Hiring the perfect writer for your business is essential to the output of your marketing and communications team. That means you must get it right in the interview stage.
Remember that just because someone is skilful doesn’t mean they will fit into your business. You want to make sure to hire the person that would not only come with the skills, but will also fit right into the team.
Also Read: 8 Soft Skills to Have as a Content Writer
That’s why you must know the questions to ask when hiring a writer. And in this article I have 16 questions for writers’ interview to get you started.
Let’s check them out.
16 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Writer as a Business Owner
1. Can you show me samples of your past work?
This is a very important question because you need to know how well they can write. Besides that, their samples show how they build ideas, explain things, and how easy it is to read their work. You’ll also see if their tone feels right for your brand.
2. Have you written for businesses like mine?
Experience in your industry saves time. If they’ve written for similar businesses like yours, then they already know your audience and the kind of content that works so you won’t have to explain every small detail. It’s one of the best interview questions to ask a writer because it tells you how fast they can fit in.
3. What kinds of content do you specialize in?
This is how to ask a writer what they write. As you know, some writers are great at blog posts while others prefer web copy, ads, or email newsletters. When you know their strong points, you can then decide if they can handle the kind of work you require from them.
4. When you get a new topic, how do you usually research it?
Every great piece starts with research, and research habits say a lot about how a writer works. So ask how they find and verify facts, examples, or statistics. A writer who uses trusted sources and double-checks details is a plus for your brand, they’ll increase engagement and make your brand more trustworthy.
5. What’s your writing process; how do you like to work?
It tells you how the writer thinks. It’s almost like another way of asking, ‘Do you plan ahead, write a rough draft, and edit carefully, or rush to the finish line?’ When they tell you about their process, you will know whether they’ll meet deadlines or not.
Also Read: 8 Tips to Find the Best Copywriter for Your Business
6. What tools do you use when writing or editing?
The tools a writer uses often show how professional they are. When hiring a writer, you need to know the effort they put into their writing. I’m talking about grammar and plagiarism checks and how they manage projects. These details show how careful they are with their work and how ready their drafts will be when they get to your desk.
7. What are your turnaround times?
Every business works on a schedule so you need to know how fast they can finish writing a piece. If they deliver slowly, it can delay your campaigns and if they’re too fast, the quality might be low. It’s good to know so that you can set realistic timelines and deadlines that work for both you and the writer.
8. How do you measure the success of your writing?
This question tests if the writer understands what it means to be a writer. Are they just writing to just fill pages or do they want to get results? Before you hire any writer, you should know if they care about engagement, traffic, sales, or reader feedback. Their answer helps you see if they take ownership of outcomes or just complete tasks. This way, you don’t end up hiring just any writer but one who delivers.
9. Do you also handle SEO, or do you focus only on the writing itself?
If your business depends on online visibility, then this should be one of the questions to ask when hiring a writer. A writer who knows much about SEO will know how to put the right keywords into the pieces they naturally write for your business so it ranks higher on Google. And you know, the higher the ranking the more people see your message.
10. Are you open to long-term work or only one-off projects?
Asking this ensures you are not wasting interview time because you need to know if the writer will be with you for a while. As a business owner, a long-term writer can learn your brand’s voice with time and get better with each project. That kind of consistency saves you time and effort. But if they prefer short projects that means you’ll spend more time hiring than getting actual work done.
Also Read: Why Your Business Needs Copywriting: 7 Reasons
11. Do you ever offer advice on content strategy, or do you prefer to just write?
One of the job interview questions for writers that some business owners fail to ask is this one, because most of the time, they are just focused on getting a writer. But what if you could get more? Some writers love helping plan topics and overall direction while others prefer to focus on writing only. Knowing which type they are helps you understand what kind of partnership you’re getting into.
12. How do you charge for your services?
Money should definitely be part of the questions you ask because it can make or mar the partnership. Some writers charge per word, others per project or hour so when you know this, you will know how to plan your budget and avoid uncomfortable situations. Of course, this doesn’t apply if you’re hiring a full-time writer, then they would have to go with the usual payment structure.
13. How do you handle confidential information?
Writers often see early drafts of campaigns or new product ideas, so you should confirm that they’ll keep everything private. Ask if they are comfortable signing an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) to protect your business and build trust. You don’t want your yet-to-be-released product on the lips of customers.
14. How do you handle feedback and revisions?
To revise is to make something better, which is a plus when writing. A writer who knows this will usually accept feedback without taking offense. Ask them how many drafts they usually have before the final draft. Their answer will tell you how big they are on improving their work and how well the partnership will go if hired.
15. What happens if I am not satisfied with the work?
This can still happen even after revision of the final draft, so it’s normal. A fair freelance writer will have a plan which can include extra revisions or even a refund policy. And a diligent full-time writer will be ready to revise a work until it meets their employer’s satisfaction. So, this question is not about expecting the worst but just preparing for it; it’s like an incident response plan, which helps both of you feel prepared.
16. What makes you different from other writers?
This last one lets them tell you what makes them stand out. It’s another way of asking, ‘Why should I hire you?’ The way the writer answers this might be the defining factor. A writer who can market themselves will be able to market your business, so pay attention to their answer.
Conclusion
These questions are what you need to ask when hiring a writer as a business owner because you need to find someone who understands your message and can express it well.
The questions help you see beyond the samples to find someone who fits your brand and long-term goals. So, take your time, ask honestly, and choose a writer who doesn’t just write for you but writes with you.
FAQs
1. Why is asking about their writing process so important?
Asking about a writer’s process helps you understand how they work. Do they plan, research or even edit their work? When thinking about the questions to ask when hiring a writer, this question reveals their work pattern which will show if they are the right person for your brand.
2. How can I tell if a writer is good if I do not know much about writing myself?
You can tell a writer is good by their tone and how they communicate. Find out if their writing is easy to read by actually reading one of their samples. Did you end up being confused or clear after reading it? Then you have your answer.
3. What is the most important skill to look for in a writer?
The most important skill to look for is how well they can adapt. In interview questions for a writing position, check if they can adjust their tone and style to fit different audiences.
4. Should I focus more on a writer’s portfolio or their interview answers?
You should check both the portfolio and interview answers before hiring. A portfolio shows the writer’s past work while the interview reveals how they think and communicate. When deciding what good questions to ask a writer or which job interview questions for writers to include, remember that samples show skill, but conversation shows how reliable they are.
