Interview Experience: Marketing Manager, Brand Media at Remitly

When I interviewed for the Marketing Manager, Brand Media position at Remitly, the process was comprehensive, focusing on my experience with media strategies, brand campaigns, and my ability to work cross-functionally. Here’s a breakdown of the interview process, the types of questions I encountered, and tips on how to succeed:

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for this role typically involves several stages to assess both your technical expertise in brand media marketing and your ability to work with different teams at Remitly.

1. Initial Screening (HR Interview)

The first stage is usually a phone call with an HR representative. During this conversation, the HR person will assess your background, motivations for applying, and your understanding of Remitly’s values and mission.

Typical questions:

• “Why do you want to work at Remitly?”
• “Tell me about your experience managing brand media campaigns.”
• “What draws you to this position specifically, given your experience?”

In my case, I made sure to highlight my experience in driving multi-channel marketing campaigns, including traditional media (TV, print) and digital channels (social, display). I also expressed enthusiasm for Remitly’s mission, particularly its focus on financial inclusion and how that resonates with my professional values.

2. In-Depth Interview with Hiring Manager

The next round was with the hiring manager and focused on my technical marketing skills. The interviewer wanted to know more about how I would approach integrated media strategies and handle the execution of large-scale campaigns. They were also interested in my experience working with analytics to measure campaign success and my ability to collaborate with creative and media agencies.

Common questions:

• “How do you go about planning a multi-channel brand campaign from start to finish?”
• “Can you provide an example of a campaign you executed that drove brand awareness?”
• “How do you measure the effectiveness of brand campaigns, and what metrics do you focus on?”

For example, when asked about measuring effectiveness, I explained how I use a combination of brand lift studies, media impressions, and engagement metrics to assess the impact of campaigns. I also discussed how I’ve used tools like Google Analytics and social listening platforms to refine strategies in real-time.

3. Case Study or Campaign Strategy Exercise

For this part of the interview, I was asked to walk through a hypothetical brand campaign strategy. This exercise tested my ability to think on my feet and demonstrate strategic thinking. The interviewer provided a set of objectives, target audiences, and media budgets, and I had to devise a media strategy to meet those goals.

Task example:

• “You’ve been given a budget of $500,000 to increase brand awareness in a new market. How would you allocate the budget across traditional and digital media?”

I approached the task by first analyzing the audience demographics and their media consumption habits. I suggested a mix of TV and digital platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, to reach the broadest audience while also using programmatic ads to target specific segments. I also proposed setting up A/B tests to monitor the performance of different creatives and channels in real-time.

4. Behavioral Interview (Team Fit and Leadership Skills)

In this stage, the focus was on my ability to lead teams, collaborate across departments, and contribute to Remitly’s inclusive and innovative culture. They wanted to know about my leadership style, how I work under pressure, and how I motivate teams.

Key questions:

• “Describe a time when you had to work with a cross-functional team to launch a campaign.”
• “How do you deal with a situation where a campaign is not performing as expected?”
• “What is your approach to leading creative teams?”

I shared an example where I led a cross-functional team involving creative, media, and analytics teams for a product launch. I discussed how we collaborated to align our messaging and KPIs, how we adjusted the strategy when we saw early signs of underperformance, and how I kept everyone motivated and focused on improving the campaign’s impact.

5. Final Interview with Senior Leadership

The final round typically involves meeting with senior leadership, such as the Chief Marketing Officer or other executives. They are interested in your long-term vision for the brand and how you’ll contribute to Remitly’s growth and strategic goals.

Common questions:

• “Where do you see the brand media function evolving in the next 3-5 years at Remitly?”
• “How would you adapt a global media strategy to different cultural contexts?”
• “What excites you about the future of Remitly’s marketing efforts?”

I took the opportunity to share my vision for expanding brand media efforts in emerging markets, aligning with Remitly’s goal of expanding globally while maintaining a strong brand presence in diverse regions. I also mentioned my interest in using data and technology to continually optimize campaigns and drive brand loyalty in new markets.

6. Follow-up Interview (Logistical and Compensation Discussion)

The final interview typically focuses on confirming details like compensation, benefits, and expectations. They might also give you the opportunity to ask questions about team dynamics, leadership style, and what success in the role looks like.

Key Skills and Experience to Highlight

• Brand Media Campaign Strategy: Emphasize your experience developing and executing multi-channel campaigns, including both traditional and digital media. Highlight specific campaigns you’ve led and their impact on brand awareness and business objectives.
• Analytical Skills: Remitly looks for marketers who can turn data into actionable insights. Be prepared to discuss how you measure the effectiveness of campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Show that you can collaborate with diverse teams, including creative, analytics, and media agencies, to align on campaign objectives and drive execution.
• Budget Management: Highlight your experience managing large budgets, forecasting, and adjusting spend based on real-time performance data.
• Storytelling and Creativity: Marketing managers at Remitly are expected to have a passion for storytelling through media channels. Share examples of how you’ve developed creative strategies that resonated with target audiences.

Example from My Experience

I discussed a campaign where I worked with a cross-functional team to launch a brand awareness campaign for a new financial product. We used a mix of TV, social media, and influencer partnerships. Despite initial concerns about performance, we monitored engagement in real-time and optimized creatives, which resulted in a 20% increase in brand recall and a 15% increase in product inquiries.