As a content manager, part of my job is to find the right, talented copywriter that will take the directions I provide — and write words that will take the audience on a journey.
To do that, I don’t just read resumes or cover letters, but I also ask in-depth writing interview questions to weed out the candidates. From experience as well as personality and creativity, these interview queries are designed to give you an insider look into how the writer’s brain works.
And yes, I’ve actually used them.
These 20 copywriter interview questions helped me find great writers and scale content teams at startups all over. So, whether you’re a writer yourself or looking to hire one, these can help you out.
20 Copywriter Interview Questions
All businesses need writers — but not all businesses know how to find the best ones. Here are the questions I always ask when hiring a copywriter or content writer.
Background Questions:
- What is the difference between content writing and copywriting?
- What experience, education, and skills do you have as a professional content writer?
- What experience, education, and skills do you have as a copywriter?
- Which niches are you experienced in?
- How did you get into freelance writing, and why?
Writing Questions:
- What steps do you take when it comes to writing a blog?
- How do you determine your target audience?
- Describe more about how you do your research.
- How knowledgeable about SEO are you?
- How do you feel about writing with AI? What writing and AI tools have you used?
- What is the most important part of any piece of writing for you?
- What are the core problems you see in bad writing that need fixing?
- What would you do if given a tight deadline for a project?
- How do you handle a sparse brief with no outline or direction?
Personality Questions:
- What’s the last book you read?
- What does KPI stand for? Wrong answers only.
- If you could spend a year of your life doing anything you wanted, what would it be?
- What piece of writing are you most proud of publishing?
The Job:
- What do you hope to learn here at HyperPop?
- What kind of role are you interested in? (Full-time/ part-time / freelance, etc.)
- What’s your availability to start?
How to Nail a Copywriting Interview
When hiring copywriters for my own business or for others, the most important thing I look for is someone who cares. There is no perfect answer to these questions, but I always listen to see if the candidate explains the WHY behind their answer.
Because the best copywriters and content writers know that why is what matters most.
About the Author
Victoria Fraser is a freelance content manager and podcaster from Vancouver, Canada. She works in the gaming, marketing, & tech space. She works with clients doing all things copywriting & content marketing (including making memes).
Learn more at her website to work with her or say hello on LinkedIn!
Victoria Fraser 
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