Our company values employees with an entrepreneurial spirit. Do you believe your approach to sales and career goals are a match for this kind of culture, and if so, why?

"I am confident that my approach and long-term goals are a match for GroupM. I've held a position with a company where the environment was highly entrepreneurial. I started with a tiny book of business that I was expected to grow with very little training or direction. It was up to me to ensure I understood the company's objectives and target customers to prospect effectively. I also had to stay highly organized and consistent in the absence of a real process and systems. I provided feedback and worked with the management to establish flexible processes and goals that helped me and our small team stay focused yet agile. After two years, I had grown my business from 35 to 300 active customers that were placing orders regularly. I'm looking for the same kind of rewarding experience again, and even better, I eventually see myself leading newer sales professionals to the same success."

The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working in an environment similar to GroupM. They would like to hear some details related to your working style, short and long term goals, and how you've been able to grow a business, with examples of why you would be a fit in their organization. Your answer should match elements of their overall culture. You can also incorporate numbers related to your achievements to substantiate your claims.Do not answer this question without doing research on the company and the people that work there. This research is a crucial part of successfully answering culture-fit questions in an interview. If you're not entirely sure what their culture is at GroupM, you can let them know you've done some research but would like some more information, then ask them to describe it to you briefly before you provide an answer.

"My goals are very well aligned with your culture and the direction of your company. When I hear you say that you value employees with an entrepreneurial mindset, to me, that means that you are very growth-focused. As a salesperson whose job is to bring revenue to a company, I've experienced both the hunting and farming aspects of sales, but the hunting activities are where growth stems. I enjoy being a hunter more than anything. I have taken a number of positions where there were little to no existing sales and called on prospects over and over again until they finally recognized my company's name and felt comfortable enough to buy. My goal after that was to continue to stay in front of those customers and build long-term partnerships, but I never lost focus of going after new opportunities. In my current position, I've increased sales by 10% or more year-over-year. This year I'm on pace to grow my accounts by even more."

Great data visualization will present data in a convincing way. How do you improve human perception when presenting data?

"I know that people are very visual so the bulk of presenting data convincingly, comes down the use of color, graphs, and animation. I like to work in small multiples so that the numbers and information I am sharing are easy to digest. A successful presentation is all about the visual layout and easy absorption of data."

The interviewer would like to know that you see the importance of positioning data in a convincing and easy-to-understand manner. As a data visualization business, GroupM knows that their customers will only purchase the services that they understand. Discuss with the interviewer how you improve human perception when it comes to presenting sets of data.

"I recently read a study on the fact that pie charts are difficult for people to quickly understand and calculate so now I use them sparingly when it comes to presenting data sets and other important information. I lean more towards line charts for tracking changes or showing trends over time. Then, bar charts when I am comparing data from a variety of categories. The use of colors and other visuals is critical, also."

If hired for the sales position with GroupM, we may ask you to test different advertisements. Have you created split or A/B ads? What worked and did not work and why?

"In my last position I created a split ad for a massage spa. I used natural and calming imagery for the A ad, and used colorful, bright imagery for the B ad. These were marketed to the same target demographic. After three days, ad A was performing 60% better than ad B. Therefore ad B was cut and the budget was put into the ad with better performance."

Occasionally our clients may want you to run split advertisements. Split, or A/B ads are two to three different ads for the same product. Both ads run simultaneously for short periods, after a few days, the ad with the best performance is kept and the money going towards the other one to two ads will be put towards the top performing ad. Alternatively, the same ad may run but targeted at different demographics.Explain your experience with split ads, give specific examples. If you have never run a split ad, explain your knowledge of how they function.

"In my previous position, I sold water bottles for an online store. The water bottles were especially good at keeping drinks cold in harsh climates. I created one advertisement emphasizing the better features of the bottle. I then targeted the ad towards two different demographics. Women ages 18-35, and men 18-35. We found that our ad aimed at men was more effective at selling water bottles. We then removed the ad aimed at women."

In your opinion, is data a true asset for a business. Why or why not?

"Since acquiring data comes with a significant cost, I believe it is fair to say then that data is an asset. Data can give precious insight into a company's operations, financial strength, future scalability, and more. By properly analyzing data, a company can open itself to millions in growth. For these reasons, I consider data to be a true business asset."

Many companies still struggle with the idea that their data is a real asset when it comes to their business. The interviewer would like to know that, if a client asked you about the importance of their data, that you would give a well-thought-out and appropriate response. Share with the interviewer why data is indeed an asset.

"It is interesting to me that this idea is still in question with some of the clients with which I work. I recently read a study claiming that 36% of businesses lack the tools needed to extract and analyze the information and data that they have. When a client asks me if their data is valuable, I always reply with a hearty 'yes!' It is expensive to gather data, but also more costly to never analyze your data."

GroupM offers powerful tools to enhance audience targeting in addition to their core service. How do you convince a customer that they should elect to add them to their package?

