SEM/PPC Specialist Interview Questions - Hiring Guide

Introduction

Hiring the right SEM/PPC Specialist is critical for marketing teams that need measurable paid search performance and efficient ad spend. A strong hire improves return on ad spend, lowers acquisition costs, and ensures campaigns align with business goals.

This guide provides role-specific interview questions for screening and evaluating SEM/PPC Specialist candidates. It includes basic, intermediate, and advanced questions plus five pre-screening one-way video interview prompts ideal for use on ScreeningHive.

SEM/PPC Specialist Interview Questions

Basic SEM/PPC Specialist Interview Questions

• What is the difference between SEM and SEO and how do they complement each other?
• Explain how a PPC auction determines ad rank and cost per click.
• What are the core components of a Google Ads campaign structure?
• Which metrics do you monitor daily and why?
• How does Quality Score affect bidding and ad placement?
• Describe keyword match types and when to use each.
• What role do negative keywords play in campaign performance?
• What is conversion tracking and why is it essential for PPC management?

Intermediate SEM/PPC Specialist Interview Questions

• You have a campaign with high click-through rate but low conversions. How would you diagnose and address this?
• A client reports a rising CPA over the past three months. Outline the steps you would take to investigate and reduce CPA.
• How would you structure campaigns and ad groups for a multi-product e-commerce account?
• Describe how you would set up and verify conversion tracking for both online purchases and phone leads.
• How would you design a remarketing strategy to recover abandoned carts and improve ROI?
• With a limited budget, how would you prioritize keywords, match types, and audiences?
• Explain the process for A/B testing ad copy and landing pages, including which metrics you would use to decide a winner.
• How do you use Search Query Reports to refine keyword lists and add negatives?
• How would you allocate budget between branded and non-branded campaigns and why?
• Describe how you would evaluate and implement automated bidding strategies for a mid-sized account.

Advanced SEM/PPC Specialist Interview Questions

• How would you design a cross-channel attribution model and implement it in analytics to inform PPC bidding?
• Explain strategies for scaling PPC campaigns across international markets while accounting for localization and currency differences.
• Describe advanced bid management techniques you have used, including portfolio bidding, bid modifiers, and scripts.
• How do you audit a large account with hundreds of campaigns to identify the highest priority fixes?
• Outline an approach to optimize ROAS for a subscription-based business with recurring revenue.
• How would you leverage machine learning signals and first-party audience data to improve targeting?
• Describe the steps to implement server-side tracking and first-party measurement to improve data resilience.
• How do you set up governance, naming conventions, and processes to maintain scale and quality across accounts?
• Provide a migration plan to move campaigns between accounts with minimal downtime and data loss.
• How would you present complex campaign performance and strategic recommendations to executive stakeholders?

Pre-Screening Video Interview Questions for SEM/PPC Specialist

These prompts are tailored for one-way video interviews on ScreeningHive to quickly assess experience, communication, and problem-solving. Each question is designed to reveal practical skills and fit before a live interview.

1. Briefly describe your experience managing Google Ads accounts and the typical monthly spend you have handled.

   This evaluates the candidate's platform experience, scale of responsibility, and whether their background matches your budgetary needs.

2. Explain a recent PPC optimization you implemented and the measurable impact it had on performance.

This assesses problem-solving, ability to quantify results, and whether the candidate focuses on outcomes and metrics.

3. Record a 60 second summary of your approach to keyword research for a new product launch.

This checks for methodology, prioritization skills, and clear communication of technical process in a concise format.

4. How do you ensure accurate conversion tracking across multiple channels and platforms?

This question evaluates technical knowledge of tracking, familiarity with multi-channel attribution, and attention to data integrity.

5. Describe a time you reduced cost per acquisition while maintaining volume. What specific tactics did you use?

This prompt looks for strategic thinking, evidence-based tactics, and the candidate's ability to balance efficiency with scale.

Conclusion

This collection helps hiring managers and recruiters evaluate SEM/PPC Specialist candidates at every stage of the hiring process. The questions range from basic concept checks to advanced technical and leadership topics so you can identify the best fit for your marketing goals.

ScreeningHive simplifies hiring with one-way video interviews, faster screening, and standardised evaluations that reduce bias and save time. Use these prompts on the platform to speed up candidate selection and improve interview quality. Start with a free sign-up to begin screening candidates more efficiently.