Interview Questions for ME Flashcards
Tell me about yourself
I have an extensive background in residential property marketing across both agency and developer sides
Before that I was at university in Cardiff and left with a degree in business and marketing
I always knew I wanted to go into property. It was an industry I grew up in, my grandfather had started up one of the big developers: Bewley Homes and my dad also had a property development start-up which he later sold
So the summer after I graduated, I took an internship at an estate agents in Reading and after a week there they offered me a permanent position
It was a really great opportunity for me
Estate agency is really fast-paced
I had exposure to the full marketing mix on both B2C (resi, lettings, new homes) and B2B (winning business) sides
I got to work with some really big clients (Bellway, CALA, Crest Nicholson, Weston Homes)
I was also able to excel my career through the pandemic
My manager was put on furlough and I solely managed the department
I then decided to make the move up to London and look for a new opportunity in the city and landed at St George
I had previously worked with BG on some of their Outer London projects (BG, HW)
Again, it was a really great career move for me, I was able to flip the script and be on the other side of property development and really expand my skills
I have worked on some of St George’s largest landmark developments including BP (3,000+ homes), where I got my first taste of BTR (Long Harbour/ Way of Life)
I have also been involved in many high-level projects across group
Within my first couple of months at St George, I was one of four organising the first group-wide HTB event
More recently, I have been part of the pilot group who are pioneering the development of a BG app
I’m now looking for a new opportunity. I want to work for a company I am passionate about because then I can get my teeth into it and that’s when I produce my best work
LS tickets all the boxes for me
Why do you want to work for LS?
I’ve been in the industry and LS is a company I admire and who are well-respected
First and foremost, I am a passionate marketeer and so want to work for a company that understands and invests in marketing
I feel LS understand this
I know right from conception, marketing is at the forefront
You do the research, you understand your audience and then you make considered decisions on how to target them
I also feel like you’re at a very exciting stage with the company
You’re making a lot of noise buying all this land
You’re also working at speed, I know you’ve just launched Twickenham Square this past week or so having bought it back in May
You’re dynamic, you are challenging the way things are being done (e.g. embracing BTR)
Why do you want to work client side still?
Being agency side does have its challenges
We are dictated to by our clients
For some this is good, so some developers know how to execute good marketing and so it’s great to follow their lead
But you can’t pick and choose clients
Sometimes client marketing is less than great and so it can be frustrating
We do also work for individual developers and that can also prove tricky: every man and their dog thinks they can do marketing and has an opinion on it
What sort of work have you done where you are?
I have managed multiple developments marketing strategies, campaigns and budgets in parallel
Over my time, I have learnt that a joint sales and marketing approach is best
We need to be capturing as much data as possible at the very first touchpoint with a customer and then all the way through to when they complete and beyond
That is what ultimately dictates our initial marketing strategy
We then need to be constantly listening and feeding back
In a digital world, things are moving so fast, we need to constantly be adapting and trying new things
So, for example, when realigning the SS strategy
I took data from multiple sources (sales, Google, Meta, agents)
I then reviewed our ‘always-on’ channels: our safe/ guaranteed channels of brand awareness and lead generation to make sure these were really optimised
I then set aside a pot every month of ‘fun money’, to allow us to test new campaigns or platforms
The end result has been really positive with a SS ranking amongst the top-selling sites across group, but also the top-selling site at St George at its price point for 4 consecutive months
What do you enjoy about marketing?
I love the creative side and that’s what excites me
You can push the boundaries and challenge the way things are done
I don’t just accept the status quo
I like to have this culture of continuous improvement
We should always be taking things apart and putting them back together again
Every day is different
I enjoy being a horizontal marketer and having experience across the full marketing mix e.g. not just social media, SEO, or graphic design
I’m a do-er, happy to roll my sleeves up and get involved with everything
Creative examples
Influencer marketing is the future
Where at Silkstream we are looking to launch a new show home in a few weeks, I have developed a comprehensive media and influencer program
Working on a 1-1 basis to make them feel special and to maximise exposure
Designed to build excitement and anticipation pre-launch
Continued momentum and buzz post-launch
Sourced 4 influencers in the real estate world
Aspirational, placemaker
FTB/ OO niche, personable
Estate agent
Contacted 3 journalists
Reviewed readership, to ensure the demographic aligned
Assessed reach to ensure the investment (time, financially) made sense
Discussed the typical articles and content to maximise likelihood of pick-up
Failure
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t failed
On a daily basis, I come into work and think everything is going to plan and I can guarantee I will be thrown a curveball
I think what’s more important is how I react
It’s my natural instinct as a marketer to think on my feet, think of solutions
One example, would be this past week when I was working with one of our agents to host an 11+ education seminar with Kew Learning (education consultant particularly popular with the Hong Kong market)
With events no matter how much pre-planning you do, things can always go wrong
I was given the incorrect figures for attendees and so last-minute had to relocate the event to accommodate larger numbers, hire chairs, increase catering and staffing
Personal challenge
During finals, I was hospitalised and my life changed overnight
I had to come to terms with my diabetes diagnosis pretty quick, as I choose not to defer my exams and continued on (I was at home recovering for less time than I was in intensive care)
Under pressure
All the time with the nature of the business, it’s very fast-moving
I think some of the biggest pressures come internally and managing upwards
We may have to turnaround big reports or presentations
We may have to justify what we’re doing and why
Sometimes we have to own up to our mistakes and acknowledge when things haven’t gone right
Why are you leaving St George?
I’ve enjoyed my time at St George and have learned a lot while I’ve been there
But I feel ready for new challenges and opportunities to grow
I am now looking for a role that aligns more closely with my career goals
LS does tick all the boxes for me
How will St George take it?
I would think they may be disappointed to loose me
Will they try and stop you?
They may
I am now looking for a role that aligns more closely with my career goals
What other companies have you been applying for?
Yes, I am actively interviewing and applying for roles
I want to find a role and work for a company that aligns with my values and what I am look for in my next opportunity, which is why I’m excited to learn more about LS since it seems like a great fit
Portfolio
I’m glad you like it
I did try to have it re-printed before this interview because I noticed one of the pictures was low quality and it had been bound to the top not the left, but unfortunately the turnaround was not quick enough
Where do you see the future of marketing?
Omnichannel marketing
People should be able to come in via one channel and hop across channels freely whilst always being able to be in contact with the company
Essentially we shouldn’t just be looking at single routes to market
Automation
AI for more intelligent marketing