"I would convince my customer that they should use our audience targeting service by explaining that when planning for ad campaigns, their message reaching the right audience will make the difference between good and excellent results. I would ask my customer what their current method for audience targeting is. Their answer will help me understand if they already have an audience planning process, ideal customer profiles, audience segments, user interest insights, and how they pivot on their data. I'll listen for areas where they can improve. Afterward, I'll explain that there are even more ways to enhance their strategy. With data, they'll see how our tools can make their performance exceed expectations."

The purpose of this question is to find out what your technique is for selling additional services, or upselling. You should able to sell other services without making your core product sound incomplete, and at the same time make the customer understand that they'll miss an opportunity to maximize results without them. Your answer should incorporate sales strategy and demonstrate your knowledge of audience targeting tools.

"Knowing how to convince a customer to add a service is about understanding their needs. When it comes to audience targeting, most companies have a good idea of who their audiences are. While speaking with them, I need to listen for areas where they want to optimize. The best way to upsell a customer is to show them areas of opportunity they're missing out on. For example, do they currently have an audience plan, and way to compare it to campaign results? Do they have audiences segmented out and can they monitor how each segment interacts with their ads? Does their current plan allow them to reach the right members of their audience at appropriate times? If the answer to any of these is no, it's my job to show them how our tools will deliver in those areas while providing numbers to justify the additional cost."

Companies have several different advertising platforms to choose from. What skills would you bring that would help GroupM remain a competitive option in this industry?

"With my experience working on advertising platforms, I am confident that my skills can help GroupM remain a strong competitor in the industry. For example, my knowledge of competing advertising platforms gives me insight into the differences between GroupM's advertising platform and that of other companies. Also, my analytical skills will help GroupM build more robust analytical and reporting capabilities and offer higher levels of customizations for clients."

Hiring managers would like to understand what skills you would bring to the position and if it matches the needs of their company. Be specific about your skills and experience and how you can contribute to the ambitious goals of GroupM. Highlight any experience you may have working with advertising platforms whether on the client side or the supplier side.

"For several years, I have worked with clients to meet their strategic goals. Strong communication and problem-solving skills helped me successfully meet my clients' needs, and I believe these skills will also help me effectively work with the various teams at GroupM to continue to build a more competitive product for a continually changing industry."

What are important reporting and analytics capabilities an advertising platform should have?

"The reporting and analytics capabilities of an advertising platform is crucial as client companies are looking to ensure their advertising efforts are effective and are reaping the benefits of their investment. Beyond the basic measures such as click-through-rate and open rates, I believe it is important that an advertising platform can integrate a variety of data. This data includes things such as geographic and demographic data for different advertising channels and data from different devices. This data allows companies to understand the customer journey better. Based on my research, all of these capabilities are offered with GroupM's advertising platform and much more including the ability to evaluate advertising channels clients may not be currently advertising with."

Reporting and analytics capabilities are easily one of the essential features of an advertising platform. Your answer to this question should show your understanding of the reporting and analytics capabilities of advertising platforms in general, and particularly with that of GroupM.

"An important feature from an analytics and reporting perspective is the ability to customize their reports and integrate data from outside sources. The higher the level of customization offered to client companies, the better they will be able to evaluate the advertising efforts unique to their business. In addition, being able to integrate data from a source outside of the advertising platform will also allow companies to better tailor their analyses to answer their strategic questions. The advertising platform offered by GroupM offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities that can be customized based on the client's needs. "

Data-driven advertising with machine learning is part of the service that GroupM provides to its customers. How would you explain why this feature is so useful to a potential customer?

"Machine learning plugs us into important information about your audiences such as research and buying habits, age, location, and other demographics. This information allows us to ensure that the ads are being placed well online, in front of actual potential customers and not random people. You'll avoid spending money on advertising to people that are not your target, and data has shown that this approach - advertising to an audience that your product truly appeals to within the right context - can improve your conversions by over 200%."

The interviewer seeks to uncover your understanding of this technology in advertising and how its implementation provides a monetary benefit. Talking points would be how data and automation help avoid wasteful advertising spend, i.e., presenting ads only to customers that are statistically likely to buy, and what they'll gain from this compared to their current approach.Don't get too technical or try to explain in detail how machine learning works. Stay focused on describing how machine learning improves effectiveness in your customer's marketing strategy.

"Pay-per-click and similar kinds of advertising have been known to increase brand visibility effectively, but how frustrating is it when you max out your budget on these campaigns and don't see many new sales? Machine learning understands your target customer identity and based on that profile, ensures your ads' increased visibility is only targeted to people that might become customers. With data collected on users which includes insightful demographic information and other lifestyle or purchasing preferences, it applies an algorithm for ad placement that can grow your sales from this source by more than 200%."

In your opinion, what is the most exciting collaboration between data analysis and artificial intelligence in the past year?

"I have taken a keen interest in how artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms have been working together to optimize business workflows. The result appears to be better strategies for enterprises surrounding people management, effective operations, as well as culture and engagement."

