Effective Work Sample Exercises for Hiring a Marketing Coordinator

Marketing Coordinators serve as the operational backbone of successful marketing teams, bridging the gap between creative vision and practical execution. Their ability to juggle multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail can make the difference between campaigns that soar and those that stumble. Finding the right person for this role requires more than just reviewing resumes and conducting standard interviews.

Traditional interviews often reveal only what candidates want you to see – their rehearsed answers and carefully curated experiences. Work samples, on the other hand, provide a window into how candidates actually think and perform under conditions similar to those they'll face on the job. For Marketing Coordinators, whose responsibilities span from social media management to event coordination and campaign tracking, seeing their skills in action is invaluable.

The exercises outlined below are designed to evaluate the essential competencies required for marketing coordination success: attention to detail, communication skills, adaptability, time management, and collaborative ability. By observing candidates as they tackle these realistic scenarios, you'll gain insights that no interview question could provide.

Implementing these work samples will not only help you identify candidates with the right skills but also demonstrate to top talent that your company values thoroughness and excellence in your hiring process. This approach leads to better hiring decisions and reduces the significant costs associated with making the wrong choice.

Activity #1: Social Media Content Calendar Creation

This exercise evaluates a candidate's ability to create engaging social media content while demonstrating their organizational skills and strategic thinking. Marketing Coordinators frequently manage social media platforms, requiring both creativity and systematic planning. This activity reveals how candidates approach content creation, brand consistency, and planning across multiple channels.

Directions for the Company:

• Provide the candidate with your company's brand guidelines, including voice, tone, and visual identity elements.
• Share examples of 2-3 recent social media posts that performed well.
• Include information about an upcoming product launch, event, or campaign that needs social promotion.
• Allow candidates 45-60 minutes to complete this exercise.
• Prepare a simple template for the content calendar or let candidates create their own structure.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Create a one-week social media content calendar for the company's primary platforms (typically Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and Facebook).
• Include proposed copy, image/video concepts, posting times, and hashtags for each post.
• Develop at least one post specifically promoting the upcoming initiative provided in the brief.
• Ensure all content aligns with the company's brand voice and visual identity.
• Be prepared to explain your strategic thinking behind the content plan.

Feedback Mechanism:

• After reviewing the calendar, provide specific feedback on one element the candidate executed well (e.g., creativity, strategic alignment, or organization).
• Offer one constructive suggestion for improvement (e.g., better platform customization or more engaging calls to action).
• Give the candidate 15 minutes to revise one day's worth of content based on your feedback.
• Observe how receptively they incorporate the feedback and their ability to adapt quickly.

Activity #2: Event Coordination Simulation

This exercise tests a candidate's ability to plan, organize, and troubleshoot event logistics—a critical skill for Marketing Coordinators who often manage company events. It reveals their attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and how they handle the unexpected challenges that inevitably arise during event planning.

Directions for the Company:

• Create a brief for a fictional company event (customer appreciation dinner, product launch, or industry conference booth).
• Include basic parameters: budget ($5,000-10,000), expected attendance (50-100 people), date (3 months from now), and primary goals.
• Prepare 2-3 "surprise" scenarios to introduce midway through the exercise (e.g., venue cancellation, budget cut, or VIP last-minute attendance).
• Allow 45-60 minutes for the initial planning and 15 minutes for handling the surprise scenario.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Develop a comprehensive event plan including:
• Venue recommendations
• Timeline/schedule
• Vendor coordination needs
• Promotional strategy
• Budget allocation
• Day-of staffing plan
• Create a simple checklist of pre-event tasks with deadlines.
• When presented with the surprise scenario, quickly adjust your plan to accommodate the new circumstances.
• Be prepared to explain your decision-making process and priorities.

Feedback Mechanism:

• Provide positive feedback on one aspect of their planning approach (e.g., thoroughness, creativity, or budget management).
• Offer constructive feedback on one area that could be improved (e.g., risk management or promotional strategy).
• Allow the candidate 10-15 minutes to revise the relevant section of their plan.
• Evaluate their ability to incorporate feedback while maintaining the integrity of their overall approach.

Activity #3: Campaign Performance Analysis

This exercise evaluates a candidate's analytical abilities and data-driven decision-making—essential skills for tracking campaign performance and providing strategic insights. It reveals how candidates interpret marketing metrics and translate data into actionable recommendations.

