If The Trade Desk hired you, what are the first changes you would implement?

"Being the newest person at The Trade Desk, I would be wary of making any big changes right off the bat, such as software implementations or established client processes. That said, I'd look at what has happened to the previous years' calendar for marketing initiatives and how they impacted sales. I would sit down with the team to understand the goals for next year so I can make my best recommendation on how to be impactful in the coming year when the timing feels right."

Defining yourself as an ideal candidate translates to defining your brand to your interviewer. Your brand is the intangible marketing concept that identifies you as a career-minded professional. The promotional elements of your brand are your core values and career mission statement. Those are the traits that make you the perfect candidate. Once you sell your brand to your interviewer, you'll need to sell it to everyone on your new team. To build rapport with a new team, a recruit needs to learn the ins and outs before suggesting anything that needs improvements. The best way to evaluate what you can contribute is by working with those more familiar with the environment. Seek their insights, ask questions, and get a clear understanding of their systems before you offer suggestions to improve upon them. Familiarize yourself with the 30/60/90 rule: The first month of a new hire's 90-day probation period should focus on familiarizing themselves with the team, company, products/services, clients, etc. Month two should be spent studying current processes and procedures and identifying strengths and weaknesses. In the last month, that hire should be well-grounded in the role and capable of identifying growth opportunities. Past the 90-day mark is considered an acceptable time to implement innovation.

"It's important to first understand the company culture, dynamics, values, and individual players, not to mention the short and long-term goals of the organization before making changes. I'd shadow the key players on my team to understand how the pieces fit together. I think it's essential to observe and listen to the team that predates me and hear what they think is or is not working. That said, I would wait for my onboarding process to complete; then and only then would I suggest a change."

Tell me a time you were on a team project that failed. What did you learn from that experience?

"Our team was recently on a data migration project with a very tight deadline. We knew the client and their needs very well, which made us overconfident. Because we underestimated the work involved, we missed our deadline by three business days. Thankfully we had a great relationship with that particular client. Although it was late, we worked overtime and delivered an exceptional project in the end. This experience taught me never to underestimate a project and the potential roadblocks, especially when it comes to data. It's always better to under-promise and over-deliver than the other way around."

The Trade Desk wants to ensure success while anticipating obstacles and minimizing their impact. The interviewer would like to know how you'd contribute in this regard. We all experience perceived failures in our careers. Describe how you learned from a failure and improved your work performance after. Avoid examples where you compromised the company's assets. Avoid casting blame. Use words like 'we' and 'team' to describe your situation. Finally, explain what you learned from your experience, despite your disappointment.

"I once worked for a startup IT agency that bit off more than it could chew after acquiring a huge client. We had to learn a lot of solutions on the fly, which caused a great deal of stress amongst the team, primarily comprised of junior engineers and new hires. Nobody had the seniority or tenure to feel confident taking control of the situation. I learned from this experience that every company should have a wide range of people with varying levels of experience and expertise. The knowledge that The Trade Desk keeps diversity in mind when making hiring decisions attracted me to this company."

How do you react when your team misses a deadline?

"My team is highly efficient, and we rarely miss a deadline. When we do, it's surprising. We had a very challenging client last year who made significant changes throughout the entire project and implementation. These changes caused us to miss our deadline. I took action after that to ensure a better client onboarding process. This new process ensured we dug deeper with each client at the start, which has resulted in fewer mid-project changes. I would be happy to share this process with The Trade Desk, should I be your successful candidate."

Missed deadlines can be critical mistakes in the software and tech industry and reflect poorly on you as a leader. The interviewer would like to understand how you react when things don't go your way. Give an example of a time your team missed a deadline and walk the interviewer through the actions you took. Your response will help The Trade Desk better understand if your approach will complement their team.

"Deadlines are reached as a team and missed as a team. I truly believe that. When my team misses a deadline, I look at how we could have moved better as a machine to make the delivery happen on time. I do not react negatively to my team members, but I use situations like this as learning and coaching opportunities. How does The Trade Desk react with their leaders in the event of a missed deadline or target?"

The Trade Desk prides itself on investing in the growth of its team members. In a constantly changing industry like ours, how do you ensure that you continue to grow professionally?