If you are up to date on the trends and happenings between data analysis and AI, you should have no problem answering this question. Discuss an exciting collaboration, project, or product release that you have heard of recently. Because this is an open-ended question, be careful not to ramble on.

"I recently read an article in Forbes on the top machine learning programs to watch. I was especially intrigued by a company called DataVisor which uses machine learning to uncover financial data issues, helping to protect against bank fraud, and other financial based criminal activity."

There are several components of a robust advertising platform. Which ones do you find to be the most valuable to a company running frequent advertising campaigns?

"At times, larger clients may have several campaigns running simultaneously as they launch different targeted campaigns through different channels. Due to the high volume of campaigns, it is important to have the ability to launch, manage and track all of these campaigns seamlessly. The availability of information to make these decisions quickly will also be important, and this can be addressed through a platform's analytics capabilities. The user-friendliness of the interface is also very important to execute these campaigns."

Your answer to this question should show hiring managers that you understand the needs of larger clients that may run advertising frequently. These larger clients may require an advertising platform with more product attributes than a smaller business would.

"Clients who are running advertising campaigns frequently would benefit from investing in a powerful advertising platform. The timeliness of reporting will be key, so any changes in advertising can be executed without delay. Availability of data, such as channel metrics, also helps clients make strategic advertising decisions."

What is your approach to working with a large amount of information/data?

"I learned a technique years ago from a data science blog to take a three-tiered approach when working with large amounts of data, and information. I evaluate, define, and control. What this means is that I first evaluate the type of data that I have. I can then define and categorize it, allowing me to ensure it is organized and protected. From there, I can control its use and distribution. How do you prefer large amounts of data be managed here at GroupM?"

When you work in data management, you will be required to handle large amounts of data and information, keeping it all organized and easily accessible to yourself, and other project stakeholders. The interviewer would like to know that you can successfully juggle and organize it all. If you would like to know more about GroupM's process, you can certainly ask.

"When managing large amounts of information, I create lists, and collections, so that the information is easy to find. I am aware of keeping the data stored as flat as possible. I also archive old information regularly so that it is not a distraction. I want to learn more about how GroupM prefers the management of large amounts of information and data."

A sales position at GroupM includes follow up calls and emails with our customers. Occasionally a customer may have a complaint about the product or service they received from us, explain how you would respond.

"I see negative feedback as an opportunity to highlight our brand's dedication to customers. I respond to the feedback by validating the customer's concerns, apologizing if needed, and offering several suggestions for a solution to the problem."

More than likely, positions at GroupM will have an involvement in sales. GroupM will want to assist their clients and help them achieve better performance on their advertising platform. Unfortunately, in any business, it's near impossible to have 100% customer satisfaction. Therefore, GroupM will want to see how you handle customer complaints.Handling customer concerns is an integral part of many sales roles. Describe how you can turn a negative situation into a positive while listening to and addressing the customer's interests.

"In my previous role, a customer sent an email to our office stating she was dissatisfied because she had placed an order by mail, and the package had arrived damaged. I apologized to the customer for the inconvenience and took action quickly to correct the situation. I let the customer know that we would be speaking with our shipping agent regarding the incident, and would immediately ship out a replacement package free of charge."

Technological capabilities of advertising platforms of constantly changing. How do you ensure you are aware of all the new advertising platform developments?

"The competitive landscape for advertising platforms is constantly changing, so I find it is important to remain current with new products and service offerings. Regularly, I set aside time to read industry-specific news where I learn about new companies entering the industry and the products they offer. Also, I look for opportunities to attend conferences and training sessions where I learn of emerging technologies related to advertising platforms. These opportunities also allow me to network and learn from my industry peers."

Most companies competing in this industry understand the importance of professional growth concerning product specific and technical knowledge. GroupM would like to know that you find continued learning important. They want to see how you go about remaining current with competitive offerings and new technologies. This extended learning may include both formal and informal learning opportunities. Be sure to specify any proactive measures you take to educate yourself continually.

"In addition to attending industry conferences and training seminars, I also find the time to research which advertising platforms my client's competitors are using. If hired, I would compare the attributes of GroupM's advertising platform to those being used by competitors of GroupM's clients. This competitive research would allow me to keep a pulse on the new developments of rivaling advertising platforms. I also believe it may help GroupM's teams generate ideas for new offerings of its own."

GroupM is a leading provider of high quality, engaging advertisements displayed within written content published by some of the world's best-known sources. As a sales executive for this company, what's your value proposition?

"We provide highly targeted, engaging advertising solutions that will enhance your brand's ability to move your audience. We use sophisticated technology to ensure our ads are displayed to your audience based on their preferences at the right place and time, no matter what device they're on. This technology paired with an easy to use, and data-rich platform where you can easily view the results of your campaign ensure that you will receive the best possible return on your investment."

