Shutterstock Business Intelligence Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Shutterstock is a leading global provider of licensed photographs, vectors, illustrations, videos, and music to businesses, marketing agencies, and media organizations worldwide.

The Business Intelligence role at Shutterstock is pivotal in driving analytics around channel investment performance and influencing key decisions across the organization. You'll be responsible for creating measurable campaign objectives and key performance indicators, refining test agendas, and supporting vendor relationships for analytical models. A strong emphasis will be placed on conducting cross-channel media efficiency analysis, forecasting impacts of marketing investments, and building dashboards using tools like SQL, Tableau, and Google Analytics. Your ability to analyze and interpret data, align cross-team efforts, and deliver clear performance reporting will be crucial in supporting the company's mission to provide unrivaled experiences for its customers and contributors.

To excel in this role, candidates should possess strong analytical skills, proficiency in SQL, experience with marketing analytics tools, and the ability to communicate insights effectively. Adaptability and a collaborative mindset are also key traits that align with Shutterstock's values of teamwork and innovation.

This guide will help you prepare for the job interview by equipping you with a deep understanding of the role's expectations and the skills that will be assessed. By familiarizing yourself with the responsibilities and company culture, you'll be better positioned to demonstrate your fit for the Business Intelligence position at Shutterstock.

The interview process for a Business Intelligence role at Shutterstock is structured and thorough, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit. The process typically unfolds in several stages:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step is a phone interview with a recruiter. This conversation usually lasts about 30-45 minutes and focuses on your background, experience, and motivation for applying to Shutterstock. The recruiter will also discuss the role's expectations and may touch on salary range to ensure alignment.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screen, candidates typically participate in a technical interview, which may be conducted via video call. This session often includes SQL-based questions, where you will be asked to demonstrate your proficiency in writing queries and solving data-related problems. Expect to discuss your experience with analytics tools and how you have applied them in previous roles.

3. Behavioral Interview

After the technical assessment, candidates usually meet with a hiring manager or team lead for a behavioral interview. This round focuses on your past experiences, particularly how you handle challenges, work with cross-functional teams, and manage deadlines. Scenario-based questions may be posed to evaluate your problem-solving skills and ability to prioritize tasks.

4. Onsite Interview

The final stage is an onsite interview, which can last several hours and typically involves multiple interviewers. During this phase, you may face a mix of technical and behavioral questions, including case studies or practical exercises that require you to analyze data and present your findings. This round is also an opportunity for you to meet potential colleagues and assess the company culture.

5. Final Assessment

In some cases, candidates may be asked to complete a take-home assignment or case study that involves SQL queries and business analysis. This task allows you to showcase your analytical skills and approach to real-world business problems.

Throughout the process, candidates are encouraged to ask questions about the team dynamics, company culture, and specific projects they would be involved in, as this demonstrates genuine interest in the role and the organization.

Now that you have an understanding of the interview process, let's delve into the types of questions you might encounter during your interviews.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Interview Structure

The interview process at Shutterstock typically involves multiple stages, starting with a phone screen followed by technical interviews and possibly an on-site interview. Be prepared for a thorough evaluation that includes discussions with various team members, including HR, hiring managers, and technical staff. Familiarize yourself with the common structure of these interviews, as it will help you manage your time and expectations effectively.

Showcase Your SQL Proficiency

Given the emphasis on SQL in the role, ensure you are well-versed in writing complex queries, including joins, subqueries, and window functions. Practice SQL problems that reflect real-world scenarios you might encounter in the role. Be ready to explain your thought process and the reasoning behind your SQL choices during the interview, as interviewers appreciate candidates who can articulate their approach clearly.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect to answer behavioral questions that assess your ability to work with cross-functional teams and manage multiple stakeholders. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare specific examples that demonstrate your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to meet deadlines. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, making it easier for interviewers to follow your narrative.

Emphasize Analytical Skills

As a Business Intelligence Analyst, your ability to analyze data and derive actionable insights is crucial. Be prepared to discuss your experience with analytics tools such as Tableau, Google Analytics, and Excel. Highlight specific projects where your analytical skills led to significant business outcomes. This will not only showcase your technical expertise but also your understanding of how data drives business decisions.

Engage with the Company Culture

Shutterstock values teamwork and a customer-centric approach. During your interviews, express your enthusiasm for collaboration and your commitment to creating exceptional experiences for customers and contributors. Ask insightful questions about the team dynamics and company culture to demonstrate your genuine interest in being part of their mission.

Be Ready for Technical Challenges

You may encounter technical challenges or case studies during the interview process. These could involve analyzing data sets or designing a solution to a business problem. Approach these challenges methodically, and don’t hesitate to ask clarifying questions if needed. Interviewers often appreciate candidates who can think critically and collaborate during problem-solving exercises.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interviews, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview and reiterate your interest in the role. This not only shows professionalism but also keeps you top of mind as they make their hiring decisions.

