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Content Writer Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Content Writer interview questions and answers.

  1. What experience, education, and skills qualify you to work as a professional content writer? See answer
  2. How do you determine your target audience? See answer
  3. Do you have experience with SEO (search engine optimisation)? See answer
  4. Do you have experience in writing landing pages? See answer
  5. What are your favourite niches as a professional content writer? See answer
  6. Do you know how to write press releases? See answer
  7. What strategies do you use for creating content? See answer
  8. What qualities should a professional content writer possess? See answer
  9. Have you ever missed a deadline? See answer
  10. What qualifies you to work as a content writer? See answer
  11. What are you doing to improve your writing? See answer
  12. Describe more about how you do your research.
  13. What is the most vital part of professional content writing?
  14. What’s an Oxford comma?
  15. What’s the most challenging part of content writing?
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Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Content Writer Interview Questions and Answers

What experience, education, and skills qualify you to work as a professional content writer?

A content writer is one who understands how writing for search engines works ultimately stands out from novice writers. After all, you want a professional content writer who can help you increase your conversions. This question enables you to analyse the writer's web writing experience. What to look for in an answer:

  • Web and digital content writing experience 
  • SEO skills
  • English language proficiency

Example:

“I have been writing content on a wide array of topics for several years now. My journalistic background gives me an advantage as a content writer. My SEO skills help me craft content that ranks higher on Google.”

How do you determine your target audience?

A professional content writer must know how to analyse customer demographics to determine which audience to target. This question enables you to assess a writer's ability to understand the specific audience that their content should focus on. What to look for in an answer:

  • Analytical and research skills
  • A deeper and better understanding of the target audience 
  • Strategies for determining the target market

Example:

“I know how to analyse customer demographics based on their age, location, gender, occupation and income level. For example, If I am writing on products such as diapers, I automatically know I am writing for mothers with newborns. When I am writing on a health-related topic, I know my audience consists of health-conscious individuals that want to improve their health.”

Describe more about how you do your research

Professional content writers have to research topics they are writing about to make their content credible and factual. Content writers should strictly rely on credible sources while doing their research. Furthermore, a good content writer has knowledge of the specific sites to use while doing their research. Asking this vital question helps you analyse a writer's research capabilities. What to look for in an answer:

  • Willingness to do research
  • Understanding of where to find credible resources
  • Research capabilities

Example:

“I usually start my research using Google. I type the topic I'm writing about and research multiple sources to build my general knowledge. Once I understand the topic, I narrow down my research on credible sources such as .org. .edu and .gov. I also know how to cite statistics from recent studies from credible institutions.”

Do you have experience with SEO (search engine optimisation)?

A professional content writer must be familiar with SEO and how it works. After all, SEO is the core of any web content writing. Every content writer needs to understand how Google algorithms work in ranking content. Most importantly, they need to understand the specific keywords to enable their content to rank top on Google research. Thus, this question helps you assess whether the content writer can optimise their content to help it rank high on Google. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of SEO
  • Knowledge of keywords
  • Ability to write content that ranks highly on Google results

Example:

“I know how search engines work in indexing and ranking content. Your content won't rank on search engines if search engines can't find it. I understand the concept of link building to improve the site's authority. I know the specifics of link building, which entails linking my content to authoritative sites to help drive more traffic to my web content.”

In your own opinion, which is the most vital part of professional content writing?

Persuasion is an essential part of professional content writing. Persuasion is crucial in any form of content, whether the market involves sales or readership. The best candidate for the role can exhibit the ability to create persuasive content. Strive to hire a content writer who can craft engaging content to appeal to the target readers. What to look for:

  • Experience in writing persuasive content
  • Ability to write credible content
  • Understanding of the type of content that appeals to the reader

Example:

“I believe persuasive writing is the most essential part of content writing. I focus on persuading my readers to take a certain action once they have read my content. I know what appeals to every type of audience I am writing for and what I can do to make my content appealing to them."

What is an Oxford comma?

A professional content writer needs to demonstrate a stellar grasp of literary conventions and grammar. It's crucial to know whether a potential content writer understands basic grammar rules. You can evaluate whether the content writer possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to do their job effectively by asking this question. What to look for:

  • Understanding of the difference between an Oxford comma and the ordinary comma 
  • Whether the writer knows where and when to use the Oxford comma
  • Knowledge of advanced grammar and writing conventions

Example:

“Some people also call it a serial comma, an Oxford comma comes between two items in a group of more than three. It helps a writer separate what they are saying from the persons or objects they are addressing. As a professional content writer, I use the punctuation mark when my client requires me to use it.”

