How would you resolve a conflict between you and a colleague in the office?

"If a conflict were to arise between me and a colleague, I would want to address it right away. Most conflicts are a matter of miscommunication, so speaking face to face with the colleague would be my first move. I'd listen to understand their perspective and then share my perspective, as well. I would work with them to come up with a solution, apologize for the confusion and miscommunication, and then work to repair that relationship by moving on and continuing to act professionally."

Whenever people are working together and spending a significant amount of time together, conflict is to be expected. While it may be inevitable, companies want to hire people with strong conflict resolution skills to resolve issues quickly. There is no room for drama or pettiness at the workplace; that can lead to a toxic work environment. Demonstrate that you can successfully diffuse a situation by speaking directly with the colleague, listening to their side of the situation, and coming up with a compromise both parties can agree on.

Tell me about something in the world of digital communications that has impressed you recently.

"Recently, I've been so impressed by the innovation and creativity in podcasting. A few years ago, I never thought podcasting would take off and be as popular as it is today. Brands have come up with ways to monetize podcasting and get people to tune in week after week. It is a totally new arena for brands to delve into to share free, captivating content and turn listeners into loyal followers and customers. If any of my clients show interest in launching a podcast, I am quick to encourage it!"

The interviewer wants to get a feel for your knowledge of the field and how in tune you are with digital communication at large. Share something that you've recently read about, researched, discovered, or realized. There aren't really any wrong answers for this question, as long as you can give context to and explain what exactly has recently impressed you. Be sure to share something that is truly a new or innovative idea and not something that you were just late to the game to discover!

"Recently, I've been so impressed by the innovation and creativity of AI in different industries. For example, I use Ubersuggest to get data for my blog and I see they have tailored software and created a lab using AI to help their clients come up with keywords, and other information that are SEO friendly."

We strive to maintain a positive and collaborative culture in the office. How would you contribute to that effort?

"I really enjoy getting to know people on a deeper level. I am quick to ask people about themselves, their family's, and how they're doing. I also enjoy organizing staff social outings to help people bond outside of the office. If I am hired, you'll quickly find that I love bringing people together, and I am an outgoing and optimistic team player."

Your interviewer not only cares about your ability to do the job well, but the vibe and energy that you'll contribute to the office culture, as well. Consider what you bring to the office space and how you will positively contribute to overall office culture. Maybe you are quick to get to know colleagues or you're always planning office happy hours or social events. Whatever you can commit to contribute, keep it positive and share that with the interviewer!

Describe your ideal client to work with.

"My ideal client is someone who would give me creative freedom to do my best work Especially when it comes to marketing strategy and marketing campaigns, I have my best ideas when fewer limit are put on me. I enjoy thinking outside the box and coming up with unique ideas. I like clients that set deadlines to check in, but who trust me enough to take their project as my own and run with it."

You've probably thought up the perfect client who would assign you the perfect project that would nicely fit your exact interests and niche. Share with the interviewer what that scenario would like, while keeping the job posting in mind and trying to incorporate the company's need with your preferred project.

Have analytics ever shown you something difficult, strange, or surprising? What did you do next?

"I was working with a small business on social media strategy, and I decided to do a deep dive into how Instagram was working to convert the business's audience into followers and ultimately, paying customers. The brand was convinced content like reels and longer videos were helping the most to convert followers to customers. While views on the videos were high, I ultimately discovered that many of the accounts viewing the reels and videos were not even followers of the brand. That kind of content has a tendency to become more widespread. I ultimately discovered that paying customers were coming from the brand's story posts, so we decided to expel more energy towards that area of content."

There is so much information available in regards to what an audience is engaging with and enjoying. Brands rely on this data to drive decisions and create content. In digital communication, it is crucial to understand this analytics information and be able to break it down and describe it to clients. Share about a time diving into analytics led to a discovery that helped to guide your next move.

How do you stay inspired to come up with innovative ideas and strategies?

"I turn to a lot of different things to maintain my creative juices. I love to utilize Pinterest and Instagram, spend time outside, listen to podcasts, do research, study brands, and talk ideas through with colleagues. The last time I had trouble coming up with an original idea, I did a deep dive on Pinterest and paged through several old magazines to bring together a vision board for a new brand. Doing something so tactile and visual helped me to stop overthinking and put something together that the client ultimately loved to see come to life."

