You're looking to make a career change. What are the best ways to prepare for a job interview?

1 Research the company

Before you apply for a job in marketing research, you should do some homework on the company you're interested in. Find out what their mission, vision, values, and goals are, and how they align with your own. Learn about their products, services, customers, competitors, and industry trends. You can use sources such as their website, social media, annual reports, news articles, and customer reviews. This will help you tailor your resume, cover letter, and interview answers to show how you can add value to their organization.

2 Review your portfolio

As a marketing researcher, you need to showcase your skills and experience in conducting and presenting research projects. You should have a portfolio of your previous or current work that demonstrates your ability to design, execute, analyze, and communicate research findings. Your portfolio should include samples of your research proposals, questionnaires, data sets, reports, dashboards, infographics, or presentations. You should also be ready to explain the objectives, methods, results, and implications of each project, and how they helped solve a business problem or support a decision.

3 Practice your skills

One of the most common types of questions you'll face in a marketing research interview is a case study question. This is where you're given a hypothetical or real scenario related to a marketing research problem, and you have to explain how you would approach it. You may be asked to define the research question, choose the appropriate research design, select the data sources and collection methods, analyze the data, and present the recommendations. To prepare for this, you should practice your skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, data analysis, and storytelling. You can use online resources, books, or courses to refresh your knowledge and learn new techniques.

4 Prepare your questions

A job interview is not only a chance for the employer to evaluate you, but also for you to evaluate the employer. You should prepare some questions to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview, to show your interest and enthusiasm for the job. Your questions should be relevant, specific, and insightful, and reflect your research on the company and the position. For example, you can ask about the current or upcoming research projects, the challenges or opportunities they face, the expectations and feedback they have for the role, or the culture and values they foster.

5 Dress professionally

The way you dress for a job interview can make a good or bad impression on your interviewer. You should dress professionally and appropriately for the company and the position you're applying for. If you're not sure what the dress code is, you can check their website, social media, or ask the recruiter for guidance. In general, you should avoid wearing anything too casual, flashy, or revealing, and opt for something clean, comfortable, and conservative. You should also pay attention to your grooming, hygiene, and accessories, and make sure they reflect your personality and professionalism.

6 Follow up promptly

After the job interview, you should follow up with the interviewer to thank them for their time and reiterate your interest and qualifications for the job. You should send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview, and customize it to include some specific details from your conversation. You can also use this opportunity to address any questions or concerns that were raised during the interview, or to provide additional information or samples of your work. You should also express your enthusiasm for hearing from them again, and ask about the next steps in the hiring process.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?