Conducting interviews for content writers includes measuring writing and soft skills of a writer. Interviews help you gain an overview of a writer’s creativity and communication skills, letting you understand their level of reliability. They encourage you to explore both the personal and professional side of a writer. Through this article, we will help you learn why and how to conduct interviews for content writing.
Why Conduct Interviews for Content Writing?
Interviews ensure you hire a skilled and collaborative writer rather than someone with just a good portfolio. They help you analyze more than just their writing and decide whether they can align with your brand voice or not, and also assist you in setting clear expectations like deadlines. Let us explore a step-by-step guide on how to conduct interviews for content writers.
Step-by-step Guide to Conduct Interviews for Content Writing
Content writing interviews include strategic questions that help you evaluate a writer’s ability to create the content you need. A proper guide to holding interviews for content writers is given below.
Pre-Interview Process
Do a necessary investigation about the writer; what type of content do they write and have expertise in? Refer to their portfolio to know if they can align with your brand. Send a pre-interview writing test if needed, this process is optional but recommended for you to understand the real skills and abilities of a content writer.
Structure Your Interview
Prepare a properly structured questionnaire so you won’t face any problems with the interview process. Divide your interview into necessary parts with the needed time. Make sure it doesn’t take more than 30-45 minutes. Follow the below-mentioned way;
Introduction (5min)
Cover all the questions that help a writer introduce himself to you briefly. Let them have a relaxed, conversational, and creative tone.
Content and Writing Awareness (15-20 minutes)
Ask all the necessary questions regarding interviews for content writers, to learn about the writer’s knowledge regarding the content he writes. Questions that reveal his writing style and process from research to editing. What helps them adapt different tones for different audiences? Try to understand how they approach and deal with SEO writing.
Portfolio and Skills (20-25 min)
Discuss portfolio, ask whether they have any favorite content they have written or if they felt any particular content was challenging to write and how they dealt with it. Know about their soft skills and work style. How do they handle feedback and the pressure of multiple deadlines for assignments?
Questions
Interviews for content writers should include questions that reveal necessary information about the writer while also not making the conversation boring. So it is important for you to pre-plan your questionnaire. Let us classify the questions;
General Questions
Ask general questions like;
- How would you describe your writing process?
- What do you think are the components of good content?
- What helps you create content for different audiences?
- How do you take negative and positive feedback?
- How do you generate ideas for content?
- Why do you enjoy writing?
Skill-Specific Questions
Skill-specific questions are mandatory while conducting interviews for content writers. Ask questions that reveal more about the writing approach of a writer, like;
- Could you tell me more about your approach to SEO writing?
- What tools would you recommend for researching and writing?
- How do you proofread your content?
- What kind of writing style are you most comfortable with?
- Was there any time when you had to turn complex information into reader-friendly content? How did you manage it?
- How do you keep up with the trend? What tools do you use?
Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions in interviews for content writers will help you gain an overview of a writer’s commitment. They help you understand what you can expect from the writer. Include questions like;
- Did you ever miss any deadlines? What did you do then?
- What helps you come out of writer’s block and write consistently?
- On a scale of ten, how would you rank your ability to plan and schedule your work, and meet the deadlines?
- Did you ever have to write content in a short time that was less than it required? How did you manage to complete it?
Personal Questions
Know more about the writer by asking personal questions at a professional level. These questions will also help you establish a relaxed environment while conducting interviews for content writers, encouraging the writer to have an open conversation with you. Include questions like;
- Are you comfortable working in a team or separately?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a content writer?
- What would you expect from us as your employer to keep you motivated?
- Where would you ideally see yourself a year from now?
- What do you think about our company?
Post-Interview Evaluation
The final part of holding interviews for content writers is to come up with a review regarding the writer’s writing clarity, communication, thinking ability, professionalism, and adaptability. If needed, offer the writer a short paid test project of 1 or 2 days to know how he would work in actual conditions. Consider your views regarding his portfolio and test results. Measure the pros and cons of hiring him and make the necessary decision.
A Beneficial Writing Tool:- Wabbithire’s Writer Pad
Wabbithire’s Writer Pad is a diary from Wabbithire, created for content writers, helping them generate perfect SEO-optimized content through its 50 high-quality pre-structured templates. It helps you proofread your content and is a must-have writing tool for content writers.
Conclusion
Holding interviews for content writers ensures you are hiring a skilled and efficient content writer. Helps you identify someone who can align with your brand or purpose and provide the content you want. Assisting you to explore more about a writer personally and professionally, you employ someone based on their hard and soft skills, efficiency, and productivity rather than just their portfolio. Interviews will also help you establish a professional relationship with the writer, encouraging them to have an open conversation and you to set clear expectations.
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