Preparing for an interview at Rakuten Advertising requires a balanced focus on technical adtech knowledge, structured sales methodologies, and strong presentation skills. You should treat the interview process itself as a sales cycle, demonstrating your organization, communication, and closing abilities at every stage.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must understand the fundamentals of digital advertising, with a specific focus on affiliate marketing networks, publisher relationships, and programmatic media buying. Be ready to discuss industry metrics such as CPA, CPC, CPM, and ROAS with confidence.

Problem-Solving & Case Execution – During the case study presentation, the panel will evaluate how you structure a pitch, identify client pain points, and map Rakuten Advertising's products to those needs. They are looking for a consultative seller who can think on their feet when faced with tough client objections.

Leadership & Drive – Show that you are a self-starter who takes ownership of your territory. Highlight your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as account managers and technical integration specialists, to deliver a seamless client experience.

Culture Fit & Resilience – Rakuten Advertising values global collaboration, innovation, and a results-oriented mindset. You should demonstrate professional resilience, a collaborative spirit, and a genuine enthusiasm for the fast-paced adtech space.

The interview process for the Account Executive position at Rakuten Advertising typically spans several weeks and involves multiple touchpoints with HR, the hiring manager, and the broader sales team. The process is designed to evaluate both your cultural alignment and your practical sales capabilities.

While some candidates report a highly streamlined experience, others note that the loop can involve up to six interviewers and take over a month to conclude. Staying proactive, maintaining open communication with your recruiter, and preparing thoroughly for each round will help you navigate this comprehensive evaluation successfully.

The timeline module above outlines the typical progression of stages you will encounter during your candidacy. Use this visual guide to pace your preparation, ensuring you allocate sufficient time for both behavioral practice and case study development before the final rounds.

To secure an offer as an Account Executive, you must demonstrate mastery in several core evaluation areas. Your interviewers will assess your capabilities through specific behavioral questions and practical exercises.

Sales Methodology & Pipeline Management

This area focuses on your ability to prospect, qualify, and close deals systematically. You need to show that you do not rely on luck, but rather on a structured, repeatable sales process.

Be ready to go over:

• Prospecting strategies – How you identify high-value brands and reach decision-makers.
• Qualification frameworks – Your approach to determining whether a prospect is a good fit for Rakuten Advertising.
• Objection handling – Techniques for overcoming common sales roadblocks, such as budget constraints or satisfaction with a competitor.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through your typical sales cycle from initial cold outreach to signed contract."
• "How do you determine if a prospect is worth pursuing or if you should walk away?"

Digital Marketing & Adtech Acumen

You must prove that you speak the language of digital marketing. The panel wants to ensure you can hold peer-level strategic conversations with Chief Marketing Officers and digital marketing directors.

Be ready to go over:

• Affiliate marketing dynamics – The relationship between advertisers, publishers, and networks.
• Programmatic advertising – How real-time bidding, DSPs, and SSPs function.
• Data-driven attribution – How brands measure the success of their multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• Advanced concepts – The impact of privacy regulations (like cookie deprecation) on tracking and attribution, and how Rakuten Advertising's first-party data solutions address these industry shifts.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How would you explain the value of an affiliate network to a brand that currently only runs search and social ads?"
• "What trends do you think will have the biggest impact on digital advertising over the next three years?"

Case Study Presentation

In the final stages, you will likely present a case study to a panel of team members and managers. This is your opportunity to showcase your actual sales delivery, executive presence, and strategic thinking.

Be ready to go over:

• Structuring a deck – Creating a clean, logical, and persuasive presentation.
• Identifying client needs – Analyzing a target company's current digital footprint to find gaps.
• Presenting with confidence – Delivering a compelling pitch and managing a Q&A session under pressure.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Based on the provided client brief, present a comprehensive growth strategy leveraging our affiliate and display solutions."

As an Account Executive at Rakuten Advertising, your day-to-day activities will center around driving new business and expanding the company's market share. You will act as the primary point of contact for prospects, guiding them through the sales funnel with a consultative approach.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Generating new business pipelines through proactive prospecting, networking, and leveraging inbound marketing leads.
• Conducting discovery calls and product demonstrations to understand prospect pain points and showcase the value of the Rakuten Advertising ecosystem.
• Crafting and presenting custom sales proposals and business cases tailored to the specific goals of enterprise-level brands and agencies.
• Negotiating commercial terms and closing contracts to meet and exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual revenue quotas.
• Collaborating with implementation and account management teams to ensure a smooth onboarding experience and long-term success for your newly closed clients.