Are you looking to hire a media buyer to help you get the most out of your advertising budget? As with any role, the interview process is critical to finding the right candidate! So in this article, we'll provide you with a guide for conducting a successful interview with a media buyer.
Additionally, an interview questions generator can further help you select the right questions to ask.
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Technical Questions for Media Buyers
When it comes to technical questions, your goal should be to evaluate the candidate's understanding of media buying principles, analytical skills, and familiarity with media buying tools and processes. Here are some questions to keep in mind:
- How do you go about conducting keyword research?
This question will help you evaluate your candidates familiarity with keyword research. An ideal candidate would be able to illustrate how they use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Moz Keyword Explorer to identify relevant keywords that can be targeted for ads. They should also be able to describe how they employ these keywords to develop tailored advertisements that target different audiences.
- Can you explain the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?
This question helps you assess a candidate's understanding of SEO practices. An ideal candidate should be able to explain that on-page SEO entails optimizing a website's content and HTML source code to make it more search engine friendly. Off-page SEO, on the other hand, involves building external links to a website in order to increase its authority and relevance.
- What is the importance of backlinks in SEO?
An ideal candidate would be able to explain that backlinks are important because they signal to search engines that other websites consider your content valuable and relevant. They should also be able to explain how they use backlinks to improve a website's search engine rankings.
Other technical questions to ask include:
- How do you measure the success of a media buying campaign?
- Can you explain the difference between CPM and CPC?
- What are some common metrics used in media buying?
- Can you explain the difference between a first-party cookie and a third-party cookie?
- Can you explain the concept of ad targeting?
- What are some common ad formats used in media buying?
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Skills being Judged with Technical Questions
Technical knowledge of media buying principles:
Candidates should have a deep understanding of media buying principles and how they apply to different platforms and campaigns. They should be able to explain key concepts such as targeting, bidding, and ad placement.
Analytical skills and problem-solving abilities:
Media buyers need to be able to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. They should be able to explain how they use data to optimize campaigns and achieve the best possible results.
Familiarity with media buying tools and techniques:
Candidates should be familiar with a variety of media buying tools and techniques, such as programmatic advertising, retargeting, and social media advertising. They should be able to explain how they use these tools to achieve their goals.
Red flags to lookout for
Lack of familiarity with media buying terminology and concepts:
Candidates who are unfamiliar with key media buying concepts and terminology may struggle to work effectively with clients, stakeholders, and other team members.
Inability to explain technical details in simple terms:
Media buyers need to be able to communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders. Candidates who struggle to explain technical details in simple terms may struggle to build effective relationships with clients and stakeholders.
Over Reliance on outdated media buying strategies:
Media buying is constantly evolving, and candidates who rely too heavily on outdated strategies may struggle to achieve the best possible results. Look for candidates who are familiar with the latest media buying trends and techniques and who are willing to experiment and try new things.
By focusing on these skills and red flags, you can identify candidates who have the technical knowledge, analytical skills, and familiarity with media buying tools and techniques needed to succeed in this role.
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Behavioral Questions for Media Buyers
When it comes to behavioral questions, your goal is to assess the candidate's communication and collaboration skills, ability to work under pressure and solve problems, and adaptability to changes in the media buying landscape. Here are some important behavioral skills to ask:
- Can you walk us through a successful media buying campaign you worked on?
An ideal applicant would be able to detail a campaign they worked on from beginning to end, including their strategy, target audience, and key performance indicators. They should also be able to show specific examples of how they improved the campaign's performance by optimizing it.
- How do you stay updated with the latest media buying trends and algorithm updates?
An ideal candidate should be able to explain how they stay informed on industry trends and developments possibly by reading industry publications, attending conferences, and networking with other media buyers. They should also be able to describe how they use this knowledge in their advertising.
- Can you describe a time when you had to navigate a challenging situation in a media buying campaign?
An ideal candidate would be able to provide a concrete example of a difficult circumstance they encountered, such as a rapid change in a platform's policies or a substantial shift in the behavior of their target audience. They should also be able to explain how they analyzed the circumstance, devised a solution, and finally resolved the problem.
Other questions to ask can include:
- How do you handle disagreements with other team members or clients?
- Can you describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision in a media buying campaign?
- How do you handle unexpected changes in a campaign's performance?
- Can you describe a time when you had to adapt to a new platform or tool?
- How do you balance the need for creativity with the need for data-driven decision making in your campaigns?
- Can you describe a time when you had to work with a limited budget or tight deadline?
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Skills being judged with Behavioral Questions
Communication and collaboration skills:
Media buying is a collaborative process that involves working closely with clients, stakeholders, and other team members. Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong communication skills, including the ability to listen actively, present ideas clearly, and build effective relationships with others.
