You're about to go into an advertising interview. What are the most common mistakes you should avoid?

Research Agency and Role: Understand the agency's work, clients, culture, and the specifics of the role. Show Interest and Preparation: Demonstrates your interest, preparation, and proactive attitude. Tailor Answers and Questions: Helps tailor your answers and ask relevant questions. Avoid Vagueness and Generic Answers: Don't be vague, generic, or uninformed about the agency or role.

In my experience, demonstrating passion and curiosity for the industry has significantly contributed to my success during interviews. Of course, this is in addition to ensuring that I have thoroughly researched the advertising agency and the specific role for which I am applying. Exhibiting a genuine interest in the field and a strong desire to learn more about it can set you apart from other candidates. It's crucial to convey your enthusiasm for the work and the company, as this can make a positive impression on the interviewers. They are likely to appreciate a candidate who not only has the required skills and qualifications but also shows a deep commitment to their profession and a keen interest in contributing to the company's success.

Portfolio Importance: Your portfolio is crucial for showcasing skills, creativity, and achievements in advertising. Relevance to Role and Agency: Bring samples relevant to the role and agency. Explanation of Work: Be ready to explain the brief, concept, process, and results of each project. Highlight Role and Contribution: Emphasize your role and contribution in each case, including collaboration with others. Avoid Mistakes: Don't bring too much, too little, or irrelevant work, and ensure you can articulate your work clearly.

To stand out in an interview, think outside the box and identify what unique contributions you can make. Reflect on your distinctive skills and experiences, considering how they align with the company's needs. When pitching yourself as the top candidate, highlight specific achievements that demonstrate your abilities, focusing on how these align with the role and the company's goals. Tailor your message to reflect the company’s culture and the challenges it faces. Use storytelling to make your application memorable, illustrating your problem-solving skills and resilience. Demonstrate your genuine enthusiasm for the role, ensuring your passion and unique value proposition shine through.

Staying abreast of trends and new technologies presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase your knowledge during an interview. To make the most of this, tailor your questions and responses to highlight your expertise in these areas. Demonstrating your familiarity with the latest industry trends and technological advancements can set you apart as a candidate who is proactive, forward-thinking, and capable of contributing innovative ideas to the company. Consider discussing how specific new technologies could impact the industry or how emerging trends might influence the company's strategy. By aligning your knowledge with the company's needs and goals, you can effectively illustrate your value as a candidate.

Not being yourself = mistake #1 Heading into an advertising interview? Steer clear of these no-gos. Don't rock up unprepared; know the company's work and vibe inside out. Avoid being a one-man show; show you're all about teamwork and collaboration. Keep the bragging to a minimum; instead, share how you've contributed to past successes. Dodge giving vague answers; be specific about your skills and experiences. And definitely don't forget to ask questions—it shows you're keen and have done your homework. It's all about striking a balance between confidence and humility, with a dash of curiosity.

When asked "what's your biggest weakness", a lot of interviewees resort to contrived answers that revolve around their perfectionism and workaholism. This is clearly putting on a show. Likewise, "where do you see yourself in 5 years time" also often elicits cliched responses like "In your seat". For these and other questions, it's always better to answer what you truly feel.

Vous passez un entretien dans le secteur publicitaire ? Celui qui sortira du lot est celui qui osera poser des questions. Et des vraies questions. Pas celles des articles de blog de recrutement. Imaginez que vous inversez les r?les et que vous questionnez l'agence sur sa vision du métier. Et si vous n'êtes pas retenu pour ce job, ce que vous aurez appris vous servira pour le prochain entretien. Questionnez !