What are the most common content writing interview questions and their answers?
Content is king. That means content writers are in demand. The worldwide is now on the Web, and the pandemic has only pushed this digital revolution exponentially. And where there is demand, there is competition, and here is an article to get you to stand out to interviewers. Most content writing interview questions are structured to determine the basic skills that every content writer must meet, research, writing, editing, and complementary skills of time management and SEO writing.
There are many ways a question can be asked, so one must prepare the answers and how to recognize the purpose of the question. Although the research, writing, editing, time management, and SEO look like different skill sets, they spill into one another in a tangled cause and effect manner. An obvious answer can cover very easily in 1-2 sentences. The following examples will act as a great guide.
Researching Skills
An ideal researcher must stay motivated and manage their time while critically looking for the topic’s core. The research must allow you to maintain SEO and Branding. Research requires analytical thinking and a critical approach to the primary sources of information. It is also important that research is done according to the intended target audience. If it is an expert audience, then the research must be done in-depth, with several academic references, and at the same time, if it is a general audience, then the research must be thorough but quickly done.
Open-Ended Questions About Research
The following questions are open-ended and open to interpretation, and we don’t want to miss anything. So, the questions look like the following;
- How do you maintain attention to detail?
Answer: Attention to detail is maintained through in-depth research and by maintaining the fundamental essence of any topic. Attention to detail helps me maintain consistency and tone of voice throughout my article.
As you can see, research helps in writing as well as editing your articles. The research will provide structure to your articles, and research will also guide you through the jargon and word choice. The tone of an article is maintained through editing, and research about the tone of the company you represent in your article is important.
- How would you stay motivated?/ How do you handle writing about “boring” topics?
Answer: There are several ways to stay motivated and not cause burnout. When I feel less motivated, I take a break where I am indulging in a recreational activity. This helps strengthen our creative processes and find solutions to the problem(s) at hand.
This answer clearly shows that you are a problem solver without explicitly saying so and demonstrating your creative skills instead of listing them one by one.
Specific Questions on Research
Some questions are strictly related to the craft of research. There can be several kinds of research for example:
- Research on the topic that you are creating content about
- Keyword research for SEO
- Marketing Research, for Target audience
But questions about SEO and its basics are the most commonly asked questions in content writing Interviews.
- In what ways can you help improve SEO for content that you create?
Answer: There are several ways to improve SEO for the content, for example, external/ internal links, formatting and body tags, keyword density of about 2-5%, metatags, URL structure, etc. keyword research is necessary, which allows me to structure the article in a better manner.
Here you showcase a lot of knowledge. It is suggested that you watch several of Neil Patel’s videos, the tools mentioned in this video can be a part of your answer.
Time Management and Writing
Content is being produced at lightning rates which means that people are looking for candidates that can handle the pressure!
Here are some of the questions that might be asked;
- Make 50 pieces of content per week. What would you say to that?
Answer: Quality is more important than quantity to stand out and create value for the audience and simultaneously create brand value. So, I would rather produce 2-3 articles a week and not succumb to pressure.
This is an answer to test your professionalism and truthfulness. Gone are the days when absolute obedience was appreciated in workplaces. Though we are still expected to follow rules and regulations and meet deadlines, we are also expected to display individuality and understanding of ourselves.
- How would you go about prioritizing one piece of content over another?
Answer: Prioritizing can be done on several bases, and it depends from week to week and works for work. The two ways that I prefer prioritizing are taking up the piece that will take the longest research/ has a larger word count. The ones with a closer deadline can also become a priority.
This shows how you manage your time when you have several articles to write. You also add the answer to the 6th question here by saying how you use the content management system to your advantage.
- How many pieces of content do you think you could deliver in a week?
This is a subjective question. Answer accordingly. The ideal is 1 article of 2000 words per week. But given the pressure and word count, one can produce some shorter five hundred-word articles. Be truthful in your ability to produce articles. Be calm, and there is no need to impress the recruiters. If you are a beginner, you must understand that speed comes with practice and that is something that the recruiters understand completely.
- Are you familiar with any CMS (Content Management System)?
Answer: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Radiant CMS, etc., are some of the content management systems. A content calendar will help me keep track of deadlines and professionally plan my research and meetings.
This shows the experience that you have had even if you are a fresher. Most freshers are expected to have a portfolio or personal blog which showcases their skills like an artist. And it is also good for practice!
Branding and Editing
Branding does not come from your first draft. The branding comes from editing and coordinating with your clients or team to create a compelling draft that conveys the core ideas of a company through whatever content is being produced.
- How do you approach proofreading material?
Answer: Several tools can be used. Grammarly is especially an important tool and the best in the market. Also, I approach books/documentaries for fact-checking to have academic and correct information instead of hastily written blog posts and articles.
This question is testing your writing and editing skill. You must proofread all your drafts, to better communicate with team members and clients.
- Do you possess any Writing Style? What tones of writing have you come across?
There are several ways of answering this question. So I will not provide an answer here. Instead, here is what I would say, and you can choose your tone from the list.
Answer: I like to use a conversational and informative tone, like a teacher trying to teach a student. The language is simple and easy to understand, and there is attention to detail. The reader’s questions must be satisfied, and no other “Professor” will be able to give this information in this structure.
The other tones that you can say you have used:
- Persuasive – for drawing customers for a product
- Narrative- for about us pages
- Descriptive- product description or academic/informative content
- Argumentative- editorials
- Conversational – personal blogs
- Etc.
- How do you create branding?
Answer: Branding is created through editing: Word choice, use of punctuation, and syntax. Branding is dependent on the message or the ideas that a company stands for. That must be coordinated with clients and team members to achieve the best content with branding at its core.
Branding helps a client recognize and trust a company. Branding looks professional and drives up sales incredibly. Branding is done through words and fonts, colors, and design of the website or advertisement.
Here is an example of branding. This is produced by uber for its content writers.
https://brand.uber.com/in/en/tone-of-voice/
I hope that this article was helpful and informative for you. Go ahead and be confident in your interviews and practice studying more about marketing combined with writing.
Bonus: Keep in mind that all writing tips that are found on the internet are in actuality editing tips. Do not waste your time writing your first draft. Creating a workflow is important, and this is also something that interviewers are interested in. Your research and create an outline. Then you write your first draft and follow that by discussing and editing with your team members or clients. All the best for your future, and be sure to comment, like and share this article with your friends and anyone looking for a career in content writing.
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