As with any creative profession, if can be hard to remain inspired at all time. Creative people have outlets and draw inspiration from a variety of different places and things. The interviewer wants to hear what strategies you've developed to keep your mind in the game and remain inspired. Share what has helped you over the years and how you draw inspiration from the world around you for your work. It wouldn't hurt to share an example of a time you experienced a mental block and had a sudden spark of inspiration that led to a successful idea.

How do you keep up-to-date on new technologies and trends in the industry?

"I am always excited about new opportunities to learn and grow professionally. I enjoy attending classes and conferences that offer networking and learning opportunities with some of the best in the business. There are lots of online courses and podcasts dedicated to marketing and business, like How I Built This and Business Boutique, and I am always looking for great recommendations to actively propel my professional development."

In response to this question, share how you have committed yourself to being a lifelong learner. Consider classes, conferences, lunch and learns, subscriptions you hold, or any other extended learning opportunity you take advantage that contributes to your professional development. Demonstrate a hunger for continuous learning and betterment of your craft here.

Looking at our services and offerings, what do you think we do better than any of our competitors?

"After paging through your website, I am impressed by your overall transparency. The website is very user friendly and clearly lays out your offerings, prices, and shares testimonials. I was especially impressed by the extensive services offered under the category of social media marketing. You definitely have not missed any step of the process that helps brands to be successful, from brand identity to brand strategy to brand activation. I have been impressed by everything I've so so far!"

The interviewer is trying to gauge what kind of initiative you took to do your research and arrive prepared. Prior to the interview, you should become very familiar with the company's website, services, mission, and values. Share exactly what has impressed you and how this particular company stands apart from their competition. Share something specific and authentic that reveals you did your homework.

"Again when I reviewed your website I saw that you do everything with a high standard and your ability to adapt within the industry has been strong as well as your support of energy conservation within the community by offering rebates and tips."

What is your specialty or expertise in digital communication?

"My specialty is marketing and social media strategy. I love the challenge of pairing a brand's message with an authentic marketing campaign that gets at the root of who and what they are about. Each project is so unique and keeps me on my toes. I love the opportunity to get to know different brands' stories and help them bring those to life."

In response to this question, share your experience and expertise! Show off your wealth of knowledge and your passion for the work. Share what is the most exciting to you and what you excel at. Try to align your expertise with whatever was described in the job posting to demonstrate that you'd be an excellent fit for the role.

Tell me about the most interesting project you worked on this year and what you learned from it.

"Recently, my team and I took on helping a small business start a podcast. They really gave us creative freedom to set up their dedicated podcast studio space. I have some experience in podcasting, so the company gave me a budget and allowed me to select all of the technical equipment and help with the recording of their first season. We helped with everything from sourcing new technology to working on podcast strategy and recording. It was a great experience with lots of different dimensions in this one project. I learned a whole lot about new tech and I was reminded that my team and I can figure out how to do just about anything with some research and a positive attitude."

The interviewer likely wants to get familiar with some of the prior work you've done but also what really interests you in a project. Be honest and share what type of work or kind of projects excite you. Be sure to provide enough context so the interviewer truly understands the scope of the project. Then, share something that you learned because of taking on that interesting project.

Tell me about a time a client was unhappy with your work. How did you respond?

"On my first assignment with my former company, I was managing a folder of all of a company's branding and logo materials as we created their new website and began writing posts for their social channels. When the project was completed, I heard from the company the very next day about their branding materials, which had gone missing from their folder. I had moved the items to my drive without realizing that they would disappear from the company's folder. I apologized for my mistake and immediately sent all materials over to the company. I made sure to follow up to ensure they had received everything from the original folder. Because I resolved the situation quickly and efficiently, it did not blow up into a big deal and we were able to maintain our professional relationship until this day."

While you should be honest and share a time you encountered an unhappy client, you should not share a monumental failure or mix up. Instead, share a minor flaw or mistake that was quickly resolved, due to your top notch customer service skills. Be sure to provide enough context so the interviewer understands the situation. Show that you are able to accept responsibility and make it right between you and the client. Be sure to share how the client felt after you quickly fixed whatever they were upset by.

How do you handle working on multiple projects with different deadlines?

