How to source and shortlist {role_name}

Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary

Where can you find qualified {role_name}?

  • Professional Networks:
    • Leverage your professional network and reach out to former colleagues, industry peers, and tech community members to ask for referrals.
  • Educational Institutions:
    • Universities and colleges with strong marketing programs
  • Company Career Pages:
    • Post the job on your company's career page to attract candidates who are already interested in your organization.
  • Job Boards:
    • MarketingHire
    • FlexJobs
    • We Work Remotely
  • Geography-Specific Job Boards:
    • US: Linkedin, Indeed, Glassdoor, SimplyHired
    • India: Linkedin, Naukri, Shine, Monster India
    • UAE & KSA: Linkedin, Bayt, GulfTalent, Naukrigulf
    • Remote Positions: Linkedin, Remote.co, Remote OK, Working Nomads

What are the best practices for headhunting {role_name}?

Headhunting involves actively seeking out candidates rather than waiting for them to apply. Here are some best practices:

  • Define clear objectives: Know exactly what skills and experience you need in a digital marketing manager.
  • Use Advanced Search: Leverage advanced search features on LinkedIn and job boards to find candidates with specific skills.
  • Engage with passive candidates: Reach out to candidates who are not actively looking for jobs but have the skills you need.
  • Leverage Employee Referrals: Encourage your employees to refer qualified candidates from their networks.
  • Attend industry events: Participate in marketing conferences, webinars, and workshops to connect with potential candidates.

How to shortlist candidates?

Once you have started to get applications from applicants, a thorough screening process and shortlisting of prospects will help you make the most of your time spent with the most qualified ones. 

Automated shortlisting tools :

Automated screening quickly filters out unqualified candidates, saving time for manual review. This allows the manual process to focus on the most promising candidates, ensuring the best ones are considered for further evaluation.

Screening questions to auto-shortlist based on predefined criteria

like qualifications, location, experience, and skills. Either use job board or use an ATS such as whitecarrot. Here are some questions for {role_name}

  • How many years of experience do you have with SEO/SEM?
    • Auto-reject if less than 3 years
  • How many years of experience do you have in performance marketing?
    • Auto-reject if less than 2 years.
  • Are you located within [specified location] or willing to work remotely?
    • Auto-reject if not willing to work remotely or relocate if required.

Skill based question to auto shortlist candidate

Analyze the skill test data to automatically shortlist top-performing applicants. (recommended screening test time - 15 minutes). Here are some skill test questions for {role_name}

SEO

Understanding of search engine optimization techniques. Some sample questions:

  • What is the primary purpose of using meta tags in SEO?
    • a) To improve page loading speed
    • b) To optimize images
    • c) To help search engines understand the content of a page
    • d) To create a sitemap
  • Which of the following is an off-page SEO technique?
    • a) Keyword research
    • b) Internal linking
    • c) Backlinking
    • d) Optimizing meta descriptions
  • What does "bounce rate" refer to in Google Analytics?
    • a) The percentage of visitors who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page
    • b) The number of pages a user visits per session
    • c) The average time spent on the website
    • d) The percentage of new visitors

Social Media Marketing

Proficiency in managing social media campaigns. Some sample questions:

  • What is the best time to post on social media for maximum engagement?
    • a) Early morning
    • b) Midday
    • c) Late evening
    • d) It varies by platform and audience
  • Which social media platform is best for B2B marketing?
    • a) Facebook
    • b) Twitter
    • c) LinkedIn
    • d) Instagram
  • What does "CPC" stand for in social media advertising?
    • a) Cost Per Click
    • b) Clicks Per Campaign
    • c) Cost Per Conversion
    • d) Clicks Per Cost

Email Marketing

Knowledge of creating and managing email marketing campaigns. Some sample questions:

  • What is an acceptable open rate for email campaigns in most industries?
    • a) 5-10%
    • b) 10-15%
    • c) 15-25%
    • d) 25-35%
  • What does "A/B testing" refer to in email marketing?
    • a) Sending emails at different times
    • b) Testing two versions of an email to see which performs better
    • c) Segmenting email lists
    • d) Automating email responses
  • What is the primary goal of a welcome email?
    • a) To offer a discount
    • b) To introduce the brand and set expectations
    • c) To gather customer feedback
    • d) To unsubscribe inactive users

Note - Auto reject candidates if scores less than 70% in this section

One way video interview

Recruitment Bullet

Use tools like hirevue, whitecarrot.io to ask candidates pre-recorded questions about their experience and skills.

Recruitment Bullet

Use sample question given in scorecard.

Collect other information 

Recruitment Bullet

Collect data from shortlisted candidates, such as salary expectations and visa status.

Manual candidate profile shortlisting:

Recruitment Bullet

Thoroughly review the CVs of the top scoring candidates from the automated process

Recruitment Bullet

Look for evidence of the required skills, experience, and achievements

Recruitment Bullet

Review the candidate’s portfolio or GitHub repositories to see examples of their work.

Schedule recruiter calls with the candidate

Recruitment Bullet

Use a tool like calendly or whitecarrot to allow candidates to self-schedule calls based on your availability

Recruitment Bullet

Confirm the call details (date, time, dial-in info) with the candidate via email

What questions to ask in the recruiter phone screen?

Recruitment Bullet

 Use scorecard for rating candidates for recruiter

Recruitment Bullet

Sample scorecard : 

Digital Marketing Evaluation Table
Criteria Sample Question Rating (1-5)
SEO Knowledge What is the primary purpose of using meta tags in SEO?
Social Media Strategy Which social media platform is best for B2B marketing?
Email Marketing What does "A/B testing" refer to in email marketing?
Communication Skills Describe a successful digital marketing campaign you led.
Critical Thinking How would you improve our current digital marketing efforts?
Leadership Give an example of how you have managed a team effectively.
Adaptability Tell us about a time you had to pivot a marketing strategy.
Recruitment Bullet

Check for consistency in responses from the candidates.

Recruitment Bullet

Record such scorecards in an ATS like whitecarrot or use google doc

Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary