Possible Interview Questions for Writers

Even if you are an amazing writer who seems to have a solution to every question by thinking of just a few words, there may still be instances where you find yourself taken aback by certain interview questions. This is not due to a lack of knowledge, but because you didn't see these questions coming. It's quite natural in interviews to experience moments of blankness when faced with unexpected inquiries. Now, the good thing is, there is a way to avoid this situation, or at least, minimize its impact by adequately preparing ahead. If you are a writer and wondering what questions you may encounter during an interview, you have made a good decision by accessing and reading this article. 

Focus on these areas! 

Everyone gets different questions during interviews and most times, these questions stem from different areas of profession. Therefore, as a writer, your interview is personal and while you prepare for it, consider these key aspects: 

Writing Sample

Chances are, you have sent your portfolio ahead and the interviewer already has an idea of what your writing looks like. Usually, your portfolio consists of your best writing samples across different genres or mediums such as essays, short stories, blog posts, and more. Your hiring manager will certainly have questions after perusing your portfolio, therefore, be sure that your samples highlight your versatility, creativity, and ability to engage readers. 

Writing process

Every writer has a different writing style; hence, be prepared to discuss your writing style alongside how you generate content ideas, conduct research, revise outlines, and edit your work. Employers will most likely be interested in your approach, and the steps you take to give the best result in terms of content. 

Writing technique

Have an idea of how to communicate the different writing techniques you are familiar with. Are you a storyteller? What element of storytelling do you enjoy working on? The plot, character, setting, or dialogue? If you work around each of these elements, analyze how you intend to apply the techniques to create a narrative engagement or even persuasive arguments. 

Target Audience

Understanding who your target audience is remains one of the most effective ways to drive engagement. So, an interviewer may ask a question that requires you to discuss how you research and analyze target readership, adapt your writing style, and incorporate relevant content in a way that matches search intent and resonate with different types of audience. It is more like you trying to convince the hiring manager that you know how best to think of the writer while you write. 

Versatility

Having a niche is great but versatility is very important. Your employer would appreciate that you can deliver good content across all genres and formats. So, you must prepare to talk about how you want to effectively communicate your transferable skills and relevant experience to convince the potential employer that you are capable of taking up the role and delivering the best content. 

Field awareness 

It is one thing to be a writer, it is another tale to know what it takes to thrive in the industry. Have a good knowledge of content marketing, strategy, SEO optimization, and publishing platforms because employers would most likely want to know your proficiency in these areas and how it can influence the role you are willing to take up. 

You may want to read: Average Salary of a Content Writer

Here are Possible Interview questions for you!

We have discussed the different factors you should consider, now, let's view the forms in which the questions can come. 

How do you select topics that match search intent? 

Here, the interviewer is trying to assess your knowledge of the use of search engine optimization (SEO) and the intentionality you put into ensuring that your target audience gets the perfect answer to their questions. To answer this question, leverage the following points: 

• Researching keywords

• Incorporating the relevant keywords

• Aligning content type

• Understanding the user's needs

• Monitoring performance

So, when you answer this question, talk about your deep understanding of SEO principles and how they can effectively align content with user search intent. Also, discuss how you plan to discover popular keywords after analyzing the problems and needs of the user. You can as well briefly touch on how you pick the content type that will match search intent. Does a blog post work? Will a detailed guide do? Explain all of these succinctly as you don't want to get the interviewer bored of too much talk. 

What research tools do you use?

Every writer is a researcher; hence, too much research goes into finally creating good content. If an interviewer needs to know the research tools you use, they really just want to be sure of how deep you go with your research. The trick is, your interviewer may not have an idea of some tools; so, don't skip them - briefly talk about all of the tools that you use. They could be: 

• Search engines

• Social Media

• Government and company-based websites

• Online publications

• Keyword research tools such as SEMrush, Google Planner, and Ahrefs. 

• Online libraries or citations. 

How often do you deal with a block?

Blocks are sometimes inevitable for creatives and this includes writers. We know this is a tricky question but you don't have to lie to impress your interviewer. So, simply, acknowledge that blocks are a natural part of the creative process. Then, go ahead to talk about the strategies you have developed over time to manage it whenever it happens. Tell them about the activities you engage in to break the creative barrier; these solutions may include: 

• Taking breaks

• Practicing self-care

• Environment change

• Talking to people

You can also mention every other method you deploy to combat the block. 

Why do you show up everyday? 

To be realistic, showing up everyday and being consistently creative is hard. However, when you are asked, seize that opportunity to reiterate your dedication and passion for your craft. You can state that one of the reasons you show up everyday is because there are several people out there who thrive on your scribbles, who read what you write to know the next step to take. This explains that you are not just passionate about your job but also humanity. Also, discuss how it gives you fulfillment to do something that you enjoy doing, and how it helps you to explore different perspectives and connect with people all over the world. 

What do you intend to do differently with this role?

Employers have most likely worked with several writers, and now they want to know if you're bringing a different spice to the table. Discuss your superpowers - if you are a good storyteller, let them know how your storytelling power can influence the interest of readers and keep them stuck. If you also have an idea about new strategies or technologies, explain to the hiring manager how you plan to approach the role with your new ideas. 

How do you balance creativity and adherence to guidelines/style requirements? 

As a writer, you most likely have a writing and creative style, but depending on the type of content you will be penning for a particular organization, you may have to adjust your pattern. You can answer this question by stating that you recognize the importance of following established guidelines to meet the intended goal of the project. However, you would not compromise on creativity too; therefore, to strike a balance, you would rather spend so much time doing research, understanding the project properly, and making the objectives of the brand a top priority. 

How do you approach working with deadlines?

The writing job has a ready audience and you have to meet certain deadlines to serve them. If your interviewer asks how you plan to approach working with deadlines, you can simply say: 

"I consider deadlines to be an essential part of writing. They ensure effective project management and enable smooth coordination. Hence, to meet up, I break down my projects into small bits, create a detailed plan of action that includes time management, then set realistic deadlines (way earlier than normal) for each task." 

Interviews come with several questions and the part where you don't expect them is the most tasking. However, proper preparation can help you navigate these questions, and most possibly, land you the job.