"In busy seasons, I have to remain very organized to keep myself productive and focused. Each project I work on has a dedicated email folder and google drive folder. When I am very busy, I plan out my time, hour by hour, on my calendar to ensure I devote enough time to each project. I am sure to schedule deadlines and reminders in my calendar so that I never miss anything important. At the beginning of each week, I create a to-do list; getting to cross items off my list keeps me motivated. I also schedule meetings with teams I am a part of to ensure everyone has what they need to produce quality work, on time."

In digital communication, you are often required to be working on several different projects at once. Different companies are counting on you to deliver quality work with a deadline. It is a must to have top notch organizational and time-management skills in a role like this. Consider systems you already have in place to get work done in a timely manner. Share what works well for you and how you manage your time and tasks during the busiest of seasons!

Why should we hire you?

"I have very unique experience in that I've performed a wide array of tasks within digital communication. Having worked at a start up, it was all hands on deck for each and every project. I gained so much experience and insight in each aspect of helping brands launch their companies to the fine tuning required in SEO strategy. I am also very dependable and committed. I can be counted on and I can build trust with colleagues quickly because of that. In fact, I recently won an award at work for my persistence in follow through. I am very excited for what will come next and all the learning I have yet to do from your team."

This question allows you to brag a little bit about what sets you apart from the rest. Share something specific and unique about you that might give you an edge on your competition. Describe how you would contribute positively to the overall company and how committed you would be to your work. If you have any certifications or have completed any recent trainings, now would be a great time to share those.

Tell me about yourself.

"I majored in digital communication because it is the way of the future and all of the possibilities excite me. I've been working in digital communication for three years now with the same company. In those three years, I have worked on projects involving email marketing, SEO strategy, marketing campaign strategies, podcast strategy, and consulting with small businesses. I get fired up about solving problems and helping clients improve engagement and sales. This career is great fit for me and I am so excited for what is to come. Outside of work, I am on an adult recreational softball and volleyball team. I enjoy being with my friends and families and trying new restaurants."

A great place to start with this classic interview question is to understand the reasoning behind the question. Primarily, the interviewer will use this question as an icebreaker to begin to get to know you. However, to you as the candidate, it can feel like being put in the hot seat. It is wise to keep the answer brief but share about your educational and professional experience and a little bit about you personally, as well. This question allows for a great opportunity to set a strong first impression. Be sure to have an answer prepared prior to the interview!

Tell me about a time when you worked collaboratively with a team to see a project through to completion.

"In my last role, I worked on a team of four to completely rebrand and relaunch and a small business. There were many moving pieces involved in this, including working with a graphic designer, working with the company's leadership team, developing a social media and email marketing strategy, building a new website, and assisting with the launch of their podcast. Each member of the team had different strengths and areas of expertise, so I made sure that when tasks were assigned, each person got to work in their niche. This kept the team motivated and productive, despite our long hours and quick turnaround time. In the end, our team pulled together, balanced out responsibilities, and ensured a successful launch. We ended up working with the company on a consultancy basis and maintained a great working relationship."

Productive teamwork and collaboration is vital in the workplace. Share a specific example of a time you worked with a group of teammates, peers, or colleagues toward a common goal. Be sure to highlight what you contributed to the group and how you all worked together towards a successful end result. Any best practices you can offer, in regards to working with a team, would be great to describe here to your interviewer.

What is your experience interacting with senior level leadership within a company?

"In my previous role, I worked at a small start up, so our whole team, including the CEO was constantly interacting with each other. I really appreciated this because I was able to learn so much from people with much more experience. I regularly led meetings, reported on the progress of my projects, and also met individually with the leaders of our company for development and review meetings. I feel comfortable working alongside those who have more experience than I; I'm always looking to soak up as much wisdom as I can glean."

If you are just starting off or in the early stages in your career, the interviewer will want to gauge your comfortability and experience interacting with senior leadership. If you have experience reporting to, presenting to, or interacting at all with senior leadership in a positive, collaborative way, be sure to explain that here. Be specific in talking about your interaction and the impact your work had overall.

What is your favorite social media platform? Why?

"For personal use and for marketing and communications strategy, my favorite social media platform is Instagram. The marketing opportunities are endless with the ability to post stories, post to the grid, create reels and videos, go live, collaborate with others, and pay for ads. I have so much fun creating content for Instagram and helping clients take their businesses to the next level by focusing on engagement through Instagram."

Your answer to this question will allow the interviewer to get to know you a little better and get a glimpse into some of your prior work experience. There is no wrong answer here, as long as you can name and describe which platform you like the most. The question does not specify whether it's your favorite for personal use or for business, so why not share both! Be specific with your explanation so the interviewer notices your knowledge of the platform.

