What common mistakes do you need to avoid in an Influencer Marketing interview?

Sure thing! When you're interviewing for influencer marketing roles, it's easy to forget how important it is to share your own beliefs and values that match the company's vibe. Talking about why you love what the company stands for and how you connect with their influencers can really make you stand out. Being genuinely excited about the job and showing that you're truly interested can make a big difference, not just in the interview but also in how well you work together in the future. Being real matters a lot in influencer work—it's what builds strong relationships that help both sides succeed.

A key reason to thoroughly research how the company you want to join approaches Influencer Marketing is to gather valuable insights from their own social media channels and latest campaigns. Knowledge enables you to discuss potential contributions to the current strategy or advocate for an entirely different approach to influencer marketing. New hires are expected to bring something valuable to the table, not just tick HR boxes.

Of course doing one's research on the company & the role is essential before any sort of interview. But, when it comes to influencer marketing, you must be sure to come with a prepared knowledge of the company's existing influencer strategy. If a company has an influencer team, they likely have a history of previous partnerships. Search for past partnership content & evaluate things like: platform/channel choice, messaging tone, creator selections, etc. By doing your due diligence on existing content from the brand, you'll come to the discussion with an already developed understanding of what the team's vision is. Even if you intend to completely overhaul their strategy, you'll be able to make a better case for what you bring to the table.

We have had people who were interviewed for the influencer marketing positions in our company but they didn't know the basics of the industry. One should have a basic understanding of the trends, some top influencers in the niche, etc. Not doing the research is a big turn off!

Influencer marketing positions are pretty sought after so you've got to make sure you stand out. Here's a few ways you can do that: - Talk about campaigns you've planned and how they turned out - Mention some influencers you think would be great for the brand and why. Important to show expertise and not lean into buzzwords like microinfluencers - Talk about how you negotiate to spend your budget efficiently while also paying fair - Share what you think influencers can do for the brand beyond just a campaign but what about for owned and paid social?

One of the most important skills to have in this industry is communication, if you are working with an agency that acts as a mediator between brands and influencers you should have excellent communication skills. You can stand out by having the following: - Great negotiation skills. - Being very prompt - Being able to suggest creative ideas - A team player. - Very observant.

Make sure you understand who the creator you’re booking is. The number of brands who book someone for an ad read who are not a natural fit or are a disconnect on tone is still staggering in our industry.

Especially in more creative fields, like influencer marketing, one of the biggest keys to success is authenticity. Though it can feel difficult to be vulnerable, I've found that living my truth almost always ends up being rewarding. Be honest about your personal passions, and explain how those interests relate to the world of influencer marketing and social media. Remember to always be respectful and professional, but don't be afraid to show a little bit of personality in your interview! Influencer marketing roles often require lots of socialization and exceptional communication skills, so demonstrating that you're a personable, confident, likable and authentic person is almost always going to be to your benefit.

Open ended questions. Get very good at asking questions that allow the influencer to elaborate. This will help you get a deeper understanding of their thoughts feelings and motivations. Plus you're looking to build a trusted long term relationship with your influencers. *Active listening- what is being said and what is NOT being said *Be empathetic *Be open, candid and transparent. *Ask the influencer for their advice, they are experts too!

Common sense. Build the relationship. Trust and open comms are super valuable for both sides. Even if the influencer isn't selected for this campaign they may be ideal for the next one. No Ghosting. Also if the influencer ghosts you, this is a telling sign that something didn't go well in the process (look inwards) or this could be indicative of the influencers comm style. Note this.

One major "not-to-do" in an influencer marketing interview is to avoid appearing solely interested in the compensation and perks of the collaboration. While it's essential to discuss terms and compensation, focusing too heavily on these aspects can give the impression that you're only in it for the money or free products, which can be a turn-off for brands. Instead, emphasize your passion for the brand and its products, your understanding of your target audience, and how your partnership can provide value to both the brand and your followers. This approach demonstrates your genuine interest and commitment to the collaboration