Samsung Ads Data Analyst interview questions & guide 2026

The following questions are representative of what you can expect during the Samsung Ads hiring process. These questions are drawn from real candidate experiences across multiple global offices and are designed to test your technical execution, problem-solving structure, and behavioral alignment.

SQL and Data Manipulation

These questions evaluate your ability to write clean, efficient queries to extract and transform data from relational databases.

• Write a SQL query using window functions to identify the top-performing ad campaigns by daily reach.
• Explain the difference between a LEFT JOIN and an INNER JOIN, and describe a scenario in CTV data analysis where using the wrong join would skew your results.

To stand out in the Samsung Ads hiring process, you must demonstrate a balanced mix of technical mastery and business intuition. Your preparation should focus on showing how your technical skills solve real-world advertising and media challenges.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must have a strong grasp of data warehousing, SQL, and analytical tools. For Samsung Ads, this also means understanding the basics of programmatic advertising, CTV, and digital media metrics (such as reach, frequency, and attribution).

Problem-Solving Ability – Interviewers want to see how you structure your thoughts. When presented with a case study or a dataset, do not jump straight to coding. Begin by defining the business goal, outlining your methodology, and explaining the "why" behind your analytical choices.

Communication and Influence – Data is only as valuable as the decisions it inspires. You must prove that you can translate complex statistics and database schemas into clear, actionable business recommendations for executive stakeholders and clients.

The interview process at Samsung Ads is thorough and structured to evaluate both your practical execution and your strategic thinking. While the exact steps can vary slightly by region and team, the overall flow is designed to test your capabilities in real-world scenarios.

The process typically begins with an initial recruiter screen to discuss your background and interest in the company. This is followed by a technical assessment, which is often an at-home test focusing on SQL, Python, or Excel. Once you pass the assessment, you will move on to live technical rounds that dive deeper into your coding abilities, data warehousing knowledge, and case-study analysis. The final stage involves interviews with hiring managers or directors to assess your cultural fit, communication skills, and overall business acumen.

The timeline above represents the standard progression for the Data Analyst hiring process. Candidates should expect the entire journey—from the initial recruiter phone call to the final decision—to take approximately three to four weeks. Use this timeline to pace your technical review and ensure you allocate sufficient time for the take-home assessment.

SQL and Data Warehousing

SQL is the foundational tool you will use daily at Samsung Ads. You will be evaluated on your ability to write structured, performant queries against large-scale databases.

Be ready to go over:

• Complex Joins and Subqueries – Understanding when to use subqueries, Common Table Expressions (CTEs), and complex joins to combine disparate datasets.
• Window Functions – Mastery of functions like ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), LEAD(), LAG(), and cumulative aggregations.
• Query Optimization – Techniques for reducing query cost and execution time when querying massive tables, such as partition pruning and indexing.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Dimensional data modeling, designing schema structures (Star and Snowflake), and understanding slow-changing dimensions.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Write a query to calculate the running total of ad impressions for each campaign, partitioned by date and ordered by time."
• "How would you design a data warehouse schema to track user watch history and ad-exposure events across millions of Smart TVs?"

Python, Scripting, and Analytical Tooling

While SQL is used for data extraction, Python and Excel are the primary tools for deeper analysis, modeling, and automation. Samsung Ads values candidates who can choose the right tool for the specific task at hand.

Be ready to go over:

• Data Manipulation with Pandas – Loading, cleaning, merging, and grouping datasets using Python.
• Basic Algorithms – Prototyping basic algorithms or data structures (such as queues, lists, or buffers) to handle data flows.
• Data Visualization – Creating clear, insightful plots using libraries like Matplotlib or Seaborn.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Building automated data pipelines, scripting API calls to pull ad-server data, and basic machine learning for user segmentation.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Given a CSV file containing unstructured ad-server logs, write a Python script to calculate the average click-through rate (CTR) per device type."
• "You are given an Excel sheet with raw campaign performance data. How would you use formulas and pivot tables to quickly identify the top three underperforming ad placements?"

Behavioral and Case Studies

These conversations assess your ability to operate as a business-minded analyst who can collaborate across teams and drive strategic value.

Be ready to go over:

• Stakeholder Management – How you handle conflicting priorities from different teams and deliver insights to non-technical partners.
• Handling Ambiguity – Your approach to solving complex problems when the data is messy or the project requirements are unclear.
• Ad-Tech Domain Knowledge – Your understanding of the digital advertising space, including CTV, programmatic bidding, and audience measurement.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a time when your analysis disproved a strongly held belief of a product manager or business leader. How did you present your findings?"
• "An advertiser wants to know why their campaign reach has dropped this week. Walk me through the step-by-step diagnostic process you would follow."

