You’ve landed an interview for a marketing position! Now, you just need to prepare for it. Remember, the interview is the bridge to actually getting the job.

So what are the best tips to prepare? Here are 5:

Show your creative side

When preparing for a marketing interview, it’s important to show your creative side, not just talk about it. Bring examples of your work to the interview to stand out from the competition. This can include blogs that you’ve written or ads you’ve designed. Bring the work that most closely relates to the position you’ve applied for.
Be sure and do this whether the job posting or e-mail you receive asks for it or not. If you have a portfolio with you, you can tactfully offer it and refer to it when responding to questions. If you don’t, the opportunity to show your stuff is lost forever.

Research the company

Before setting a foot in the door, be sure to research the company. That means all aspects of a company, but of course you want to really get an in-depth understanding of the marketing side. Look at their ad campaigns, both print and digital. Look at their social media channels. Do they market heavily on Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram? What are the target audiences?

Prepare questions

There’s usually a space in the interview to ask any questions. Use your research to develop some thoughtful questions that show you’ve really thought about their marketing. Do their Snapchat stories differ from their presence on Facebook, for example? Are you curious about why? Ask!

Do you see target audiences or demographics that surprise you? Ask about how the Instagram audience differs from the television network audience, if the company markets on both. Is the company transitioning from a bricks-and-mortar environment to one all online? Develop some questions to show you’re up-to-the-minute on that trend.

Develop your brand

While you should definitely bring a portfolio of your creative work, it’s always a good idea to show your creativity in marketing outside of specific interview situations as well.

What’s the best way to do this? Brand yourself. Do you follow fashion or have a cause you’re passionate about? Make sure it’s on your LinkedIn profile and your social media channels. Unify the message about yourself that’s carried on LinkedIn and your presence on social.

After all, that’s what you do as a marketer. Show it in every aspect of your life.

Send a thank-you note

Interview etiquette is clear. Send a thank-you note to your interviewer(s) within 24 hours, preferably by the end of the day of your interview. Be sure to genuinely thank them for any interview insights they gave you.