How to Interview a Content Writer: 15 Questions to Ask
Gordon Ibarra
How to Interview a Content Writer: 15 Questions to AskSetting the Stage: Beyond the PortfolioThe Importance of a Paid Trial AssignmentQuestions About Their Experience and Niche1. 'Can you tell me about your experience in [Your Niche/Industry]?'2. 'Which piece in your portfolio are you most proud of and why?'3. 'What types of content do you specialize in?'Questions to Assess Their Writing and Research Process4. 'Walk me through your process for a new writing assignment.'5. 'How do you approach keyword research and SEO?'6. 'How do you ensure your content is original and factually accurate?'7. 'How do you adapt your writing to a specific brand voice?'Questions About Collaboration and Professionalism8. 'How do you handle feedback and edits?'9. 'What is your typical turnaround time for a 1,500-word article?'10. 'What project management tools are you familiar with?'11. 'What are your rates and how do you structure your pricing?'12. 'What questions do you have for me?'Making Your Final DecisionReferences
How to Interview a Content Writer: 15 Questions to Ask
Finding the perfect content writer goes beyond scanning resumes and browsing portfolios. The interview is where you really discover if a candidate can deliver what your business needs. While a portfolio shows past work, the right interview questions reveal how writers think, work, and handle challenges. They expose their strategic approach, professionalism, and whether they'll mesh with your team's workflow.
Once you've found potential candidates through various platforms and channels, the interview becomes your most powerful tool for making the right choice. Sure, evaluating their writing portfolio gives you a glimpse of their capabilities, but portfolios can be curated to show only the best work. The interview lets you dig deeper into their actual process, reliability, and expertise. When you're ready to hire a professional content writer, these questions will help you separate the truly exceptional candidates from those who simply write well.
Setting the Stage: Beyond the Portfolio
Before you jump into interview questions, some groundwork sets you up for success. Review each candidate's portfolio thoroughly beforehand. Note specific pieces you want to discuss. Prepare the same core questions for all candidates to ensure fair comparison. But remember—the portfolio is just the starting point.
Your interview should uncover what the portfolio can't show. How do they handle tight deadlines? What's their approach to feedback? Can they adapt to your brand voice? These insights matter just as much as writing skill.
Create a comfortable environment for the conversation. Whether it's a video call or in-person meeting, aim for a discussion rather than an interrogation. The best interviews feel like professional conversations where both parties learn something valuable.
The Importance of a Paid Trial Assignment
Here's a truth many hiring managers learn the hard way: even the best interview can't fully predict real-world performance. That's why smart companies include a paid trial assignment in their hiring process. This small project serves as the ultimate verification tool.
A trial assignment shows you everything. You'll see their actual turnaround time, not just what they claim. You'll experience their communication style firsthand. Most importantly, you'll discover if they can follow your specific guidelines and capture your brand voice.
Keep the trial project reasonable—perhaps a 500-word blog post or a short product description. Pay them fairly for this work. Not only is this ethical, but it also shows you respect their time and expertise. Writers who balk at paid trials often aren't serious professionals anyway.
Questions About Their Experience and Niche
Understanding a writer's background helps you gauge if they're the right fit for your specific needs. These questions dig into their expertise and reveal what drives their best work.
1. 'Can you tell me about your experience in [Your Niche/Industry]?'
This opener immediately shows whether they've done their homework about your company. Strong candidates will connect their experience to your specific needs. They might mention similar clients, relevant publications, or industry knowledge they've developed.
Listen for specifics. A writer with genuine niche experience will mention industry trends, common customer pain points, or technical terminology. They'll understand your audience's language and concerns. If they struggle to provide concrete examples, they might not have the depth you need.
Don't dismiss writers without exact industry matches though. Sometimes a skilled writer who understands research and adaptation can quickly become an asset. The key is assessing their learning curve and enthusiasm for your field.
2. 'Which piece in your portfolio are you most proud of and why?'
This question reveals what writers value in their own work. Some will highlight a piece that generated impressive results—increased traffic, social shares, or conversions. Others might choose work that required extensive research or creative problem-solving.
Pay attention to their reasoning. A writer proud of meeting a challenging deadline shows reliability. One who emphasizes reader engagement understands content's true purpose. Someone who mentions collaboration with subject matter experts values accuracy and depth.
Their answer also shows self-awareness. Can they articulate what makes good writing? Do they understand different content goals? This insight helps predict how they'll approach your projects.
3. 'What types of content do you specialize in?'
While many writers are generalists, most have sweet spots where they truly excel. Some thrive with long-form blog posts that educate and engage. Others craft compelling product descriptions or punchy social media content.
Match their specialties to your needs. If you need technical whitepapers, a writer who primarily creates lifestyle blogs might struggle. Conversely, don't hire a technical writer for conversational blog content—their style might be too formal.
Ask follow-up questions about their specialties. How did they develop this focus? What makes them particularly good at these content types? Their answers reveal both expertise and passion.
Questions to Assess Their Writing and Research Process
Process questions separate professional writers from casual freelancers. You're looking for systematic approaches, not just natural talent.
4. 'Walk me through your process for a new writing assignment.'
Professional writers have a repeatable process that ensures consistent quality. Look for these key stages: initial research, audience analysis, outline creation, drafting, and revision. Missing steps might indicate a haphazard approach.