The purpose of this question is to determine if you understand what the core value of the service you offer is, and how you represent it. Value, in this case, is how your product or service addresses your targeted customers needs in a way that other companies with similar products or services cannot. It should be unique and compelling to the customer.Do not provide an answer that focuses on the description of the product or service more than what it can do for the customer since this would not be interesting or compelling to them.

"Our goal is to be a key part of your marketing strategy through reliable, data-driven, brand-friendly technology. Our ads are designed to be relevant, non-intrusive, and elegantly positioned to appeal to the most discerning audiences. Our attention to detail extends from beginning to end, where we carefully scrutinize your audience's interaction with our ads and continually look for ways to enhance them, maximizing your results."

Part of our business is in big data, which is continuously changing as new technology and products enter the market. How do you keep up-to-date on these changes?

"Keeping abreast of the changes in the data field is important if a company wants to remain competitive. Companies need to know what technology is offered in the industry, so they don't lose their clients to the competition. I remain informed through various online resources such as industry blogs, journals, and community forums. Also, conferences and seminars are also informative sources to learn about changes in the industry, and I do my best to attend these regularly when budgets allow. Also, it is important to ensure that knowledge is shared across departments within the company. I have found holding sessions such as 'Lunch and Learns' help with the internal knowledge sharing."

With the high level of competition in the data industry, companies are continuously introducing new products and services to remain relevant. GroupM would like to know that you will be proactive in educating yourself about the changes in the industry. Talk about resources you would use to remain informed to updates and changes in the data industry. Also, communicate that you understand the importance of remaining current on the continuously evolving industry.

"Keeping informed of the technological advances of the data industry pushes companies to remain innovative themselves. I believe companies remain competitive by improving on the ideas of others. I remain informed through continuous communication with my network. Whether through email, online communities or social media, including LinkedIn and Twitter, I read articles from industry journals and information shared by my network. I believe it is important to be a part of an active network of professionals involved in data within their companies. Also, when my schedule allows, I attend networking events where I continually meet new industry professionals."

What is pervasive business intelligence, and what does it mean to you?

"To me, pervasive business intelligence means that information is widely spread through a group of employees, allowing them to have access to business data and intelligence, freely. I believe that PBI is an excellent practice as it fosters a positive workplace culture and helps employees to feel empowered."

Pervasive business intelligence, or Pervasive BI as it's often referred to, is a business' practice of empowering employees by allowing open access to information, and essential responsibilities around decision making. This practice is known to generate beneficial results for companies and also supports a positive company culture. GroupM knows that by making it easy for you to find information, the better you will be able to do your job. Talk about the term Pervasive BI, and what it means to you.

"I was recently reading an article on pervasive business intelligence, where a popular survey showed that over 80% of senior employees and leaders wanted data and business information to be more accessible to them, in the workplace. The concept may be a new conversation to many, but it's an important one."

Do you have experience giving product or software demonstrations, and closing new accounts?

"In my current role, I give a product demonstration a few times a month. Although it is not my primary job function; I know our applications and software inside and out, so that I can jump in and help anytime. I am comfortable giving presentations and can explain challenging tech to people with little technical experience easily."

Working in tech, you may be required to walk clients through the ins and outs of their data, helping them to understand how to decipher the data and then use it to their benefit. Working for a company that offers a data visualization solution means that you will be tech savvy and able to teach others how to use GroupM products correctly. Walk the interviewer through any experience you have giving demonstrations, and working with potential new clients.

"In my current role, I give product demonstrations to potential new clients, a few times a week. Once our sales team has primed the client to buy, it's my job to show off the product features, overcome any tech related objections, and then close the deal."

How does data drive a business' success?

"When I take a hard look at the many uses of data, I see that data can be collected in a plethora of ways to determine the success of a new product launch, competitive analysis, or patterns that occur, which may not be seen by the human eye. In my career, I have the most experience using data to help drive employee productivity and onboarding solutions which can save a company thousands of dollars."

Data-driven decision making is becoming a more significant topic every year. Companies can leverage data analytics to determine: - Productivity - Competitive analysis - How, when, and where products are used - Customer demographics - Pattern analysis - Business growth Talk to the interviewer about the ways that you feel companies can best use data to drive the success of their business.

"Data can drive every aspect of a business' success if approached and utilized correctly. In my experience, I have seen that companies underutilize what a full data analysis approach can do for them. Analytics programs should be set up for marketing, sales, employee productivity, product efficiency, competitive analysis and more."

The technology available to our campaign managers is constantly changing and improving. How do you remain current with the changing industry?

"From my experience in the digital advertising industry, I have witnessed the many technological changes and improvements that have benefited marketers. I understand that to get a full picture of the industry climate; you have to go outside the company's walls. I belong to several industry professional groups online where I am informed of seminars and training sessions as it relates to Digital Advertising technology. The information I acquire from these gatherings has been valuable as I implement my learnings into my job responsibilities and share with other team members within the company."

To add value as a GroupM team member, it is vital that you remain current to changes in the advertising industry. Whether through formal or informal means, hiring managers want to be assured that you will make strides to stay informed and continue learning about trends and new developments in the digital advertising industry. Through your response, convey that you are interested in personal, and professional growth that will contribute to GroupM's strategic goals.

"My experience at various companies has shown me that informal learning can be just as valuable as formal training sessions or seminars. I continually seek out ways to learn more about the digital advertising industry, whether it's from the technological side or the creative side. By connecting with clients, co-workers in other departments or professionals in my network, I have gained valuable insights into the digital advertising industry. The knowledge I gained has given me new perspectives on my work and the industry overall while giving me the tools I need to add value to GroupM."

At GroupM, we believe data management is crucial when executing and evaluating a campaign. What is your experience working with data as it relates to digital advertising?

"As with any marketing campaign, I have learned that data management is key to launching and running a successful digital advertising campaign. My work with Data Management Platforms has exposed me to the sizable volume of data collected and managed for digital advertising campaigns. As part of my job, I managed large data warehouses and extracted data required for targeting and evaluating Digital Advertising campaigns. This work was crucial to ensure that these campaigns were effective and meeting company goals. If given the opportunity to work with GroupM, I am confident that my knowledge will help clients better manage their digital advertising data."

In your response, talk about the jobs or projects where you worked with data related to digital advertising. While doing so, express your understanding of the importance of data management in this area. Be sure to share any experience you might have had with Data Management Platforms (DMP's) and how they may have help with the success of a digital advertising campaign. Also, speak to how you might contribute to GroupM's data management efforts.

"The capture and exchange of data before, during and after a digital advertising campaign is imperative. Although my work with Data Management Platforms is somewhat limited, I have worked with team members to troubleshoot issues as it relates to digital advertising data. This work includes addressing issues with data capture including the refreshing and cleaning out of 'stale' cookies. Also, I have experience troubleshooting integration issues with data warehouses storing the necessary data for digital advertising campaigns. As an active member of the technology team at GroupM, I trust that I can help the data management efforts run smoothly."

How could a business use the data visualization services of GroupM to prospect and generate new leads?

"I see that GroupM offers a service which allows its users to gain insights on ad analytics, combining them with current customer data. This service would be excellent for finding and then targeting a specific customer base. The more a business knows about their existing clients' habits, the better they can use that information for targeting new clientele."

The interviewer would like to see that you are familiar with the services of GroupM. It's vital that you research their offering, and be ready to discuss which of their services a company could use to benefit their sales pipeline and prospecting capabilities.

"A business could use the data visualization services of GroupM in a multitude of ways. It is much easier to target new customers and prospect the right kind of leads, when you can act with confidence, based on real analytics and numbers. I especially appreciate the marketing analytics services that GroupM offers."

What is your favorite data management tool at the moment?

"There are many amazing tools available for data management, and new options coming out all the time. Right now, I appreciate Power BI from Microsoft. It is a powerful business analytics service, and I love the interactive visualizations and intelligence capabilities. I love to learn about new choices in data management tools. Could you share with me your current favorite?"

This question offers an excellent opportunity for you to discuss the tools that you use in the workplace, and also to learn about new tools of which you may not be aware. Discuss which data management tools are your favorite at this time and if you are comfortable, as the interviewer about theirs in return.

"Collibra is a tool that I currently use daily and one that has made my job significantly easier in many aspects. The tool is related more to data governance, allowing me to access and control data in a way I never thought possible. Are you familiar with the program? I would be happy to hear of any other recommendations you have as well."

Explain data visualization, and why it is important to a business.

"I understand data visualization to be the art of showing essential data in an easy to absorb way. It is crucial to a business because what good is having all the data and analytics from your company's efforts if you do not understand it? Once a company can visualize and understand their most important data, they can then use that to leverage further success, and make critical business decisions."

Data visualization is 'an effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.' Since GroupM focus' on business intelligence software focused on helping their customers to understand essential data in advertising, the interviewer needs to know that you see the significance in their business mission. Describe what you know data visualization to be, and why these services would be incredibly valuable to a business.

"I explain data visualization as helping businesses to understand their data through the use of tables, charts, and other visual aids. Data visualization allows companies to transform their data into actionable insights, so it is incredibly important."

Data security continues to be a concern for marketers when executing online advertising campaigns. What security issues do you find important as it relates to online advertising and how can your knowledge/experience help us at GroupM?

"Although the use of personal data allows marketers to better target and customize their digital ads, keeping the data secure is of utmost importance. In a few of my roles with previous employers, we have continuously worked to monitor our data security measures to ensure we did not lose the trust of our customers. I have worked on task forces that evaluated new policies and technologies available to secure data within our warehouses. This team was responsible for how data was used within and outside the company. My experience working on these teams give me a better understanding of how to test and monitor the security features of GroupM's products before it's released to clients."