By preparing thoroughly and aligning your skills and experiences with the expectations of the role, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Business Intelligence Analyst position at Shutterstock. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Business Intelligence interview at Shutterstock. The interview process will likely focus on your analytical skills, experience with data tools, and ability to communicate insights effectively. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, technical skills, and how you approach problem-solving in a business context.

SQL and Data Analysis

1. Can you explain what a cross-join is and when it is used?

Understanding SQL joins is crucial for a Business Intelligence role, as they are fundamental to data manipulation and retrieval.

How to Answer

Define a cross-join and provide a scenario where it might be applicable. Highlight its differences from other types of joins.

Example

“A cross-join produces a Cartesian product of two tables, meaning every row from the first table is combined with every row from the second. This can be useful in scenarios where you need to analyze all possible combinations of two datasets, such as pairing every product with every customer segment for targeted marketing analysis.”

2. How do you optimize SQL queries for performance?

Performance optimization is key in handling large datasets efficiently.

How to Answer

Discuss techniques such as indexing, query restructuring, and analyzing execution plans. Provide examples from your experience.

Example

“I optimize SQL queries by first analyzing the execution plan to identify bottlenecks. I often implement indexing on columns that are frequently used in WHERE clauses or JOIN conditions. For instance, in a previous project, I reduced query execution time by 40% by indexing a key column that was used in multiple joins.”

3. Describe a time when you had to clean and prepare data for analysis. What steps did you take?

Data preparation is a critical step in the analytics process.

How to Answer

Outline the steps you took to clean the data, including identifying missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies.

Example

“In a recent project, I encountered a dataset with numerous missing values and duplicates. I first used SQL to identify and remove duplicates, then applied imputation techniques for missing values based on the median of the dataset. This ensured the integrity of the data before conducting any analysis.”

4. What are some common performance metrics you have used to evaluate marketing campaigns?

Understanding key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for a Business Intelligence Analyst.

How to Answer

List relevant metrics and explain their significance in evaluating campaign success.

Example

“I typically use metrics such as Return on Investment (ROI), Click-Through Rate (CTR), and Conversion Rate. For instance, in a recent campaign, I analyzed the ROI by comparing the revenue generated against the total marketing spend, which helped the team understand the effectiveness of our strategies.”

5. How do you approach creating a dashboard for stakeholders?

Dashboards are vital for visualizing data insights.

How to Answer

Discuss your process for understanding stakeholder needs, selecting relevant metrics, and designing the dashboard.

Example

“When creating a dashboard, I first meet with stakeholders to understand their specific needs and objectives. I then select key metrics that align with those goals and use tools like Tableau to design a user-friendly interface. For example, I created a dashboard for the marketing team that visualized campaign performance in real-time, allowing for quick decision-making.”

Business Acumen and Strategy

1. How do you prioritize product requests coming from different teams?

This question assesses your ability to manage competing priorities.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to evaluating requests based on impact, urgency, and alignment with business goals.

Example

“I prioritize product requests by assessing their potential impact on business objectives and urgency. I often use a scoring system to evaluate each request, considering factors like expected ROI and alignment with strategic goals. This helps ensure that the most critical projects receive attention first.”

2. Describe a time you influenced a decision based on your analysis.

This question evaluates your ability to communicate insights effectively.

How to Answer

Share a specific example where your analysis led to a significant decision.

Example

“In a previous role, I conducted an analysis that revealed a significant drop in customer retention rates. I presented my findings to the leadership team, highlighting the need for a targeted retention strategy. As a result, we implemented a new customer engagement program that improved retention by 15% over the next quarter.”

3. How adaptable are you to changes in process or strategy?

Flexibility is important in a dynamic business environment.

How to Answer

Provide an example of how you successfully adapted to a change in your work environment.

Example

“When our company shifted to a new analytics platform, I took the initiative to learn the new system quickly. I attended training sessions and collaborated with colleagues to share best practices. This adaptability allowed me to continue delivering insights without disruption during the transition.”

4. What tools do you use for data visualization and reporting?

Familiarity with tools is essential for a Business Intelligence Analyst.

How to Answer

List the tools you are proficient in and explain how you use them in your work.

Example

“I primarily use Tableau for data visualization due to its user-friendly interface and powerful capabilities. Additionally, I utilize Excel for data manipulation and Google Analytics for web performance tracking. These tools enable me to create comprehensive reports that effectively communicate insights to stakeholders.”

5. How do you ensure cross-team alignment when working on analytics projects?

Collaboration is key in a Business Intelligence role.

How to Answer

Discuss your strategies for fostering communication and collaboration among teams.

Example

“I ensure cross-team alignment by scheduling regular check-ins and updates with all stakeholders involved in the project. I also create shared documentation that outlines project goals, timelines, and responsibilities. This transparency helps keep everyone on the same page and facilitates collaboration.”