Strong candidates will mention client communication throughout their process. They might describe how they clarify requirements, when they share outlines for approval, or how they handle revisions. This shows they view writing as a collaborative effort.
Red flags include vague answers like "I just start writing" or "It depends on my mood." While creativity has its place, professional content creation requires structure and predictability.
5. 'How do you approach keyword research and SEO?'
Modern content writers must understand SEO basics. They don't need to be technical experts, but they should grasp how search engines work and why optimization matters.
Good answers mention natural keyword integration, search intent, and user experience. They understand that SEO isn't about stuffing keywords but creating valuable content that answers real questions. They might mention tools like Google's Keyword Planner or SEMrush.
Watch out for outdated approaches. If they focus heavily on keyword density or mention tactics from 2010, they haven't kept up with SEO evolution. Modern SEO prioritizes helpful, well-structured content over mechanical optimization.
6. 'How do you ensure your content is original and factually accurate?'
This question addresses two critical concerns: plagiarism and misinformation. Professional writers take both seriously and have systems to prevent problems.
For originality, they might mention plagiarism checkers like Grammarly or Copyscape. But tools aren't enough—they should also discuss their approach to research and how they synthesize information into original insights.
Regarding accuracy, look for mentions of source verification, fact-checking processes, and proper citations. They should distinguish between reliable and questionable sources. In our era of misinformation, this skill is invaluable.
7. 'How do you adapt your writing to a specific brand voice?'
Every brand has a unique personality, and skilled writers can channel different voices. They should describe a systematic approach to understanding and adopting your brand voice.
Strong answers include studying existing content, creating or following style guides, and asking clarifying questions. They might mention techniques like noting specific vocabulary, tone indicators, or sentence structures that define a brand.
Ask for examples of voice adaptation from their portfolio. Can they show you pieces written for different brands? The contrast should be obvious. Writers who can't demonstrate this flexibility might struggle to represent your brand authentically.
Questions About Collaboration and Professionalism
Writing skill means nothing without professionalism. These questions reveal how candidates handle the business side of content creation.
8. 'How do you handle feedback and edits?'
Every writer faces criticism and revision requests. Their response to this question shows emotional maturity and professionalism. You want someone who sees feedback as part of the creative process, not a personal attack.
Look for answers that show openness and problem-solving. They might say something like, "I always try to understand the reasoning behind feedback so I can improve future work." Or they might describe their revision process and how they ensure all feedback gets addressed.
Red flags include defensiveness, stories about "unreasonable" clients, or reluctance to make changes. While writers should defend their choices when appropriate, flexibility and client satisfaction should be priorities.
9. 'What is your typical turnaround time for a 1,500-word article?'
This practical question helps you plan content calendars and set realistic expectations. Turnaround time varies based on complexity, research requirements, and the writer's other commitments.
Professional writers provide realistic estimates, not just what they think you want to hear. They might say, "For a straightforward blog post with provided sources, 3-4 business days. For something requiring extensive research, I'd need a week."
Be wary of extremes. Writers promising same-day delivery for complex pieces might sacrifice quality. Those needing two weeks for simple posts might not suit your content velocity needs.
10. 'What project management tools are you familiar with?'
Modern content creation happens within digital ecosystems. Writers should be comfortable with common project management and collaboration tools.
They don't need expertise in every platform, but familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Slack, or Google Workspace shows adaptability. More important is their willingness to learn your specific systems.
Ask how they stay organized across multiple clients and projects. Professional writers have systems—whether digital tools or personal methods—to track deadlines, revisions, and communications.
11. 'What are your rates and how do you structure your pricing?'
Money conversations feel awkward but they're essential. Professional writers have clear, consistent pricing structures. They should explain their rates confidently, whether charging per word, per hour, or per project.
Look for transparency about what's included. Do their rates cover revisions? Research? SEO optimization? Understanding the full scope prevents surprises later.
If their rates seem high, ask about the value they provide. Experienced writers often justify higher rates through faster turnaround, fewer revisions needed, or better results. If rates seem suspiciously low, question whether they can deliver professional-quality work.
12. 'What questions do you have for me?'
Great candidates interview you too. Their questions reveal genuine interest and strategic thinking about your content needs.
Strong questions might include: "What are your main content goals for the next quarter?" or "Who is your target audience, and what challenges do they face?" or "How do you currently measure content success?"
Candidates who ask no questions or only focus on logistics (payment terms, deadlines) might be looking for any gig rather than the right fit. You want writers invested in your success, not just collecting paychecks.
Making Your Final Decision
After conducting interviews, you'll have abundant information to process. Create a simple scoring system for comparing candidates across key criteria: writing samples, niche expertise, professionalism, and cultural fit.
Don't rush the decision. If you're torn between candidates, those paid trial assignments become your tiebreaker. They reveal who delivers under real conditions.
Remember that the best content writer isn't always the most experienced or cheapest option. It's the professional who combines solid writing skills with reliability, strategic thinking, and genuine interest in your success. The right writer becomes a true partner in achieving your content goals.
Trust your instincts alongside these practical assessments. When you find a writer who excels in both the interview and trial assignment, you've likely found someone who'll contribute significantly to your content success.
References
Like this project
Posted Jun 15, 2025
Don't get stuck with the wrong hire. Use these 15 essential interview questions to assess a content writer's skill, strategy, and professionalism.