Securing the personal data of its customers has been a top concern for many companies. When responding to this question, relay your knowledge of data security as it relates to digital advertising. Include any experience you may have working with security-related projects or issues. Before joining its team, GroupM will want to know that you are aware of the security issues companies face when executing Digital Advertising campaigns.

"While working at a variety of companies, I learned how important it is to understand how the stored customer data is being used internally and externally. Also, when transmitted externally to outside vendors, it is important the transmission is secure to avoid personal customer data being unknowingly shared. Digital Advertising uses vasts amounts of data for the execution and evaluation of campaigns, and I have worked with marketers to ensure that any data sharing is done so with the highest security measures in place. When transmitted externally, I also certified that the partner receiving the data also had high security levels implemented into its system. With my knowledge of security issues, I do not doubt that I will be able to help GroupM continue to offer security measures in its product to put its clients' minds at ease."

Why do you want to work at GroupM?

"This industry is very competitive with a lot of both large and small players, but I was interested in GroupM because of the breadth of its services and its reach. Not only does GroupM have a strong and diverse product offering, but GroupM also understands that it's equally critical, if not more, to help the clients make organizational and operational changes so they can actually track the kind of consumers behaviors they are looking for and also be able to utilize such insights in a timely manner. It's not just marketing as a service, GroupM offers insights as a service. And that's the kind of place where I want to be."

Ad-tech is a competitive industry, so the interviewer wants to be sure that you know how GroupM is unique in terms of their database, product quality, service offerings, and analytics. You should also research its competitors and be able to compare GroupM's strengths to that of its competitors.

"Your focus on behavioral data is what intrigues me the most. Actionable behavioral data, going beyond just 'oh this customer clicked on this site so we'll send them one more email', is the new milestone everyone is trying to achieve and I feel like your capabilities to comprehensively understand customer behaviors and predict what they'll want next is way above that of other ad-tech companies. Data is a lot more fluid now and traditional quantitative metrics are no longer sufficient since people can't fit into neat little boxes. And as a major behavioral data geek, I wanted to be part of a company that really understands this concept and pursue collecting data in innovative ways."

Describe your experience working with digital advertising.

"My work experience includes working for a couple of different agencies that offered digital marketing services to its clients. While working at these agencies, I worked closely with the Account Managers to understand the clients' marketing needs. There are many technological tools in this area that help clients better target, deliver and manage their digital advertising. With an increasing number of options available to companies looking to advertise through digital channels, it is crucial to have the right tools to manage the process."

Before getting into the details of your technical experience, hiring managers would like to see that you know the area of digital advertising. In your response, share details about projects or jobs where you were exposed to digital advertising.

"In a few of my previous positions, I had the opportunity to work with the marketing department to help develop digital advertising campaigns for our company. I contributed to the technical requirements of the campaign project team, which included evaluating the right tools for campaign execution. Working as part of the team, I learned how complex digital advertising could be and the importance of using the right technology for each step of the process."

What do you know about GroupM's competitive position within the data analytics industry?

"The Data industry is constantly changing with new technology that makes tools more user-friendly. There is strong competition in this industry with companies continuously innovating to offer 'the next big thing' to their clients. GroupM offers user-friendly interfaces that allow its products to be used across a client's company and not only by its data analysts, making data readily available to those who are looking for answers. I would say Company 1 and Company 2 are GroupM's strongest competitors as their products strengths include a user-friendly interface highlighted in all marketing communications. Their goal of making data accessible to all parts of their clients' company is similar to that of GroupM."

This question will help the hiring manager gauge your knowledge of the data industry when it comes to advertising and GroupM. Knowing where GroupM is positioned in the industry will prove you did your research. It will also confirm that you have a good understanding of the position for you which you are applying. When speaking about GroupM's place in the industry, mention any niches they serve and its biggest competitors.

"Companies that specialize in data analytics within advertising have seen companies deal with massive amounts of data that are not being mined due to resource limitations. Also, data quality continues to be an issue as companies deal with vast amounts of data. Through its products and services, GroupM understands these issues and implements solutions for them. With regards to competition, GroupM faces companies such as Company1 and Company2 whose products and services also address these issues."

We let customers scale up or down on creative support needs like design, testing, and application use. They can choose to fully outsource these needs or receive training to handle them in-house. Why is this a great selling point?

"When selling marketing solutions, you'll find that companies can appear the same from the outside, but their internal needs vary greatly. This observation could mean that that one client needs full-scale support because they have a lean internal marketing team that can't handle any tasks related to their ad campaigns, while another company may need partial support because their team has analysts and web developers, but they don't have people talented in concept and design. Being able to lean on an agency just in the areas of need allows customers to avoid unnecessary advertising expenses while they focus on the areas where they can make the strongest contribution."

This question gives you a chance to share your knowledge of creative marketing processes and related common preferences or objections that customers might have. Your answer should be both technical and solution-oriented.While the ability to scale a service up or down has obvious financial advantages, do not focus on price too much in your answer. It's more dignifying to a customer not to emphasize budgetary limitations unless they do. This approach will also tell your interviewer that you can sell on value and not just on price; an important skill when selling premium products.