"I fully appreciate the need for professional growth in this evolving industry. Professionally, one of my main goals is to learn a new skill each month. That may be a technical or soft skill. I am more driven to learn when I am pushed out of my comfort zone. In addition, every month, I meet co-workers outside of my team or department to learn about their job responsibilities and current projects. This gives me a broader view of the company and how my role fits into the bigger picture. By meeting monthly goals such as these, I am confident I can make a valuable contribution not only to my team, but the company overall."

The employees at the Trade Desk need to be motivated to expand their knowledge base and skill set. Talk about your professional goals, including both industry-specific and general skills. Explain how reaching these goals will help you contribute to the broader goals of The Trade Desk.

"Without remaining current on industry trends, it would be difficult to make strategic contributions to The Trade Desk's goals. Each day, I carve out some time to catch up on current news and developments related to Advertising Marketplaces. Although my daily schedule may not allow for a large chunk of time, I have specific sites and industry news sources I refer to easily. In addition, I seek training seminars and conferences where I can devote larger portions of the day to learning about the industry. These learning opportunities will help me contribute proactively to The Trade Desk's goals. I believe The Trade Desk's investment in its employees helps it to remain competitive."

How would you communicate insights to a client?

"Going over every single data point and explaining it would be a useless effort. What's important is the overall impact and what the data is teaching us about the next steps. I'd start with something general like overall trends (increase in revenue, traffic, changes in customer base, etc.) and then go into learnings such as 'these customers want this or responded well to this.' How could we improve the sales of each product line? What changes to the experience do we need to make to increase the conversion rate? Articulating important and interesting trends observed that gave us actionable feedback to improve sales and what the key supporting data points are."

Demonstrate your ability to educate clients on how to effectively use ad-tech by offering the insights it generates. Assume you're presenting insights to a team of executives. Think about what they will care about - impact on the bottom line and specific needs/actions to improve the bottom line.

As an active member of The Trade Desk's team, what is the most valuable skill you could contribute related to Advertising Marketplaces?

"I have experience working with a variety of digital advertising technologies. My unique perspectives will complement any projects I'd work on in this position. For example, my work with Supplier Side Platforms will help me improve the connections between The Trade Desk's Advertising Marketplace and publishers. My background working with this technology allows me to efficiently troubleshoot any issues that arise."

Be specific about how your skills could add value to The Trade Desk's mission. Skills may include knowledge or experience and soft skills, such as leadership, communication, and organization. Your response could reveal to the hiring manager your confidence in your skill level.

"After years of experience working in various industries, I have developed and strengthened my skills, especially my project management and communication skills. My system processes allow me to manage several tasks simultaneously with consistent success. I also have highly developed communication skills, which have proven vital when successfully managing multiple projects. I find communication is key when dealing with publishers, marketers, and internal team members to identify solutions to problems which may later arise."

What are the best ad channels for a retail (clothes, shoes, etc.) company that is launching its first beauty product line?

"Many beauty product customers, most of whom are females, normally have brands they like for each of the products they normally use - skincare (lotion, moisturizer), foundation, eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, lipstick. But they are always open to trying new items, which is why places like Sephora are so popular. People can try them to see if they like the color, texture, etc. However, being online, customers can see reviews that let them know the pros and cons of the product. Since the company already has a good base of retail customers, with a huge percentage likely to purchase beauty products, they can start by including samples of their beauty products as gifts in existing customers' orders, both in stores and online. They can offer different gift options to choose from per order, hopefully customizing it based on client segments/preferences. Start with the loyal customers first to drive the most desired marketing channel of all - word of mouth. If they order more beauty products after trying their sample, they could get special discounts or additional gifts. I also think leveraging their website would be key - recommending beauty products based on the clothes or shoes they are looking at so they can plan their looks top to bottom. They can also hire social media influencers to promote and review their new beauty products - makeup gurus on Instagram and youtube. There are also google keywords and ad analytics to lure customers exploring certain ideas to the brand/site."

This question gauges your basic knowledge of typical ad channels and whether you incorporate insights about retail customers into your approach. Outline some insights into the target customers and when they're most likely to pay attention to the ads in the physical and digital world.

What kind of customer data should an online retailer collect?

