Staff Writer Interview Questions & Answers


Staff writers work for publications by performing thorough research on various topics, staying up to date with current events and writing regular articles.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Staff Writer or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Staff Writer position, these Staff Writer interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Staff Writer Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Staff Writer interview questions.

  1. How would your previous employer describe you in three words?
  2. Why are you interested in a writing position?
  3. Who is your favorite writer?
  4. What book are you currently reading?
  5. What are your favorite publications?
  6. What do you know about our company?
  7. What are your strengths?
  8. What are your weaknesses?
  9. What do you hope to accomplish in your writing career?
  10. What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
  11. What is your ideal work environment?
  12. Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
  13. Tell me about one of the best pieces you have written.
  14. What details do you need to know before starting a project?
  15. What strategies do you use to write with a client's voice?
  16. How do you determine the tone of a piece of writing?
  17. What content management systems are you familiar with using?
  18. Do you use any grammar tools or resources?
  19. Tell me what steps you take to define a target audience.
  20. What is a call to action?
  21. Explain how to write a blog post to improve SEO.
  22. What steps do you take to find credible sources?
  23. What strategies do you use to prioritize your work?
  24. What would you do if an editor sent your piece back with edits you didn't agree with?
  25. What steps do you take to overcome challenging situations?
  26. What would you do if a client didn't understand your ideas?
  27. What would you do if you felt like you had too many assignments?
  28. What steps do you take to pitch writing ideas?
  29. Explain your proofreading process in detail.
  30. What would you do if you noticed a mistake in your published piece?
  31. How do you stay motivated when writing long-form copy?
  32. What do you plan to do during your first month in this position?
  33. What inspired you to become a writer?
  34. Do you have any passion writing projects?
  35. What skills make you a strong writer?
  36. Why is web content important for SEO?
  37. How do you overcome writer's block?
  38. How do you begin doing research for an article?
  39. What is your process for finding someone to interview and preparing questions?
  40. How would you respond if you were asked to rewrite a piece entirely?
  41. What is your process for fact-checking information?
  42. How do you manage your deadlines?
  43. What makes good content? How do you know if a piece of content is doing well?
  44. What do you need to know about a project before you start writing?
  45. How would you capture our company’s voice?
  46. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
  47. How do you talk about a dry or technical subject without relying on buzzwords?
  48. How do you tell a credible source from a not-so-credible source?
  49. What do you do to make your writing more SEO-friendly?
  50. What style guides are you familiar with?

Staff Writer Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Staff Writer interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  2. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  3. Tell Me About Yourself
  4. Why Do You Want This Job?
  5. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  6. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  7. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  8. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  9. Why Should We Hire You?
  10. What is Your Greatest Weakness?