Virtual interviews are now the standard for many roles, including marketing, especially if you’re applying for remote or hybrid marketing jobs. And while it might seem more casual than showing up in a suit to a meeting room, it actually takes a different kind of preparation.
You’re not just trying to answer questions. You’re trying to show that you’re a sharp communicator, switched-on marketer, and someone who can do great work without needing to be micromanaged.
The good news? A great virtual interview doesn’t need to be complicated. You just need to know how to prepare, what to say, and how to follow up like a pro. This guide walks you through all of it.
Want the full roadmap for landing a remote marketing job? Start with our Ultimate Guide to Remote Marketing Jobs.
Before the Interview: How to Prepare
A successful virtual interview for a remote marketing role starts long before the camera switches on. Putting in the effort to prepare properly shows confidence, professionalism and genuine interest in the role.
Here’s what to tick off before the call:
Study the job description
Pay attention to the responsibilities, tools and outcomes listed. Make note of anything you’ve done before and prep examples that align with what they’re looking for.
Research the company
Look at their recent campaigns, check their tone of voice, scroll through their blog or socials. Bonus points if you can reference something they’ve done well and connect it to your skills.
Ask if there’s anything you should prep
Don’t be afraid to email your contact ahead of time. Something like:
“Is there anything in particular I should prepare or bring to the interview?”
It shows initiative and helps avoid surprises.
Gather relevant examples
Think of moments where you solved a problem, led a project, worked cross-functionally or delivered results. These don’t have to be massive wins, just real, clear stories that show how you work.
Check your setup
Test your tech ahead of time. Is your mic working? Is the camera positioned well? Is your background tidy and distraction-free? Close any tabs or apps you don’t need and turn off notifications.
💡 Pro tip:
If the interview includes a presentation or task, ask how long you’ll have to present and who will be on the call. Tailor accordingly.
Still looking for the right role to interview for? Check out our step-by-step guide on How to Find Remote Marketing Jobs.
During the Interview: Mindset, Communication and Confidence
This is your moment to show that you’re more than just a good CV. You’re someone who gets marketing, works well with others and can handle the pace of a modern, often remote-first team.
You don’t need to memorise a script. You just need to stay calm, communicate clearly and make it easy for them to picture you in the role.
Be on time and ready to go
Join the call a minute or two early, have your notes nearby and be fully present. It sounds simple, but it sets the tone straight away.
Use the STAR method to structure your answers
Sharing specific examples is one of the best ways to show how you think, how you work and how you’ve made an impact. Even if you’re new to marketing or changing careers, stories stick far better than generic answers.
The STAR format keeps things clear:
Situation: What was happening? Set the scene.
Task: What was your role or responsibility in that situation?
Action: What did you actually do? What decisions or steps did you take?
Result: What was the outcome? What changed because of your actions?
Example 1:
“Tell me about a time you managed a campaign under pressure.”
Situation: At my last job, we had to launch a paid social campaign for a product rebrand with only one week’s notice.
Task: I was responsible for setting up the Facebook Ads campaign and hitting the weekly lead target.
Action: I quickly sourced new creative assets, built segmented audiences based on past engagement, and A/B tested two versions of the landing page.
Result: The campaign reached over 50,000 targeted users, generated 120 leads in 7 days and lowered our usual CPL by 15%.
Example 2:
“Give us an example of a time you had to collaborate across teams.”
Situation: While working on a newsletter project, we needed input from the product and design teams.
Task: I was in charge of managing timelines and making sure the final content aligned with the product messaging.
Action: I set up a shared Notion board, scheduled short check-ins and made sure feedback loops stayed tight.
Result:We launched the newsletter on time, and open rates increased by 12% compared to the previous month.
You don’t need a dramatic story. Just something real that shows how you think and solve problems.
Have examples ready to share live or afterwards
- Keep a few clear examples in your notes that you can bring up depending on the direction of the conversation
- If the interviewer mentions a challenge they’re facing, relate it back to a similar situation you’ve handled
- If they ask for follow-up material, be ready to send over a portfolio link, slides or campaign screenshots
Even if you’re early in your career, your ability to explain how you worked and what you learned counts for a lot.
Ask smart questions
This isn’t just about impressing them. It’s about figuring out if the role is right for you. Consider asking:
- What tools does the team use day to day?
- How does feedback and collaboration work in a remote setting?
- What does success look like for this role in the first 3 to 6 months?
💡 Pro tip:
Take brief notes while they’re speaking. It shows you’re engaged and helps you follow up meaningfully later.
Bring Examples to Life (Even If You're New)
One of the biggest mistakes people make in interviews, especially virtual ones, is keeping things too vague.