"The amount of data we could collect would be enormous. So I'll start by highlighting some overall insights and then go into a couple of customer experience scenarios and highlight the relevant data points. To assess the overall performance, I'd want to see trends in web traffic (unique and returning users). A breakdown of the customers' demographic and basic behavioral pattern information - how much and how many items each segment bought, how much time they spent, etc. I'll then look at what brought the customers to the site, traffic sources, and conversion rates per traffic source (and bounce rate). I'll want to see customer buying habits and preferences. I'd want to ask questions like: How many customers set a price limit when searching for products, and what were the ranges of those ceilings? How many customers went to the 'sales' section first? On average, how much did customers spend on each product content, and what did they click on to learn more about the product? And lastly, I also want to know how they make final decisions - how many and who abandoned the cart? How many deleted items from the cart? How many people order more than one of the same product?"

Data comes in many forms, and collecting and synthesizing all types of data (explicit, implicit, behavioral, structured, unstructured, etc.) into actionable insights is crucial. Start with some general overall metrics before delving into the data points that would be relevant in a few scenarios in the customer's journey (on the retailer's site). Also, mention that you would revisit 'snapshot' data and trends over time.

Tell me something you taught yourself and how you went about it.

"When I was a strategy manager, I worked on a project to improve customer call center satisfaction. The project had failed a couple of times, and the COO asked me to take a crack at it. I spent a few months speaking with hundreds of people, trying to understand the underlying issue. My team and I realized that the customer service wasn't the issue; the root cause was the product. There had to be additional information/support functions embedded in the product. Suddenly, I was working on product design enhancements, which I had no experience with. So I took Stanford design courses, learned about UX / design thinking, and practiced hosting UX workshops for customer journey mapping. I also bought Interactive Design, a 1500-pg book, for more technical guidance. There weren't appropriate resources that could take the lead on the project, so I just decided to teach myself UX so we could finally fix the problem that's been affecting customer satisfaction for years."

The interviewer wants to know in what unique ways you are a self-starter. Pick information or skill that's unique and more complex than being versed in software such as Excel or PowerPoint, which is common. Chose something less common or singular to you, something that took significant time and effort to master. Emphasize the reason you chose to master this particular skill and how you went about it.

The technology available to Digital Advertising 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 that inform me of seminars and training sessions related 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."

Career-minded individuals remain focused on their personal and professional growth and versed in any current changes to their industry. These candidates are more likely to contribute to The Trade Desk's strategic goals. To display your value in this regard, assure them you remain informed and stay current on trends and developments in the Digital Advertising industry. Share your resources and any recent relevant news you've read up on to spark conversation.

"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 ways to learn more about the Digital Advertising industry from the technological and 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 while giving me the tools I need to add value to the company."

What data management tool do you favor at the moment?

"I currently use Collibra daily, and it 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 also be happy to hear of any other recommendations you have."

This question is an excellent opportunity to share your industry knowledge regarding which data management tools are trending. Focus your answer on tools you favor in the workplace, the ones you want to learn next, and what you know about them. This is also an opportunity to ask the interviewer which data management software they favor, which could educate you on new tools you may not have been able to try yet.

"There are many amazing tools available for data management, and new options are 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 also love to learn about new data management tools. Could you share with me your current favorite?"

Why do you want to work at The Trade Desk?

"This industry is very competitive with both large and small players, but I was interested in The Trade Desk because of the breadth of its services. Not only does The Trade Desk have a strong and diverse database, including geospatial/location data, behavioral data, and explicit data, but The Trade Desk 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 timely use such insights. It's not just marketing as a service; The Trade Desk offers insights as a service, and that's the kind of place I want to be."

By testing the interviewee's knowledge of their company, the interviewer tests their work ethic and whether they put their all in trying to compete for the job they're interviewing for. Ad-tech is a competitive, saturated industry. The interviewer wants to ensure that you know how The Trade Desk is special in terms of its database, product quality, service offerings, and analytics. They'll also test your like-mindedness and try to get you to reveal how in-depth you've researched the position. Therefore, you should also research their competitors.

"I admire your technology that can identify consumers without cookies better than the industry average. The focus on behavioral data 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. 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 more fluid now, and traditional quantitative metrics are no longer sufficient since people can't fit into neat little boxes. As a major behavioral data geek, I wanted to be part of a company that understands this concept and pursues collecting data in innovative ways."

Industry experts believe Demand Side Platforms (DSP's) have positively impacted Digital Advertising. Do you find this to be true? How can The Trade Desk improve its products or services to benefit marketers?