"Some marketing teams want to employ the latest strategies and tools, but they don't have the skills to do so in-house. Their in-house staff might be so large that it doesn't make sense to use outsourced services, or it could be that financial backing is slim. Either way, they are looking for ways to stay up to speed at the lowest possible cost. In either case, investing in training for existing staff provides a solution that will repeatedly pay off. They'll be able to handle backend, design, and other advertising tasks proficiently, and at the same time limit agency engagement to a strictly as-needed basis."

A client you're pitching tells you that they know performance tracking is essential, but it's their least favorite thing to do. How does knowing this help you to provide value to them?

"When a client asks me directly or indirectly if I have a solution to their woes, I provide value to them by probing to get as many details as possible. In this case, I'd want to know why performance tracking is their least favorite thing to do. Is their reporting process too manual? If so, our automation tools will resolve that. Or, has the customer told me that the metrics data is hard to decipher, which makes it difficult to share with other team members in a way they can understand? In that case, I can walk them through our dashboard which is easy on the eyes and simple enough for anyone to understand. Whatever their issue is, I will listen and get to know more so I can talk to the relevant aspects of our service."

Listening and being able to solve problems are important when it comes to providing value during the selling process. The interviewer wants to know if you're the kind of sales representative that simply follows a presentation script or if you'll actually listen to your customer to know what product or service features you should educate them on most.Don't answer this question with the main focus being performance tracking; instead, answer with value provision being your main focus.

"When I know that my product will deliver relief to a client or agency, I provide value to them by explaining how it will address their specific pain points. I need to have built rapport with them and made my presentation conversational rather than talking at them while I rush through slides. If they have told me they don't like performance tracking because it takes too much time, I'll explain how our product will help them to do it faster. If they're frustrated because their system outputs their data in a way that's not useful, I'll show them our tool which will allow them to pivot data and consider it from different angles easily. Lastly, if the customer tells me they dislike performance tracking so much that they end up letting it fall through the cracks, I'll show them how our tools can automate the process, and how using them to stay consistent will be beneficial to their bottom line."

Video, cinemagraph, flow, and swing are some of the formats GroupM uses to incorporate motion into on-page ads. What's the best way to educate customers on how these formats generate a better response from audiences?

"When being sold advertising services, customers should be educated on how video and motion in ads increase engagement. There are many reasons why consumers prefer video over text; with entertainment and experience being two main factors. Movement or full-on video deliver on both of these in a way text and pictures cannot. In previous campaigns, I've found that adding video to ads increased clicks by as much as 25%."

Your interviewer will ask this question to understand if you know the impact of video and motion in advertising and to see how you'd share that information with a client. You can first provide reasons the mentioned ad formats should generate better responses from audiences. Support your answer with data that includes market or psychology research. You can also cite statistics that prove the difference in response compared to other format types.Do not provide an answer that's overly basic, e.g., 'People like videos, and if you use them in your ads, they'll get more clicks.' Although it's a true statement, when educating a client the explanation needs to be slightly scientific. It would be better to explain why people are attracted and how much more they'll interact with an ad that includes a video or motion compared to one that does not.

"Companies interested in purchasing online ads should understand that the internet is becoming increasingly experienced-focused, rather than just informational. Video and cinemagraphs provide immersive experiences that create lasting impressions and win audiences' buy-in. 80% of people can recall a video they've recently seen online compared to other formats which are more easily forgotten. The interactive experience ad formats with images that appear to move in response to scrolling on a device page, or shift around when a customer tilts their device are also valuable. When a customer interacts with an ad, they can spend over 30% more time on it. These improvements to advertising make the brands they represent more memorable and relatable."