As a Data Analyst at Samsung Ads, your daily responsibilities will revolve around turning raw telemetry and advertising data into strategic business assets.

Your primary focus will be on analyzing CTV viewership patterns and ad-campaign performance. You will query massive databases to measure campaign reach, frequency, and audience demographic delivery. This data is critical for helping major brands understand the effectiveness of their advertising spend on Samsung Smart TVs.

In addition to ad-hoc analyses, you will design, build, and maintain interactive dashboards and reports using visualization tools. These dashboards are used by both internal sales teams and external clients to monitor campaign health in real time. You will collaborate closely with Data Engineers to ensure the underlying data pipelines are robust, accurate, and optimized for analytical querying.

You will also act as a strategic consultant to the business. You will participate in cross-functional meetings with Product, Engineering, and Sales to identify new opportunities for data monetization, improve audience targeting capabilities, and refine the measurement methodologies used across the Samsung Ads platform.

To be competitive for the Data Analyst position at Samsung Ads, you must possess a strong blend of technical skills, analytical curiosity, and communication capabilities.

• Must-have technical skills – Advanced proficiency in SQL (writing complex queries, window functions, and optimization) and strong capabilities in either Python (Pandas, NumPy) or Excel for data manipulation and modeling.
• Nice-to-have technical skills – Experience with cloud data warehouses (such as Snowflake, BigQuery, or Redshift), data visualization tools (like Tableau or PowerBI), and familiarity with version control (Git).
• Experience level – Typically 2+ years of experience in a data analytics, business intelligence, or quantitative research role. Prior experience in digital advertising, media, or ad-tech is highly valued.
• Soft skills – Exceptional communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, comfort working with ambiguous requirements, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Q: How technical is the Data Analyst interview at Samsung Ads? A: The interview is highly practical and technical. You should expect live SQL coding exercises, a take-home analytical test, and questions regarding data warehousing concepts. You must be prepared to write actual code and demonstrate your hands-on analytical capabilities.

Q: What is the balance between Python and Excel in this role? A: This can vary by team, but both are highly valued. While Python is preferred for large-scale data cleaning and engineering-adjacent tasks, Excel remains a critical tool for quick business modeling and client-facing reporting. Do not neglect your spreadsheet skills during preparation.

Q: How can I best prepare for the case study portion of the interview? A: Familiarize yourself with advanced advertising concepts such as Connected TV (CTV), programmatic advertising, and media measurement metrics. Practice structuring your analytical approach out loud, starting with the business objective and ending with actionable recommendations.

Q: What is the working culture like at Samsung Ads? A: The culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and deeply data-driven. Because you are working with cutting-edge CTV technology, teams are highly innovative and continuously look for new ways to leverage proprietary hardware data to solve complex advertising challenges.

• Clarify the expectations early: During your initial recruiter call, ask about the specific tools the hiring team prefers for the technical assessment. Knowing whether they favor Python, SQL, or Excel allows you to tailor your preparation effectively.

• Be ready for practical, hands-on tests: Multiple candidates have noted that the technical rounds focus heavily on practical application ("practicals, practicals, practicals"). Ensure you can write clean, bug-free SQL queries and explain your logic clearly under time constraints.

• Brush up on data warehousing basics: Even for an analyst role, understanding how data is structured, stored, and modeled in a warehouse will help you write more efficient queries and collaborate better with data engineering teams.

• Practice structured communication: When answering behavioral and case questions, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Quantify your achievements wherever possible (e.g., "reduced query execution time by 30%" or "identified opportunities that increased campaign ROI by 15%").

A Data Analyst role at Samsung Ads offers a unique opportunity to work at the absolute forefront of the Connected TV and advanced advertising industries. By leveraging massive, proprietary Smart TV datasets, you will solve complex analytical challenges that directly impact global brands and millions of viewers. The role is intellectually stimulating, technically rigorous, and highly visible within the organization.

To succeed in this competitive interview process, focus on mastering your SQL fundamentals, refining your analytical approach in both Python and Excel, and practicing how to translate technical data points into strategic business stories. Approach every interview stage with preparation, structure, and a clear understanding of the ad-tech landscape.

The compensation details above outline the competitive salary ranges and components typical for this role. Use this data to align your expectations and prepare for future offer discussions. For more comprehensive interview insights, company profiles, and real-world preparation resources, explore the additional tools available on Dataford to give yourself a distinct competitive advantage. Good luck with your preparation—your journey to joining Samsung Ads starts now.