"Demand Side Platforms automates the process of purchasing and selling ads. This tool makes the process more cost-efficient, and because it is automated, it removes the possibility of human error in ad selections. It also allows for better targeting of ads through the use of vast browsing history data. I strongly believe that the usefulness of a Demand Side Platform is limited by the experience of the person using it. The Trade Desk may benefit by offering ongoing training to its clients to ensure they are maximizing the platform's value."

This question tests your knowledge of Digital Advertising tools and technology. To showcase your knowledge, research the main types of Digital Advertising tools available to marketers and their capabilities. Research The Trade Desk's products and compare them to their competitors to assist you in identifying areas that have room for improvement.

"Marketers can be overwhelmed at the Digital Advertising options available for purchase. It would be impossible for one person to thoroughly evaluate all of them. Demand Side Platforms allow marketers to purchase or bid on impressions based on the specified target audience by automating the process. These platforms free up time for marketers to work on other aspects of the Digital Marketing campaign. To remain competitive, it would benefit The Trade Desk to continue ensuring that its platform meets the target audience list needs of current and future clients."

If you could start any company, what venture would you choose?

"I'd love to start a camping experience planning website. While hiking and camping are fun and healthy, they could be intimidating activities for many beginners who don't know how to get started. Thirteen million more Americans started hiking/camping in 2017, and 38% of total campers are millennials. The preparation takes a lot of research; take finding appropriate locations, for instance. You go to the government websites to print maps of the park with various tracks you need to choose from. You also have to apply for a permit at a certain time once you decide on your camping/hiking tracks; some are lottery systems. Finding appropriate gear is challenging; currently, there are only a few players with limited physical locations. As more millennials join the camping community, they have different needs, such as unique lodging or activity experience, convenience, and other fun/auxiliary things that traditional campers didn't ask for. I want to create a one-stop-shop site where they can use an interactive map to determine which track might be the best for them based on their desired trip experience and unique needs. The website will focus on digital UX to guide the end-user through all the steps they need to plan their trip. I'd target those in the 20s to mid-40s who like to plan group camping trips, rather than hardcore hiking/camping junkies since they are more likely to appreciate the step-by-step guidance."

Try to align your values and goals with that of The Trade Desk. Put elaborate thought into your answer, showcasing your industry knowledge and professional acumen. Thoroughly research The Trade Desk, and customize your answer to them as your audience. Show your interesting side. Show the interviewer that you can identify a problem, dissect it, and develop a sensible solution based on verified data. It never hurts to throw in industry statistics.

Describe your experience working with Digital Advertising.

"My work experience includes working for a couple of different agencies that offered digital marketing services to their clients. While working at these agencies, I worked closely with the Account Managers to understand the clients' marketing needs. Many technological tools in this area 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."

Impart your knowledge on this subject and describe the hands-on experience you gained through your projects or jobs with Digital Advertising. That will assure them you have desirable working experience and will meet their qualifications for what they are looking for in an ideal candidate.

"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 campaign project team's technical requirements, 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. This gives the digital advertising campaign the best chance at meeting its goals."

At The Trade Desk, 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?

"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 related to Digital Advertising data. That includes addressing issues with data capture, including refreshing and cleaning out 'stale' cookies. In addition, 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 The Trade Desk, I trust that I can help the data management efforts run smoothly."

In your response, talk about the jobs or projects where data management was instrumental in your work. Express the value you place on data management, sharing your experience with Data Management Platforms (DMPs) and how they helped your Digital Advertising campaigns.

"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 was crucial to ensure that these campaigns were effective and met company goals. If given the opportunity to work with The Trade Desk, I am confident that my knowledge will help clients better manage their Digital Advertising data."

The Trade Desk often introduces new tools. Have you ever helped implement a new tool or program?

"Last year, after becoming six sigma certified, I led the initiative to implement six sigma into our project management processes. I knew that it could be a useful tool for our team. Do you apply six sigma principles at The Trade Desk?"

Statistically speaking, employees resist change. Yet, a propensity for adaptability towards positive change is integral to innovation. The interviewer would like to know that you can embrace change and take the initiative to help your coworkers welcome change and embrace the newest innovations impacting your company.