Ability to work under pressure and solve problems:
Media buying can be a high-pressure environment, and candidates need to be able to stay calm and focused in the face of tight deadlines and unexpected challenges. They should be able to demonstrate their ability to solve problems and make effective decisions under pressure.
Adaptability to changes in the media buying landscape:
Media buying is a constantly evolving field, and candidates need to be able to adapt quickly to changes in technology, trends, and consumer behavior. They should be able to demonstrate their ability to learn new things, experiment with new strategies, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Red Flags to Lookout for
Lack of experience working on successful media buying campaigns:
Candidates who have never worked on successful media buying campaigns may struggle to understand the complexities of the process and the importance of achieving results. Look for candidates who can provide examples of successful campaigns they have worked on and who can explain the key factors that contributed to their success.
Failure to demonstrate the ability to collaborate with other teams:
Media buying is a collaborative process that involves working closely with other teams, such as creative, analytics, and account management. Candidates who struggle to collaborate effectively with other teams may struggle to achieve the best possible results. Look for candidates who can provide examples of successful collaborations and who can explain how they work with other teams to achieve their goals.
Resistance to change and innovation:
Media buying is a constantly evolving field, and candidates who are resistant to change and innovation may struggle to keep up with the latest trends and techniques. Look for candidates who are open to new ideas, willing to experiment, and able to adapt quickly to changes in the media buying landscape.
By focusing on these skills and red flags, you can identify candidates who have the communication and collaboration skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability needed to succeed in this role.
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Soft Skills Questions for Media Buyers
When it comes to soft skills, your goal is to assess the candidate's time management and organizational skills, ability to balance competing priorities, and customer service and relationship-building skills. Here are some relevant questions that will help you gauge soft skills:
- How do you prioritize your tasks when working on multiple media buying campaigns?
An ideal candidate will be able to outline their method of organizing their workload, including the use of project management tools and the establishment of clear priorities. They should also be able to describe how they communicate with clients and stakeholders to ensure that their demands are met.
- Can you describe a time when you had to manage competing priorities in a media buying project?
An ideal candidate would be able to describe a specific example of managing multiple priorities, such as managing a campaign with multiple target audiences or a campaign with multiple goals. They should also be able to explain how they balanced these priorities to achieve the best possible outcome.
- How do you ensure that you are meeting the needs of your clients while staying within budget and time constraints?
An ideal candidate would be able to describe their process for managing budgets and timelines, including using forecasting and tracking tools to ensure they are staying on track. They should also be able to explain how they communicate with clients to manage expectations and resolve any issues that arise.
Other questions that you can ask include:
- How do you ensure the quality of your work when working on multiple campaigns?
- Can you describe a time when you had to manage a complex project with multiple stakeholders?
- How do you ensure that you are keeping up with your clients' expectations and needs?
- Can you describe a time when you had to negotiate with a client or stakeholder?
- How do you measure the success of a media buying campaign?
- Can you describe a time when you had to handle a dissatisfied client?
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Skills being judged with Soft Skills Questions
Time management and organizational skills:
Media buying can involve managing multiple campaigns simultaneously, each with their own timelines and deliverables. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and organize their work to meet deadlines.
Ability to balance competing priorities:
Media buying involves balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders, including clients, team members, and management. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to balance competing priorities and make effective decisions that meet the needs of all parties.
Customer service and relationship-building skills:
Media buying is a service-oriented role that involves working closely with clients to achieve their marketing goals. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to provide excellent customer service, build strong relationships with clients, and work collaboratively to achieve results.
Red flags to lookout for:
Inability to manage time and prioritize tasks effectively:
Candidates who struggle with time management and organization may struggle to keep up with the demands of a media buying role. Look for candidates who can provide examples of how they manage their time and prioritize tasks effectively.
Failure to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders:
Communication is a key part of media buying, and candidates who struggle to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders may struggle to achieve the best results. Look for candidates who can demonstrate their ability to listen actively, present ideas clearly, and build strong relationships with others.
Lack of attention to detail and quality assurance:
Media buying involves managing complex campaigns with many moving parts, and candidates who lack attention to detail may struggle to ensure the accuracy and quality of their work. Look for candidates who can demonstrate their attention to detail and commitment to quality assurance.
By focusing on these skills and red flags, you can identify candidates who have the time management and organizational skills, ability to balance competing priorities, and customer service and relationship-building skills needed to succeed in this role.
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In conclusion, the interview process is critical to finding the right media buyer for your business. By asking the right technical, behavioral, and soft skills questions, you can assess a candidate's knowledge and experience, as well as their ability to work well with others, solve problems, and manage their workload.
It's also important to watch out for red flags such as a lack of familiarity with industry terminology, resistance to change and innovation, and an inability to manage competing priorities. By keeping these factors in mind and tailoring your questions to your specific needs, you can find the perfect media buyer for your business.
We hope this guide helps you make informed hiring decisions!
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