Preparing for an interview at Ampersand requires a balanced approach. You must demonstrate both your high-level sales strategy and your tactical execution skills. Interviewers want to know that you can build strong relationships with major agencies while also managing the operational details that keep campaigns running smoothly.

To stand out, align your preparation with the core criteria Ampersand uses to evaluate candidates:

Media & Ad Tech Acumen – You must show a deep understanding of the television and digital video landscapes. Brush up on key industry terms, measurement standards, and the differences between linear, addressable, and programmatic buying.

End-to-End Campaign Ownership – Be ready to prove that you do not just hand off deals once they are signed. You must show that you actively monitor campaign health, collaborate with planners, and proactively communicate optimizations to clients.

Resilience and Objection Handling – Prepare to discuss your personal framework for overcoming sales hurdles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure stories that highlight your persistence, creativity, and ability to think on your feet.

Collaborative Client Management – Highlight your experience working with complex agency structures. You should demonstrate how you identify key decision-makers, build consensus, and foster long-term partnerships.

The interview process for the Account Executive position at Ampersand is thorough, intentional, and designed to assess both your cultural fit and your professional capabilities. The company values transparency and respects candidates' time, keeping communication lines open throughout the journey. You will meet with a variety of team members to ensure a mutual fit.

The process typically begins with an initial phone screening with a talent acquisition representative to discuss your background and interest in the role. Following a successful screen, you will move to virtual or in-person interviews with hiring managers and key stakeholders. These conversations will dive deep into your specific sales experience, campaign history, and industry knowledge.

This visual timeline outlines the typical progression from your first contact to the final decision. Candidates should use this roadmap to pace their preparation, focusing first on high-level career highlights during the screen, and then diving deep into technical campaign mechanics and roleplay scenarios during the hiring manager and team loops. While the exact timeline can vary slightly based on location and seniority, Ampersand maintains a consistent, structured approach to evaluation.

To excel in your interviews, you must understand the specific competencies Ampersand evaluates. Expect your conversations to focus heavily on these three core areas.

Campaign Lifecycle & Execution

At Ampersand, an Account Executive is deeply involved in the post-sale process. You must prove that you can successfully shepherd a campaign from the initial proposal to the final wrap-up report.

Be ready to go over:

• Proposal Development – How you translate client briefs into realistic, high-performing media plans.
• Internal Collaboration – How you partner with media planners, traffic coordinators, and operations teams to ensure error-free execution.
• Mid-Flight Optimization – Your approach to monitoring campaign pacing and making necessary adjustments to prevent under-delivery.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Multi-market coordination, managing complex cross-platform attribution models, and navigating inventory constraints during peak political or holiday seasons.

Example scenarios:

• "Describe a time when a client's creative assets were delayed, threatening the campaign launch date. How did you manage the client's expectations and work with operations to minimize the impact?"
• "How do you approach a post-campaign analysis (PCA) to prove ROI and secure a renewal for the next quarter?"

Objection Handling & Resilience

Selling advanced TV solutions often involves educating clients who are comfortable with traditional methods. You must demonstrate that you can handle pushback with patience, data, and consultative guidance.

Be ready to go over:

• Value Justification – Defending premium CPMs by pointing to precise targeting and reduced waste.
• Educating the Buyer – Helping traditional linear buyers understand the operational flow and benefits of addressable advertising.
• Overcoming Budget Constraints – Strategies for securing test budgets or shifting dollars from other digital channels.