"Last month, our company introduced a new data visualization program. I was already familiar with the program because I had used it in a previous role. I offered to do employee training on the program, and my boss agreed to it. I took a lunch hour to give my presentation and then offered myself as the subject matter expert. The introduction went well, and my boss was thankful for my help."

Describe your experience working with advertisers/marketers or publishers.

"From my time at a few different advertising agencies, I learned a bit about what is important to advertisers when running their digital advertising campaigns. Although the marketer's agency works through a Demand Side Platform in most cases, the Advertising Marketplace must offer a wide variety and volume of ads at competitive prices. In addition, it should communicate seamlessly with the Demand Side Platform. Understanding the importance of digital ad placements from a marketer's perspective has helped me understand what Advertising Marketplace attributes are important to remain competitive."

Advertising Marketplaces are platforms where marketers and publishers 'meet.' Hiring managers will seek candidates with experience working with either group. Discuss your experiences in detail to advertise your expertise. If you do not have hands-on experience, share your general knowledge.

"Working on digital advertising campaigns with previous employers has given me a holistic view of the digital advertising industry. Marketers are looking for ads that will provide the best means to communicate to their target audience within budget, while publishers are looking to sell their ads to the highest bidder. In addition, publishers are looking to reach their target audience of marketers. To succeed, Advertising Marketplaces need to understand both sides of the exchange."

Based on your knowledge and experience, what is the difference between Advertising Marketplaces and Demand Side Platforms?

"Advertising Marketplaces, also known as Ad Exchanges, is a platform where publishers can sell ads and marketers can purchase them for their campaigns. On the other hand, Demand Side Platforms connect with Advertising Marketplaces to automate the transactions making them more efficient. Based on my knowledge and research, The Trade Desk's Advertising Marketplace offers marketers a source for ads and works seamlessly with Demand Side Platforms."

This question puts your industry knowledge and experience to the test. Speak about what you feel distinguishes Advertising Marketplaces and Demand Side Platforms from one another, listing their differences and how they directly relate to The Trade Desk's products and services.

"Demand Side Platforms can connect with multiple Advertising Marketplaces, allowing marketers a wide variety of options when purchasing ads for their campaigns. Therefore, although Demand Side Platforms increase competition between Advertising Marketplaces, they also give them more exposure as more marketers use DSPs to manage, target, and purchase ads. In many cases, Demand Side Platforms have become the bridge between the marketer and the Advertising Marketplace. The Trade Desk has built its reputation on being a competitive Advertising Marketplace based on its pricing and diverse ad options for marketers to purchase."

What is your experience working with either private or open Advertising Marketplaces?

"Although I do not have direct experience working with either type of Advertising Marketplace, my work with Marketing departments has allowed me to learn about both. Private Advertising Marketplaces are run by the largest publishers who are selective about which brands purchase their higher-priced ads. Therefore, limited marketing budgets and exclusive access by publishers may restrict marketers to open marketplaces. However, open marketplaces may also provide marketers access to a wider variety of publishers appropriate for their target audience, at a budget-friendly price."

Share your knowledge and experience while differentiating private and open Advertising Marketplaces. If you do not have direct experience with either of these marketplaces, share what you know, including any pros and cons.

"I have over five years of experience working with an open Advertising Marketplace, where I learned the differences between the two types. Open marketplaces do not restrict who can purchase and who can sell ads. In contrast, a private marketplace includes a single publisher selling their ads to a selected group of marketers, giving the publisher more control. The better marketplace for a marketer depends on target audiences and budgets."

Data security continues to be a concern for marketers when executing Digital Advertising campaigns. What security issues do you find important to Digital Advertising, and how can your knowledge/experience help us at The Trade Desk?

"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 monitored 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 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 gives me a better understanding of how to test and monitor the security features of The Trade Desk's products before it's released to clients."

Securing the personal data of their customers is a top concern. This question is designed to test the breadth of your knowledge of security issues when executing Digital Advertising campaigns. Describe your experience working with security-related projects or issues, relaying your knowledge of data security in Digital Advertising.

"While working at a variety of companies, I learned how important it is to understand how the stored customer data is used internally and externally. In addition, when transmitted externally to outside vendors, the transmission must be secure to avoid personal customer data being unknowingly shared. Digital Advertising uses vast amounts of data for the execution and evaluation of campaigns. I have worked with marketers to ensure that data sharing is done with the highest security measures. When transmitted externally, I also certified that the partner receiving the data 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 The Trade Desk continue to offer security measures in its product to put its clients' minds at ease."

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

"When managing large amounts of information, I create lists and collections so that the information is easy to find. I am aware of the need to keep 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 The Trade Desk prefers to manage large amounts of information and data."

When you work in data management, you will handle large amounts of data and information, keeping it 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 The Trade Desk's process, you can ask the interviewer, but it would be best to research it as thoroughly as possible before the interview.

"I learned a technique several 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. That means that I first evaluate the type of data. 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 The Trade Desk?"

How many impressions would you estimate an advertisement on a subway car would garner in one day?

"Can I first ask a few questions for clarification? When you say 'impressions,' are you referring to how many people will see it? Also, where is this subway car operating? Is there only one advertisement for the car? May I assume for simplicity that the car was fully emptied at each stop? Where is it located inside the car? Based on the information I have, I'll need to calculate the % of people who would have seen this advertisement based on its location inside the subway car each time the car was full and multiply it by how many groups of people would have come in and gone. The number of people inside the car at each stop will depend on the time of day - there will be more during rush hour. If it's packed, many sitting down might not see the ad, so we may have to consider that as well."

When answering riddles/brain teasers like this, ask questions to get more information first. Then, lay out the factors in a formula. Explain the formula and all its factors before giving your final guestimate. Add comments about potential dependencies - factors that could change your calculation if you knew about them.

In a given scenario, how would you expand our footprint within the account, and how would you work to retain the account if they opted to not renew their contract?

"First, to expand our footprint within the account, I believe we need to frequently examine the account status and status of all ongoing initiatives. We must establish milestones with the client early on so we all have the same expectations and observe progress clearly and objectively. I'll note all the roadblocks and challenges that come to the surface during the cycle of the relationship and speak to the client about their thoughts on the matter - like 'why do you think you are obtaining new customers steadily yet the rate of repeat customers is low?' - and determine the root cause of the problem. The problem could be issues with the product itself, lack of meaningful client engagements, or a combination of things. Once the client sees the next problem they need to solve, I'll be their partner and offer guidance and an introduction of our services and capabilities they could benefit from. If I could be proactive, I'd offer the client a pilot approach to test new functionalities/products when they become available. This way, we start to build trust and deepen the partnership. For accounts opting not to renew, I'd hope we would've been proactive enough to discuss with clients before they 'announce' the decision. Either way, if they indicate they are leaning towards not renewing the contract, I'll probably use a few different techniques. I might mention other clients or companies who have made similar decisions to end contracts with The Trade Desk, resulting in their marketing capabilities significantly deteriorating soon. I'll also highlight what their competitors are doing and the consequences of falling behind in their marketing efforts. If they are unhappy with us or considering another vendor, I'll find ways to address those issues quickly and throw in bonus gifts to appease them. If I can, I'll offer three more months of a free trial period to fix issues/deliver."

In ad-tech, you are likely to interact with clients and promise their success, whether you are in sales or not. Maintaining and expanding those client relationships is crucial. Therefore, Trade Desk seeks to continually develop new products and offerings. This focus is required of anyone who wants to be in a leadership position at The Trade Desk, regardless of the group/division. So tap into your inner sales/persuasion instincts when responding to this question. Phrase your response to put the client's need first, not your or The Trade Desk's best interest.

What are the features you'd include in the product content page for a retailer? What would you emphasize?

"I would start with things that customers need to know, such as product information (dimensions, colors, size). For clothes, you need an easy-to-understand size chart; women especially struggle with this. You'll need photos of the item from various angles. Customers need to see the price as well. Next, I would consider the things that influence the shopper's decision - reviews, popularity, and deals. These are things that a retailer should be strategic about and leverage. Recommendations about other products help as well, but only if they're based on robust data analytics."

Think about the messaging required to drive desired purchase behavior upon conversion. Discuss the driving indicators that influence the customer to purchase? Communicate the logic and data you use in your approach.

What would you do to improve a client's digital strategy if they want to stop using discounts?

