20 Ogilvy Interview Questions and Answers

Ogilvy is a world-renowned advertising and marketing agency. They have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world and are known for their creative and innovative approach to marketing.

If you’re lucky enough to land an interview with Ogilvy, you can expect to be asked some tough questions. The interviewer will want to know if you have the skills and experience to do the job, but they will also be looking to see if you’re a good fit for the company.

To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common Ogilvy interview questions, with sample answers to help you stand out from the crowd.

Ogilvy Interview Process

The interview process at Ogilvy is long, difficult, and overall not a great experience. It can take weeks or even months to hear back from the company after applying, and the interviews themselves are very challenging. Many of the questions are behavioral and require you to think on your feet. Overall, it is not a great experience and I would not recommend applying to this company.

1. Describe a project you have worked on that your proud of.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer what you are capable of. It also gives them an idea of the type of work you enjoy doing and how you approach projects. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a project that was challenging but rewarding in the end.

Example: “I am proud of my most recent campaign for a local restaurant. The client wanted to increase their online presence and attract more customers. I created several different ads on social media platforms and boosted them with paid advertising. After two months, we saw a 20% increase in website traffic and a 10% increase in sales.”

2. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with a lot of criticism, how did you handle it?

Ogilvy is a company that values creativity and innovation. As such, you may be asked to describe how you handle criticism in your work. This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the ability to overcome challenges and learn from them.

Example: “In my last position as an account manager, I was tasked with creating a new campaign for one of our clients. The client wanted to target millennials, but they didn’t want to use social media at all. I knew this would be difficult because most millennials are on social media, so I presented several ideas to the client. They chose one idea, but it wasn’t what they were looking for. I had to go back to the drawing board and create another campaign.”

3. What are some challenges faced by an advertising agency today?

This question is a great way to see how you can apply your knowledge of the advertising industry and Ogilvy specifically. You should discuss some challenges that are unique to the agency, such as its size or location, and then explain how you would overcome them.

Example: “One challenge faced by agencies today is finding enough qualified employees. With so many companies needing talented people in this field, it’s hard for any one company to find enough skilled professionals. I think the best solution to this problem is to invest in training programs that help develop new talent. This will allow us to build our own team while also helping others grow their teams.”

4. Can you tell us about a time when you were working on a team and there was conflict, how did you handle it?

Conflict is a natural part of working in teams, and employers want to know that you can handle it well. Use your answer to show the interviewer that you are able to work with others and resolve issues.

Example: “In my last position, I was working on a team that had several members who were all very talented at different things. This led to some conflict as we each wanted our ideas to be implemented. When this happened, I would try to listen to everyone’s idea and explain why I thought mine was best. If someone else had a better idea, I would implement it if they could convince me it was better than mine.”

5. Where do you see Ogilvy 5 years from now?

This question is a great way to see how ambitious you are and your long-term goals. It also shows the interviewer what you think of Ogilvy’s future. Your answer should show that you’re excited about working for this company, and it should include specific details about what you hope will happen in the next five years.

Example: “I believe that Ogilvy will be one of the top advertising agencies in the world by 2022. I know that we have the talent and resources to get there, and I’m eager to help make that happen. In five years, I would love to see us as an agency with no gender bias, where all employees feel valued and respected.”

6. Why should we hire you over someone else?

Employers ask this question to see if you can sell yourself. They want someone who is confident and knows their strengths. When answering, think about what makes you a good candidate for the position. Try to focus on your skills and abilities rather than just listing your credentials.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills. I have experience working in teams and collaborating with others. I also have extensive knowledge of digital marketing and advertising. These are all valuable skills that make me a great fit for this role.”

7. How would you use social media to promote one of our campaigns?

Social media is a popular way to promote brands and products. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience using social media for marketing purposes. Use your answer to highlight your skills with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Explain how you would use these channels to reach the target audience of the campaign you’re discussing.

Example: “I think that social media is an excellent platform for promoting Ogilvy campaigns because it allows me to connect with my target audience in real time. For example, I could create a hashtag for one of your campaigns and encourage people to share their photos on Instagram or Twitter. This gives them the opportunity to show off their purchases from the brand while also connecting with other customers.”

8. Tell me about a time where you used data analysis to develop a marketing strategy.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you use data analysis in your daily work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to analyze the data and what conclusions you came to based on that information.

Example: “In my last role as an account manager, I was tasked with creating a marketing strategy for one of our clients who wanted to increase their sales by 10% within six months. To do this, I first gathered all the relevant data from our client’s website, including traffic patterns, conversion rates and customer demographics. After analyzing this data, I found that we needed to focus on increasing our social media presence and improving our SEO ranking. We implemented these strategies into our campaign and were able to achieve a 20% increase in sales within three months.”

9. Are you comfortable in a fast-paced environment?

Ogilvy is a fast-paced environment, and the interviewer wants to make sure you can keep up with their pace. This question also helps them determine if your personality fits in well with the company culture. Answer honestly about how you feel about working quickly and efficiently.

Example: “I am very comfortable in a fast-paced environment. I thrive on being able to work quickly and efficiently. In my last position, we had a lot of deadlines that needed to be met, so I became accustomed to working at a quick pace. I’m used to multitasking and prioritizing tasks as they come in.”

10. Describe the process you go through when developing a campaign.

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the Ogilvy process and how you apply it. When answering, try to describe each step in detail and explain why you take that approach.