What does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to you?

"Valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion means that all people are heard and respected. Regardless of differences, both seen and unseen, all people are celebrated, valued, offered opportunities, and listened to. Having a diverse group of people at the table allows for diverse perspectives to be heard, innovative ideas, and more well-rounded thinking. I definitely want to be a part of that!"

As more workplaces strive to diversify their team, this question is becoming more and more prevalent in interviews. Companies want to hire people who are inclusive, who celebrate differences, and who dismiss stereotypes and labels. You should be prepared to speak about how a diverse team allows for more innovation, creativity, and perspective. This question does not just pertain to race and ethnicity, but it also pertains to people of different religions, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. Share why it is important to for a diverse group of people to all have a voice within an organization.

Why do you want to work here?

"I looked into your Instagram and Facebook page and was impressed by the amount of teaching and free content you provide for your clients. I noticed you offered a free one pager on tips to communicate effectively with clients. Providing quality content gives clients confidence that they can trust you and keeps them coming back for advice. I really appreciate and admire this strategy, and I'm excited for the chance to be a part of and learn from this team."

This question provides a great opportunity to share some of the things that have impressed you about the company you've applied for. It is important that you have done some research on the company by becoming familiar with their website, social media channels, and any new press they've recently released. Be genuine and share what has impressed you about the company and why that piqued your interest to work for this particular company. Try to be specific and demonstrate that you've spent time looking into the company.

How would your references describe you?

"My references would describe me as someone who can be relied on. I follow through with what I commit to doing, so my colleagues really trusted me. I am dependable, competent, and a quick learner. I can take new ideas and run with them. I take a lot of pride in my work and understand that it is a reflection of me, so I give each assignment my all."

First off, be sure you choose references who have your best interest in mind and will accurately describe your work ethic. References could be previous colleagues, managers, professors, or mentors who could speak to your integrity and work ethic. The interviewer will likely be following up with your references, so make sure your answer here is honest. Consider the impact you made on the people around you and communicate the energy you bring to the workplace in your answer.

Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to help someone.

"One of my family's values is generosity. My husband and I are always looking for ways to give back and involve our kids. Last Christmas, my family and I decided to forgo Christmas presents and adopt a family to buy gifts for. We were matched with a refugee family who had just arrived in the city weeks prior. They had an apartment, but very little else to work with. As a family, we went shopping for kitchen utensils, dishes, towels, linens, rugs, clothes, and some furniture to fill the family's new space and make it feel like a home. We had a chance to deliver all of the goods to the family and they were so appreciative. It was very moving and emotional for my little family, and we won't soon forget the impact."

Companies value teamwork, collaboration, and people who are willing to support and mentor other colleagues. A supportive and collaborative workplace is key to a healthy workplace. Think of a time you chose to help someone out, even if it cost you something. Show humility and share how you were able to help and support. Feel free to share an example from college, a previous workplace, or in your everyday life.

How do you prioritize your work and cope with stress?

"Working in digital communication, there are a lot of moving parts that all require my attention. Each week, I also prioritize my tasks to take care of the most pressing things first. Whenever someone else is counting on me, I try to get back to them as fast as I can. Whenever I have a looming deadline, I ensure to do all that I can to meet it. I perform well with a little bit of stress, but when I am under a lot of pressure, I make sure to get outside, take breaks, exercise regularly, eat well, and spend time with my family to keep my energy levels and efficiency up."

The interviewer wants to hear that you are able to work independently, prioritize your tasks, and take ownership of your time while on the job. They also want to know that you have strategies in place to cope with the inevitable possibility of stress, in and out of the workplace. Share how you remain focused and motivated at work, how you prioritize weekly and daily tasks, and how you mitigate stress.

What are you most proud of?

"I am most proud of graduating with honors from the University of Ohio. I am the first from my family to attend and graduate from a University, and I am incredibly grateful for having had the experience. I worked extremely hard in high school to earn a scholarship, and while my classes in college were challenging, I took advantage of resources provided, tutoring, and office hours with professors. I worked very hard to earn my degree and I made my family proud. I am so proud of this great accomplishment and what it means for my family and my future."

Your answer to this question gives the interviewer a glimpse into what is important to you and where your priorities lie. Share an accomplishment, award you received, goal you met, or another similar successful moment in your life. Describe the hard work you put into the accomplishment and how you felt after experiencing success.