GroupM Interview Questions

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1. Our company values employees with an entrepreneurial spirit. Do you believe your approach to sales and career goals are a match for this kind of culture, and if so, why?
2. Great data visualization will present data in a convincing way. How do you improve human perception when presenting data?
3. If hired for the sales position with GroupM, we may ask you to test different advertisements. Have you created split or A/B ads? What worked and did not work and why?
4. In your opinion, is data a true asset for a business. Why or why not?
5. GroupM offers powerful tools to enhance audience targeting in addition to their core service. How do you convince a customer that they should elect to add them to their package?
6. Companies have several different advertising platforms to choose from. What skills would you bring that would help GroupM remain a competitive option in this industry?
7. What are important reporting and analytics capabilities an advertising platform should have?
8. Data-driven advertising with machine learning is part of the service that GroupM provides to its customers. How would you explain why this feature is so useful to a potential customer?
9. In your opinion, what is the most exciting collaboration between data analysis and artificial intelligence in the past year?
10. There are several components of a robust advertising platform. Which ones do you find to be the most valuable to a company running frequent advertising campaigns?
11. What is your approach to working with a large amount of information/data?
12. A sales position at GroupM includes follow up calls and emails with our customers. Occasionally a customer may have a complaint about the product or service they received from us, explain how you would respond.
13. Technological capabilities of advertising platforms of constantly changing. How do you ensure you are aware of all the new advertising platform developments?
14. GroupM is a leading provider of high quality, engaging advertisements displayed within written content published by some of the world's best-known sources. As a sales executive for this company, what's your value proposition?
15. Part of our business is in big data, which is continuously changing as new technology and products enter the market. How do you keep up-to-date on these changes?
16. What is pervasive business intelligence, and what does it mean to you?
17. Do you have experience giving product or software demonstrations, and closing new accounts?
18. How does data drive a business' success?
19. The technology available to our campaign managers is constantly changing and improving. How do you remain current with the changing industry?
20. At GroupM, we believe data management is crucial when executing and evaluating a campaign. What is your experience working with data as it relates to digital advertising?
21. How could a business use the data visualization services of GroupM to prospect and generate new leads?
22. What is your favorite data management tool at the moment?
23. Explain data visualization, and why it is important to a business.
24. Data security continues to be a concern for marketers when executing online advertising campaigns. What security issues do you find important as it relates to online advertising and how can your knowledge/experience help us at GroupM?
25. Why do you want to work at GroupM?
26. Describe your experience working with digital advertising.
27. What do you know about GroupM's competitive position within the data analytics industry?
28. We let customers scale up or down on creative support needs like design, testing, and application use. They can choose to fully outsource these needs or receive training to handle them in-house. Why is this a great selling point?
29. A client you're pitching tells you that they know performance tracking is essential, but it's their least favorite thing to do. How does knowing this help you to provide value to them?
30. Video, cinemagraph, flow, and swing are some of the formats GroupM uses to incorporate motion into on-page ads. What's the best way to educate customers on how these formats generate a better response from audiences?

GroupM Interview Questions

1. Our company values employees with an entrepreneurial spirit. Do you believe your approach to sales and career goals are a match for this kind of culture, and if so, why?

2. Great data visualization will present data in a convincing way. How do you improve human perception when presenting data?

3. If hired for the sales position with GroupM, we may ask you to test different advertisements. Have you created split or A/B ads? What worked and did not work and why?

4. In your opinion, is data a true asset for a business. Why or why not?

5. GroupM offers powerful tools to enhance audience targeting in addition to their core service. How do you convince a customer that they should elect to add them to their package?

6. Companies have several different advertising platforms to choose from. What skills would you bring that would help GroupM remain a competitive option in this industry?

7. What are important reporting and analytics capabilities an advertising platform should have?

8. Data-driven advertising with machine learning is part of the service that GroupM provides to its customers. How would you explain why this feature is so useful to a potential customer?

9. In your opinion, what is the most exciting collaboration between data analysis and artificial intelligence in the past year?

10. There are several components of a robust advertising platform. Which ones do you find to be the most valuable to a company running frequent advertising campaigns?

11. What is your approach to working with a large amount of information/data?

12. A sales position at GroupM includes follow up calls and emails with our customers. Occasionally a customer may have a complaint about the product or service they received from us, explain how you would respond.

13. Technological capabilities of advertising platforms of constantly changing. How do you ensure you are aware of all the new advertising platform developments?

14. GroupM is a leading provider of high quality, engaging advertisements displayed within written content published by some of the world's best-known sources. As a sales executive for this company, what's your value proposition?

15. Part of our business is in big data, which is continuously changing as new technology and products enter the market. How do you keep up-to-date on these changes?

16. What is pervasive business intelligence, and what does it mean to you?

17. Do you have experience giving product or software demonstrations, and closing new accounts?

18. How does data drive a business' success?

19. The technology available to our campaign managers is constantly changing and improving. How do you remain current with the changing industry?

20. At GroupM, we believe data management is crucial when executing and evaluating a campaign. What is your experience working with data as it relates to digital advertising?

21. How could a business use the data visualization services of GroupM to prospect and generate new leads?

22. What is your favorite data management tool at the moment?

23. Explain data visualization, and why it is important to a business.

24. Data security continues to be a concern for marketers when executing online advertising campaigns. What security issues do you find important as it relates to online advertising and how can your knowledge/experience help us at GroupM?

25. Why do you want to work at GroupM?

26. Describe your experience working with digital advertising.

27. What do you know about GroupM's competitive position within the data analytics industry?

28. We let customers scale up or down on creative support needs like design, testing, and application use. They can choose to fully outsource these needs or receive training to handle them in-house. Why is this a great selling point?

29. A client you're pitching tells you that they know performance tracking is essential, but it's their least favorite thing to do. How does knowing this help you to provide value to them?

30. Video, cinemagraph, flow, and swing are some of the formats GroupM uses to incorporate motion into on-page ads. What's the best way to educate customers on how these formats generate a better response from audiences?