you see me fitting into that?”

For Marketing: Inquire about their marketing goals, the platforms they use, or how they measure success in campaigns. This shows you're serious about strategic thinking and results-driven work.

• Example: “How does the marketing team prioritise digital channels, and what tools do you use to measure campaign performance?”

Asking thoughtful questions signals genuine interest in the role and can even lead to a deeper discussion, giving you a chance to demonstrate more of your expertise.

Pro Tip: At the end of the interview, always finish by asking if they have any reservation as to why you cannot perform this role? If they do highlight an area, this gives you another chance to “fight your corner” and counter the point.

6. Maintain Confidence and Composure

No matter how well-prepared you are, confidence in an interview is non-negotiable. But confidence isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about how you approach challenges, adapt, and present yourself.

• Body Language: Sit up straight, maintain eye contact, and give a firm handshake (if in person). Avoid fidgeting or slouching, which can signal disinterest or nervousness.
• Tone: Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Avoid rushing through answers. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t panic—admit it honestly, and explain how you’d go about finding the solution.

No matter the sector, proving that you can perform under pressure is a massive point and instills confidence in your interviewer. If you can build trust and make them feel comfortable in the thought of being “in the trenches” with you, then this holds a lot of weight. Most people perform well when the team is doing well, so you need to prove you will overperform when the cards are down and the market is not necessarily doing so well.

Final Tip: Personalise Your Approach!

Tailor your responses to the company’s industry, culture, and goals. Research the company thoroughly before your interview, and demonstrate that you’re a cultural fit as well as a technical and/or creative one.

In short, the key to acing interviews is by being human, not too scripted, and showing a balance between technical expertise, creativity, and strong communication. Stay calm, be clear in your responses, and let your enthusiasm for the role shine through.

Good luck, and remember—you’ve got this!

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