What major challenges and problems did you face at your last position?
There is a multitude of issues a VP marketing may face, from generating traffic and leads to ROI to delivering account-based marketing strategies. Whether it is one of these or another type of challenge you've faced, this question will help your interviewer to assess your approach and what you consider to be a challenge in this position.
Research the company you're applying to. Determine why they're recruiting for this position. If the position is new, find out what their motives are for creating the position. If the position isn't new, find out who they are replacing and why. Research the company's strengths and growth potential and frame your answer accordingly. Exhibit your strengths and customize your appeal. If you lack data, start the interview by asking these questions and taking notes before they dive into their question set.
"In my last position, the CEO handled all the marketing, but because of their growth, they found it necessary to create my position. They were very hands-on with the work and had difficulty letting go. Instead of stepping back, the CEO would jump into tasks I was already handling. This led to some communication issues, and we lost a couple of accounts. Recognizing their intentions and inner conflict, I changed my strategy. I customized my systems to be more friendly to the CEO's lens. I trained the CEO on this new model and explained how to conduct oversight of my work without creating rework."
Thank the interviewer for their time. Be relatable and make eye contact. Be mindful of your body language throughout the interview, as well. You should exude confidence in your words and your body language.