Example: “I start by researching my client’s brand and their target audience. I then create an outline for the campaign based on what I learned from this research. Next, I develop the creative strategy and write the copy for all marketing materials. Then, I work with designers to create the visuals for the campaign. Finally, I implement the campaign and track its success.”

11. Explain to me why you chose a career in advertising.

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s interest in advertising and how they view their career. It also allows you to see if they have any experience with Ogilvy, which can be helpful when deciding whether or not to hire them.

Example: “I chose a career in advertising because I love telling stories through creative means. I find it fascinating that an ad can make someone feel something without even knowing why. I’ve always been interested in psychology and sociology, so I think this field is perfect for me.”

12. Do you consider yourself more creative or analytical?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your personality and determine if you would fit in with their team. Ogilvy employees are encouraged to be both creative and analytical, so it’s important to show that you can balance these two skills.

Example: “I consider myself more analytical than creative. I enjoy coming up with new ideas but am also good at analyzing data and making sure my strategies are effective. In fact, I think this combination of skills makes me a better marketer because I’m able to come up with innovative ideas while still being realistic about what will work best.”

13. What is your favorite ad slogan and why?

This question is a great way to see how you can apply your creativity and problem-solving skills. It also shows the interviewer that you have an opinion about advertising slogans, which is important for this role. Choose one slogan that resonates with you and explain why it’s meaningful.

Example: “My favorite ad slogan is ‘The best job in the world’ from Tourism Australia. I love this slogan because it really captures what makes advertising so special. The tourism industry was looking for ways to attract more visitors to their country, but they didn’t want to use typical marketing tactics like discounts or sales. Instead, they wanted to create something memorable that would make people want to visit Australia. They created a competition where people could win a dream job as a caretaker on a remote island. This campaign generated a lot of buzz and led to a significant increase in tourism.”

14. What is your approach to dealing with clients who are difficult?

Ogilvy is a client-focused agency, so it’s important that you have experience working with clients. This question helps the interviewer determine how you will fit in at Ogilvy and whether you can handle the unique challenges of working with clients. Use examples from your previous work to show that you are able to collaborate with clients and help them achieve their goals.

Example: “I find that the best way to deal with difficult clients is by building strong relationships with them. I make sure to listen carefully to what they say and respond respectfully. If they’re upset or frustrated, I try to calm them down before we discuss solutions to their problems. By taking this approach, I’ve been able to diffuse tense situations and build trust with my clients.”

15. What are some trends you think will be important for brands to follow in the future?

This question is a great way to see how you can apply your knowledge of trends and marketing strategies to the Ogilvy brand. Use examples from your experience or research to show that you are up-to-date on current industry news.

Example: “I think one trend brands should follow in the future is using influencers for their marketing campaigns. Influencers have large audiences, so they’re an effective way to reach new customers. I worked with a client who wanted to expand their customer base by reaching out to more bloggers and vloggers. We created a campaign where we gave influencers free products in exchange for mentioning them on social media. The results were amazing, as the company saw a 30% increase in sales.”

16. Do you have any experience using Google AdWords or Facebook Ads?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your digital marketing experience. If you have any experience using these platforms, describe how you used them and what results you achieved.

Example: “I’ve worked with Google AdWords in the past, but I prefer Facebook Ads because they’re easier to use and manage. In my last role, I was tasked with creating an ad campaign that would increase sales by 10% within two months. Using Facebook Ads, I created three different ads that targeted specific demographics. The first ad focused on people who were interested in our product, while the second ad focused on people who had recently purchased from us. The third ad focused on people who liked similar products as ours.”

17. Have you ever felt like your ideas weren’t being heard at work? How did you make sure they got heard?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and disagreement. It’s important to show that you’re willing to work with others, even if you disagree with them.

Example: “I once worked on a campaign where I felt like my ideas weren’t being heard by my team. At first, I tried to speak up more in meetings, but it didn’t seem to be helping. So, I decided to meet with my supervisor one-on-one to discuss my concerns. She was very receptive to my ideas and asked me to present my thoughts at our next meeting. After I presented my ideas, she agreed to let me lead the project.”

18. What is your favorite type of content to create?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your interests and passions. It also helps them understand what type of content you might create for their company if you’re hired. When answering this question, try to focus on the types of content that align with Ogilvy’s brand.

Example: “I love creating social media ads because I find it so rewarding when they resonate with people and drive engagement. I’ve had several clients tell me that my ads have helped them grow their businesses, which is always exciting to hear.”

19. What do you think sets Ogilvy apart from other agencies?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the agency and how you can contribute to its success. Ogilvy has a unique culture, so it’s important that any new hires fit in with their team. In your answer, explain what makes this company special and why you would enjoy working there.

Example: “Ogilvy is known for being innovative and creative. I think this sets them apart from other agencies because they are always coming up with new ways to reach consumers. They also have a very collaborative work environment where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and opinions. This helps everyone learn more about each other and develop as professionals.”

20. What is your greatest strength as a designer?

This question is an opportunity to highlight your skills and abilities as a designer. You can discuss the design process you use, how you solve problems or what makes you unique as a designer.

Example: “My greatest strength as a designer is my ability to create visually appealing designs that are also user-friendly. I have extensive experience creating websites that are easy for users to navigate and understand. In fact, one of my clients was so impressed with my website designs that they hired me to redesign their entire online presence.”