"If the client wants to move away from offering discounts to attract clients, I think they might have to rethink their overall branding strategy. They'll need to convince existing and new clients to perceive the brand differently. I'd say first look at customers who seem to be buying higher-priced (non-discounted) products and offer a new line of products to these clients as an 'exclusive' offer, emphasizing the quality and design that justify the price. Their messaging will need to be updated to represent the company's new positioning. I'd recommend focusing marketing on new, shiny products the client believes are the best matches for the target customer base, so customers start to think of them differently on their own without being told so. I'd also design the websites to show the customers who exhibit less price sensitivity more higher-end products during their shopping experience. They can also leverage offering exclusive access to the newest products or rewards program instead of discounts."

Pursuing a profession in ad tech requires an in-depth understanding of branding and marketing. The Trade Desk wants to know you can go beyond simply providing a piece of software to their client by also helping their clients build their strategy and co-innovate with them. Before your interview, you'll want to brush up on re-branding strategies for luxury companies.

Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?

"Yes, I believe it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader. I have disagreed with decisions my boss has made in the past, but generally, I keep my thoughts to myself. I know they are the leader for a reason and likely have considered factors, beyond my understanding, for their choices."

The interviewer wants to know that you can be diplomatic in the workplace, even when you disagree with your leader. Explain that you believe everyone is entitled to their professional opinion yet capable of maintaining respect for each other. In the software and technology industry, you may find a wide variance of opinions based on one's professional experiences and education. Show the interviewer that you can be a good team member yet disagree with the leader occasionally. Reveal that, even if you disagree with the final decision they make, you support the direction the team is heading, and your interests are always towards the team's benefit.

"Yes, I think it is possible! What makes a great team member is not that they agree with everything but the level of respect and positive thought that goes into their communication style. It's okay to disagree; however, you have to communicate your thoughts professionally."

The Trade Desk fosters a collaborative working environment. When have you taken the time to teach an essential skill to a coworker?

"I'm proud to say that, even without any official management capacity, I often seize the opportunity to teach others at work. Not only have I contributed to the sales team's knowledge base of our software, but I also try to teach our clients the added features of our software at every opportunity. It's fun to share and teach others, especially since I am always seeking learning opportunities for myself."

Your interviewer is gauging your experience teaching or mentoring your coworkers. You may have taught a new hire your department's system processes. Perhaps you explained new AI and data migration concepts to a more junior employee. You may have mentored an employee struggling to meet a project deadline. All of these scenarios are great examples to draw on. Discuss when you identified a team member struggling and offered to mentor them. Whatever your scenario, tell the interviewer how you helped, highlighting the positive outcome and how their skills improved.

"Last week, our company introduced a new module in our SAP system. I could see that our contracted HR assistant was having trouble with the new module. I was familiar with it already, so I offered to help him learn the module. We spent his lunch hour for the next three days working on it. He perfected the module, and our company was so impressed with his dedication to learning that they are now trying to find room to hire him on a full-time permanently."

How would you describe The Trade Desk to someone unfamiliar with it?

"I'd start by clarifying what ad-tech is in layman's terms. Ad-tech includes technologies that help companies promote their brand to their target customers in the digital landscape. These technologies help them understand their target customers, define the messaging that will resonate with them, and predict where they would likely see AND pay attention to the message or ad. The Trade Desk is one of the top players in the field, which focuses on collecting diverse sets of insights based on when, where, and what the person is doing. For instance, when you shop for clothes on Uniqlo, H&M, and Armani websites, The Trade Desk's tech records your clicks and tries to understand what you did and didn't like. They can collect information about you and others with similar preferences and needs and show you recommendations or content they think you will like."

The interviewer wants to see if you can describe the ad-tech industry, its purpose, and value proposition, as well as that of The Trade Desk and how they stand apart from their competition. Keep it simple. Research the company, its core values, its mission statement, and what they identify as unique to them. Practice your answer in advance.

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

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

The easier it is to find information, the better you will be at performing your job. Pervasive business intelligence, or Pervasive BI, is the business' practice of empowering employees by allowing open access to information and essential decision-making. This practice is known to generate beneficial results for companies and also supports a positive company culture. Talk about the term Pervasive BI and what it means to you.