What is the most challenging part of content writing?

Content writers face multiple challenges while creating content for their clients. For instance, most content writers have challenges understanding their target audience. This question helps you understand whether a prospective writer understands the challenges that come with content writing. What to look for:

  • Creativity
  • Understands the content writing industry 
  • Valuable content writing experience

Example:

“Some clients ask me to write some challenging topics. When I check on the content, there is little information on the topic. However, I have to be creative to come up with credible content on the topic.”

Do you have experience in writing landing pages?

Landing pages are vital for any company with an online presence. Landing pages can help make your brand authoritative and are crucial in generating trust among readers. This question is vital since you want a professional content writer who can craft high-quality landing pages to drive traffic to your site. What to look for:

  • Experience writing landing pages
  • Understanding of SEO
  • Knowledge of how to create effective backlinks

Example:

“I work closely with companies' marketing teams to write clear and concise landing pages. I can create backlinks and integrate them with my content to encourage my readers to click on the links.”

What are your favourite niches as a professional content writer?

Every professional content writer should have a list of favourite niches. A prospective content writer should demonstrate the ability to write passionately on specific subjects. By asking a writer this question, you want to find out what topics they love writing about most. What to look for:

  • Strengths and areas of expertise
  • A writer's favourite topics
  • Familiar with how to research niche topics

Example:

“As a content writer, I'm passionate about writing content for the Canadian legal industry. I'm curious about legal affairs and how they affect my clients' lives.”

Do you know how to write press releases?

A professional content writer must know how to write press releases. Press releases are vital for increasing public awareness. Asking this question assures you that the content writer you consider hiring can create positive information to boost your  business' reputation. What to look for:

  • Public relations skills
  • Ability to write advertising content 
  • Knowledge of corporate communication

Example:

“I am familiar with writing press releases for multiple events. I use attention-grabbing headlines for my press release to capture the readers' attention.”

What strategies do you use for creating content?

It is a broad question, but the answer helps you understand a content writer's writing experience. You have to be sure that the writer will deliver the type of content you want. What to look for:

  • An elabourate approach to content writing 
  • An understanding of the target audience 
  • Willingness to understand your business' content writing needs

Example:

“I start by setting out to know my target audience. I then research extensively on the topic before creating content that suits the audience.”

What qualities should a professional content writer possess?

There are many qualities that a professional content writer should have. For instance, a content writer should adhere to strict deadlines and pay attention to detail. Moreover, a professional writer must be reliable and hands-on. You want to find out whether the writer possesses great content writer qualities by asking this question. What to look for:

  • Ability to meet strict deadlines
  • Knowledge of the overall qualities of a content writer
  • Understanding of the content writing world

Example:

“There are many qualities as a professional content writer I should poses. I am always reliable, trustworthy, and responsible. I also adhere to strict deadlines.”

Have you ever missed a deadline?

Emergencies occur in all businesses and unexpected situations can affect content writers, making them unable to meet deadlines. However, content writers should work ahead of schedule. They should strive to meet deadlines to avoid inconveniencing the client. What to look for in an answer:

  • Flexibility 
  • Willingness to work ahead of schedule
  • Ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines

Example:

“I rarely miss a deadline. I set aside everything else and work on the project at hand. I was late for a deadline once because the client had some last minute requests that I couldn't accommodate on short notice. That experience taught me to ensure the client shares all the details from the start of the project. I would communicate with my clients in advance if I predicted an incident that could make me miss a deadline.”

What qualifies you to work as a content writer?

Confidence is a crucial trait of a professional content writer. A prospective candidate should not be shy to showcase their skills. Instead, they should be eager to show prospective clients that they can deliver quality content. The question helps you assess whether the writer can perform their best. What to look for:

  • Experience in a relevant role
  • Qualifications like an English, journalism, or communications degree
  • Unique knowledge or expertise in the subject of your articles

Example:

“I've been writing an array of content for the past 10 years. My degree in journalism is what most qualifies me to work as a professional content writer. My research skills help me deliver outstanding content for my clients. I also have experience writing for multiple audiences.”

What are you doing to improve your writing?

Content writers need to improve their craft constantly. A good content writer is willing to go an extra mile to improve their writing skills. This question helps the interviewer to understand the steps the content writer takes to improve their writing. What to look for:

  • Willingness to continue learning 
  • Familiarity with content writing trends 
  • Desire to write excellent content

Example:

“I read plenty of online writing material to improve my craft. I also participate in writing forums where I learn a lot from other writers.”

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