Statements like “I’m a great team player” or “I’m passionate about marketing” don’t mean much unless you back them up with something real. Hiring managers want to know what you’ve done, how you think and how you solve problems. That doesn’t mean you need 10 years of experience. You just need to show how you work.
Use real examples from anywhere
Your examples don’t have to come from paid roles. Some of the best interview stories come from:
- Freelance or side projects
- School or university assignments
- Personal blogs, passion projects or online courses
- Group work, volunteering or internships
If it shows how you think, communicate or deliver results, it’s worth sharing.
Be specific, even if the task was simple
Instead of saying “I helped grow engagement on social media,” try something like:
“I ran a one-month Instagram campaign for a small café during uni, using Reels and giveaways. Followers grew by 20 percent and post engagement nearly doubled.”
Explain your process, not just the end result
Even if the outcome wasn’t perfect, show what you did, why you made certain decisions and what you learned.
Connect your experience to the role
Try to bridge the gap between your experience and the job you’re interviewing for.
For example:
“In my last role, I managed email campaigns using Mailchimp. I know you use Klaviyo, but the logic is similar and I’d be excited to learn it.”
💡 Pro Tip:
Keep a cheat sheet of 3 to 4 examples you can reference. These should cover:
- A marketing project or campaign
- A time you solved a problem or worked under pressure
- A moment you collaborated across teams or disciplines
- Something you’re especially proud of
Following Up After the Interview
How you follow up can say just as much as how you performed in the interview. It’s a chance to show appreciation, reinforce your interest and leave a positive impression, whether or not you get the role.
Send a thank-you email within 24 hours
Keep it short and genuine. Mention something specific you enjoyed or appreciated about the conversation and quickly recap what you’d bring to the role.
Example:
Hi [Name],
Thanks again for taking the time to speak with me today. I really enjoyed hearing more about your team’s approach to content and how the brand is evolving.
I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute and bring my experience in [insert relevant skill] to [company name]. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to see any more examples or have further questions.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Connect on LinkedIn (if appropriate)
If the tone of the interview was friendly and professional, it’s usually fine to send a quick connection request. Add a short note referencing the interview to make it more personal.
Share any follow-up materials you mentioned
If you discussed a portfolio, strategy doc or past project, follow up with a link or PDF. It shows initiative and keeps the conversation going.
Always ask for feedback (even if you don’t get the job)
If you don’t hear back or get a rejection email, it’s still worth replying with a short thank-you and a request for feedback. It helps you grow and leaves the door open for future roles.
Example:
Thanks again for the opportunity to interview. While I’m disappointed not to be moving forward, I’d love to know if there’s any feedback you could share to help me improve for the future. I really appreciate your time.
Bonus Tips for Virtual Marketing Interviews
You’ve nailed the prep, planned your examples and followed up like a pro. Want to go the extra mile? These tips will help you feel more confident and leave a lasting impression.
Have a few tabs ready (just in case)
If your interviewer asks to see examples or talk through a project, you’ll want to be ready. Have your portfolio, campaign screenshots or relevant case studies open in separate tabs you can share quickly.
Minimise distractions
Turn off Slack, email and phone notifications before you join the call. Close anything unrelated to the interview, especially noisy group chats or random Spotify playlists that could pop up in the background.
Test your tech again on the day
Even if you checked it earlier, do one last test before the call. Make sure your camera and mic are working, your lighting is decent and you’re not relying on shaky Wi-Fi in a noisy café.
Practise answering marketing-specific questions
Here are a few that often come up:
- How do you prioritise tasks when running multiple campaigns?
- What metrics do you track to measure performance?
- Tell us about a marketing channel that didn’t work as planned. What did you learn?
Practise with a friend (or even by yourself)
Saying your answers out loud, even if it’s just to your webcam or a mirror, can help you feel more prepared. Better still, ask a friend to run through a few mock questions with you. The more you practise speaking clearly and confidently, the more natural it’ll feel in the real thing.
Speak with purpose
Virtual interviews can sometimes feel flat. Try to bring energy and warmth into the conversation without rushing or over-talking. Being clear and engaged goes a long way.
Aced your virtual interview? Now it’s time to nail your remote work setup so you’re ready to hit the ground running.
To wrap up
Virtual interviews aren’t just a stepping stone. They’re the main event. Whether you’re applying for a fully remote marketing job or a hybrid role, how you show up online can make or break the opportunity.
The good news? You don’t need to be flashy or perfect. You just need to be prepared, thoughtful and genuinely interested in the role. Back up your answers with real examples, ask smart questions and follow up like a professional.
Whether this is your first remote interview or your tenth, showing up prepared is a skill that only gets stronger with practice.
Looking for the next opportunity to put these tips to work? Create your free Howard profile.