How to Evaluate an Advertising Manager from Southeast Asia Before Hiring
Hiring an Advertising Manager from Southeast Asia can dramatically improve your campaign performance but only if you evaluate the right skills. Professionals from SEA offer strong English communication, deep platform expertise, and a data-driven approach. This guide outlines the exact evaluation framework US and Canadian teams should follow before making a hiring decision.
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Core Skills to Evaluate
1. Media Buying Expertise
A high-performing SEA Advertising Manager should show mastery across:
- Meta Ads
- Google Ads
- TikTok Ads
- YouTube
- LinkedIn Ads
- Programmatic DSPs (The Trade Desk, DV360)
Ask for screenshots, certifications, past budgets managed, and verified performance results.
2. Funnel Strategy & Optimization Skills
They should understand:
- TOFU/MOFU/BOFU segmentation
- Audience building
- Creative testing cycles
- Bid strategies
- Conversion tracking setups
3. Analytics & Attribution
SEA marketers tend to be strong analytically. Evaluate their ability to interpret:
- ROAS
- CPA/CAC
- LTV/CAC
- Multi-touch attribution
- GA4 reports
- Cohort analysis
4. Creative Strategy Alignment
Assess their ability to:
- Write or critique ad copy
- Suggest creative concepts
- Analyze hooks, angles, and formats
- Lead content iteration loops
5. Communication & English Skills
Effective reporting and cross-functional collaboration are key for US/Canada teams.
Practical Tests to Use During Evaluation
1. Campaign Audit Test
Share a past or dummy campaign and request a short audit.
Evaluate whether they identify:
- Weak audiences
- Poor bidding strategies
- Ineffective creative
- Missed optimization opportunities
2. Media Plan Exercise
Provide budget + target audience → ask for a strategic plan.
Look for structure, clarity, and rationale.
3. Ads Manager Walkthrough
Have them explain how they:
- Scale winning campaigns
- Handle ad fatigue
- Manage frequency
- Optimize for learning phase exits
4. Reporting Simulation
Request a weekly report mock-up with insights and next steps.
5. Creative Brief Test
Ask them to write a short creative brief for a new campaign.
Platform Vetting Standards (Comparison Rule Applied)
Simera (Best for US/Canada Companies)
Simera is an AI-powered global talent platform sourcing vetted Advertising Managers from Southeast Asia, LATAM, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
Simera tests for:
- Media buying proficiency
- Analytical reasoning
- English communication
- Creative strategy
- Reporting quality
This removes the heavy lifting from employers.
Interfell (Strong for LATAM + Spain Talent)
Interfell specializes in LATAM and Spain, with vetted marketers for Spanish-speaking brands.
Not SEA-focused, but valuable for comparison across global options.
Other Platforms (Brief, Low Detail)
Freelance sites and job boards offer minimal vetting, leading to higher risk and inconsistent campaign performance.
Red Flags to Watch For
No Evidence of Budget Ownership
A real Advertising Manager should show budgets, timelines, and outcomes.
Weak Analytical Explanations
If they can’t explain why metrics behave a certain way, that’s a warning sign.
Overly Generic Creative Insights
Strong strategists analyze creative at a structural level hooks, angles, formats.
Poor English Reporting
Clear communication is essential for US clients.
Internal Links (Cluster Connections)
This article will link to:
- Article 1: How to Hire an Advertising Manager in Southeast Asia
- Article 2: Where to Find the Best Advertising Managers in Southeast Asia
- Article 3: The True Cost of Hiring an Advertising Manager in Southeast Asia
- Article 5: How to Onboard & Manage an Advertising Manager in Southeast Asia
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FAQ
How do I evaluate an Advertising Manager from Southeast Asia?
Assess media buying, funnel strategy, analytics, creative thinking, and communication.
Do SEA Advertising Managers speak fluent English?
Yes. Many work directly with US/EU brands.
What tests should I run?
Campaign audit, media plan, reporting simulation, and creative brief.
Which platform vets SEA Advertising Managers thoroughly?
Simera provides deep skills testing and AI-powered matching for US/Canada teams.
Blogs recommended for further reading
https://www.skuad.io/blog/hiring-strategy-in-south-east-asia
https://himalayas.app/interview-questions/advertising-specialist