Tell me about a time when you took on a leadership role.

"During my senior year of college, I was the captain of the hip hop dance team at our school. I was on the team for all four years and was voted into the captain position by the team. As captain, I took on a special project to get our team into an elite competition that we had never gotten into before. I formed a committee of upperclassmen who helped me to break down the application to the competition, plan the materials that we would submit, create new choreography, and film an impressive video of our team. In the end, it was an entire team effort to pull it off, but we were accepted into the competition. I don't know if I've ever been more proud of a team effort and my leadership ability!"

All employers are looking for people who will step up as leaders within their organizations. Strong leaders are in high demand and are necessary for positive office culture. Describe a time that you led a group or took on a leadership role on a specific project or assignment. Be sure to share just how your leadership skills empowered the team to succeed. Share specific steps you took and strategies you implemented to ensure success!

Name and describe one of your strengths and one of your weaknesses.

"My greatest strength is my ability to be flexible and solutions-oriented. I am able to think on my feet and when issues arise, I'm able to quickly come up with alternate solutions or new ideas. I am not easily frustrate by road blocks; I welcome the opportunity they present to get creative. A weakness that I am working on is my tendency to not ask for help. I don't like to bother people, but I could probably get some projects done sooner if I just reach out for support when I need it. I am working on this by scheduling weekly check ins with my current manager."

Employers value people who are self-aware and can accurately identify areas they are strong in and others that could use improvement. Consider a top strength that pertains to the role you are applying for and provide an example or anecdote that highlights that strength. When sharing a weakness, be sure to share something that is not crucial to the position or that you are actively working to improve to be better at your job.

Digital Communication Interview Questions

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1. How would you resolve a conflict between you and a colleague in the office?
2. Tell me about something in the world of digital communications that has impressed you recently.
3. We strive to maintain a positive and collaborative culture in the office. How would you contribute to that effort?
4. Describe your ideal client to work with.
5. Have analytics ever shown you something difficult, strange, or surprising? What did you do next?
6. How do you stay inspired to come up with innovative ideas and strategies?
7. How do you keep up-to-date on new technologies and trends in the industry?
8. Looking at our services and offerings, what do you think we do better than any of our competitors?
9. What is your specialty or expertise in digital communication?
10. Tell me about the most interesting project you worked on this year and what you learned from it.
11. Tell me about a time a client was unhappy with your work. How did you respond?
12. How do you handle working on multiple projects with different deadlines?
13. Why should we hire you?
14. Tell me about yourself.
15. Tell me about a time when you worked collaboratively with a team to see a project through to completion.
16. What is your experience interacting with senior level leadership within a company?
17. What is your favorite social media platform? Why?
18. What does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to you?
19. Why do you want to work here?
20. How would your references describe you?
21. Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to help someone.
22. How do you prioritize your work and cope with stress?
23. What are you most proud of?
24. Tell me about a time when you took on a leadership role.
25. Name and describe one of your strengths and one of your weaknesses.

Digital Communication Interview Questions

1. How would you resolve a conflict between you and a colleague in the office?

2. Tell me about something in the world of digital communications that has impressed you recently.

3. We strive to maintain a positive and collaborative culture in the office. How would you contribute to that effort?

4. Describe your ideal client to work with.

5. Have analytics ever shown you something difficult, strange, or surprising? What did you do next?

6. How do you stay inspired to come up with innovative ideas and strategies?

7. How do you keep up-to-date on new technologies and trends in the industry?

8. Looking at our services and offerings, what do you think we do better than any of our competitors?

9. What is your specialty or expertise in digital communication?

10. Tell me about the most interesting project you worked on this year and what you learned from it.

11. Tell me about a time a client was unhappy with your work. How did you respond?

12. How do you handle working on multiple projects with different deadlines?

13. Why should we hire you?

14. Tell me about yourself.

15. Tell me about a time when you worked collaboratively with a team to see a project through to completion.

16. What is your experience interacting with senior level leadership within a company?

17. What is your favorite social media platform? Why?

18. What does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to you?

19. Why do you want to work here?

20. How would your references describe you?

21. Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to help someone.

22. How do you prioritize your work and cope with stress?

23. What are you most proud of?

24. Tell me about a time when you took on a leadership role.

25. Name and describe one of your strengths and one of your weaknesses.