Directions for the Company:

• Prepare a simplified marketing campaign report with data from multiple channels (email, social, paid ads).
• Include key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, cost per acquisition, and overall ROI.
• Intentionally include some underperforming elements and some successful components.
• Provide context about the campaign goals and target audience.
• Allow 45 minutes for analysis and recommendation development.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the campaign performance data across all channels.
• Identify the top-performing and underperforming elements of the campaign.
• Create a one-page summary that includes:
• Key performance insights
• Potential reasons for successes and failures
• 3-5 specific, data-backed recommendations for improving future campaigns
• Suggestions for additional metrics to track going forward
• Be prepared to present your analysis verbally in 5 minutes or less.

Feedback Mechanism:

• Highlight one particularly insightful observation or recommendation the candidate made.
• Provide constructive feedback on one aspect of their analysis that could be strengthened or approached differently.
• Give the candidate 10-15 minutes to refine one of their recommendations based on your feedback.
• Assess their ability to incorporate new perspectives while defending their data-driven conclusions when appropriate.

Activity #4: Cross-Functional Project Coordination

This exercise tests a candidate's ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and manage complex projects with competing priorities—a reality of the Marketing Coordinator role. It reveals communication skills, organizational abilities, and how candidates handle the challenges of cross-departmental coordination.

Directions for the Company:

• Create a scenario involving a marketing project that requires input from multiple departments (e.g., a website refresh, product launch, or major campaign).
• Prepare role cards for team members who will play different stakeholders (e.g., designer, sales manager, product specialist, and executive).
• Brief these team members on their character's priorities, constraints, and communication style.
• Allow 45-60 minutes for the full exercise, including planning and execution.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the project brief and identify all stakeholders involved.
• Create a project plan that includes:
• Key deliverables and deadlines
• Responsibility assignments
• Communication plan
• Potential roadblocks and solutions
• Conduct a 15-20 minute kickoff meeting with the stakeholders (played by team members).
• Navigate competing priorities and gather necessary information from each stakeholder.
• Document action items and next steps following the meeting.

Feedback Mechanism:

• Provide positive feedback on one aspect of their coordination approach (e.g., clear communication, effective prioritization, or stakeholder management).
• Offer constructive feedback on one area that could be improved (e.g., handling difficult personalities or clarifying ambiguous requirements).
• Allow the candidate 10-15 minutes to revise their approach to one challenging aspect of the coordination.
• Evaluate their ability to adapt their communication style and maintain project momentum despite obstacles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should we allocate for these work sample exercises?

Each exercise should take approximately 60-75 minutes total, including the feedback and revision portion. If conducting multiple exercises, we recommend spreading them across different interview stages rather than overwhelming candidates in a single session.

Should we pay candidates for completing these work samples?

For exercises requiring more than 2 hours of total candidate time, offering compensation is recommended. For the exercises outlined here, which are designed to be completed within reasonable timeframes, compensation is optional but can demonstrate your company's respect for candidates' time and expertise.

How should we evaluate candidates who are strong in some exercises but weaker in others?

Consider which skills are most critical for your specific Marketing Coordinator role. A candidate who excels at social media content but struggles with analytics might be perfect for a team that already has strong analytical support but needs creative reinforcement. Align your evaluation with your team's current strengths and gaps.

Can these exercises be conducted remotely?

Yes, all of these exercises can be adapted for remote interviews. For the cross-functional coordination exercise, use video conferencing breakout rooms or scheduled calls with different stakeholders. Provide templates and materials digitally, and use collaborative tools like Google Docs or Miro for real-time observation of the candidate's work.

How do we ensure these exercises don't disadvantage candidates from diverse backgrounds?

Review all materials for cultural references or assumptions that might favor certain backgrounds. Provide clear context and background information so all candidates start with the same foundation. Focus evaluation on the process and reasoning rather than specific industry knowledge that might vary based on experience.

Should we share these exercises with candidates in advance?

For most of these exercises, providing a general overview of the activity type without specific details allows candidates to come prepared while still evaluating their authentic skills. For example, you might tell them they'll be creating a social media calendar but not share the specific campaign details until the exercise begins.

The right Marketing Coordinator can transform your marketing execution from good to exceptional, ensuring campaigns run smoothly and teams collaborate effectively. By incorporating these practical work samples into your hiring process, you'll identify candidates who not only talk about their skills but demonstrate them in action.

Ready to elevate your entire hiring process? Yardstick offers AI-powered tools to help you create comprehensive job descriptions, develop insightful interview questions, and design complete interview guides tailored to your specific needs. Our platform helps you implement best practices throughout your hiring process, ensuring you identify and secure the best Marketing Coordinator for your team.

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