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

The Trade Desk Interview Questions

Go Back

1. If The Trade Desk hired you, what are the first changes you would implement?
2. Tell me a time you were on a team project that failed. What did you learn from that experience?
3. How do you react when your team misses a deadline?
4. The Trade Desk prides itself on investing in the growth of its team members. In a constantly changing industry like ours, how do you ensure that you continue to grow professionally?
5. How would you communicate insights to a client?
6. As an active member of The Trade Desk's team, what is the most valuable skill you could contribute related to Advertising Marketplaces?
7. What are the best ad channels for a retail (clothes, shoes, etc.) company that is launching its first beauty product line?
8. What kind of customer data should an online retailer collect?
9. Tell me something you taught yourself and how you went about it.
10. The technology available to Digital Advertising campaign managers is constantly changing and improving. How do you remain current with the changing industry?
11. What data management tool do you favor at the moment?
12. Why do you want to work at The Trade Desk?
13. Industry experts believe Demand Side Platforms (DSP's) have positively impacted Digital Advertising. Do you find this to be true? How can The Trade Desk improve its products or services to benefit marketers?
14. If you could start any company, what venture would you choose?
15. Describe your experience working with Digital Advertising.
16. At The Trade Desk, 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?
17. The Trade Desk often introduces new tools. Have you ever helped implement a new tool or program?
18. Describe your experience working with advertisers/marketers or publishers.
19. Based on your knowledge and experience, what is the difference between Advertising Marketplaces and Demand Side Platforms?
20. What is your experience working with either private or open Advertising Marketplaces?
21. Data security continues to be a concern for marketers when executing Digital Advertising campaigns. What security issues do you find important to Digital Advertising, and how can your knowledge/experience help us at The Trade Desk?
22. What is your approach to working with a large amount of information/data?
23. How many impressions would you estimate an advertisement on a subway car would garner in one day?
24. In a given scenario, how would you expand our footprint within the account, and how would you work to retain the account if they opted to not renew their contract?
25. What are the features you'd include in the product content page for a retailer? What would you emphasize?
26. What would you do to improve a client's digital strategy if they want to stop using discounts?
27. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?
28. The Trade Desk fosters a collaborative working environment. When have you taken the time to teach an essential skill to a coworker?
29. How would you describe The Trade Desk to someone unfamiliar with it?
30. What is pervasive business intelligence, and what does it mean to you?

The Trade Desk Interview Questions

1. If The Trade Desk hired you, what are the first changes you would implement?

2. Tell me a time you were on a team project that failed. What did you learn from that experience?

3. How do you react when your team misses a deadline?

4. The Trade Desk prides itself on investing in the growth of its team members. In a constantly changing industry like ours, how do you ensure that you continue to grow professionally?

5. How would you communicate insights to a client?

6. As an active member of The Trade Desk's team, what is the most valuable skill you could contribute related to Advertising Marketplaces?

7. What are the best ad channels for a retail (clothes, shoes, etc.) company that is launching its first beauty product line?

8. What kind of customer data should an online retailer collect?

9. Tell me something you taught yourself and how you went about it.

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

11. What data management tool do you favor at the moment?

12. Why do you want to work at The Trade Desk?

13. Industry experts believe Demand Side Platforms (DSP's) have positively impacted Digital Advertising. Do you find this to be true? How can The Trade Desk improve its products or services to benefit marketers?

14. If you could start any company, what venture would you choose?

15. Describe your experience working with Digital Advertising.

16. At The Trade Desk, 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?

17. The Trade Desk often introduces new tools. Have you ever helped implement a new tool or program?

18. Describe your experience working with advertisers/marketers or publishers.

19. Based on your knowledge and experience, what is the difference between Advertising Marketplaces and Demand Side Platforms?

20. What is your experience working with either private or open Advertising Marketplaces?

21. Data security continues to be a concern for marketers when executing Digital Advertising campaigns. What security issues do you find important to Digital Advertising, and how can your knowledge/experience help us at The Trade Desk?

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

23. How many impressions would you estimate an advertisement on a subway car would garner in one day?

24. In a given scenario, how would you expand our footprint within the account, and how would you work to retain the account if they opted to not renew their contract?

25. What are the features you'd include in the product content page for a retailer? What would you emphasize?

26. What would you do to improve a client's digital strategy if they want to stop using discounts?

27. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?

28. The Trade Desk fosters a collaborative working environment. When have you taken the time to teach an essential skill to a coworker?

29. How would you describe The Trade Desk to someone unfamiliar with it?

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