Copywriting is a great option for anyone looking for a flexible and lucrative career. There are plenty of opportunities and steady demand, given that brands always need writers to market and advertise their products. However, competition is also intense, so one way to prepare yourself for the job hunt is to practice different interview questions for copywriters.
When applying for a copywriting position, it’s important to show hiring managers your strong research and writing skills through your portfolio. Even if you have no experience, showcasing soft skills like creativity, attention to detail, adaptability, and persuasive skills during the interview can give you an edge in the hiring process.
If you’re interested in applying but not sure where to begin, here’s a list of frequently asked questions to help you nail your job interview.
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General Questions You May Encounter
Interview questions vary depending on the company, position, job scope, and other factors, but you’ll likely encounter general questions in most interviews. Not all will be directly related to copywriting but will still be important to prepare for as they give hiring managers more insight into your work ethic, personality, interests, and strengths. These all help them gauge whether you’re a good fit for the job.
Why Did You Apply For This Copywriting Position?
This is a straightforward question that most interviewers ask to better understand your interest in the position. Some key points you can talk about include career goals, specific aspects of the job that interest you, and things you believe you can learn from the role.
What Is Your Most Successful Concept To Launch?
This question gives employers insight into your experience and accomplishments. Aside from explaining the concept or idea clearly, make sure you highlight measurable results, if possible.
What Is Something You’re Reading About Or Studying On Your Own?
This question gives employers more insight into what your interests are, as well as your initiative to learn things. It’ll be valuable to share any relevant experience you’ve had, whether through joining copywriting communities, taking online courses, or even just reading up on a particular topic.
Can You Describe A Time You Improved A Company Process?
When applying for higher positions, interviewers typically want to know more about what you’ve achieved in previous jobs. Use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) framework to respond to this question, so you can clearly explain what you did and what results came out of your work.
Tell Me About An Ad You Saw Recently And What You Liked About It.
Since you’re applying for a copywriting position, interviewers may ask you questions like these to test your knowledge and analytical skills. Make sure you’re well-prepared to give concrete examples of ads and share your thoughts about them.
How Do You Manage Your Time And Prioritize Tasks To Meet Deadlines?
Time management is a key skill for all copywriters, especially since it’s common to juggle multiple tasks at a time. Respond to this question with a clear process of how you prioritize tasks, so you can show your work ethic and demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines.
How Do You Deal With Feedback?
As a copywriter, you can expect lots of feedback from your managers or clients. The main points to talk about here will be your ability to take feedback constructively and respond by revising your work accordingly.
What Is Your Desired Salary?
Salary conversations often come up in interviews with hiring managers, so expect them to ask about your desired range. If you’re just starting out, you can research the market average for entry-level writers in your location. Otherwise, you can use your existing salary as a benchmark to negotiate an increase.
Interview Questions For Entry-Level Copywriters
When applying for an entry-level role, interview questions typically revolve around your interests and skills. Since you have no prior experience to talk about or refer to, hiring managers focus more on gauging your willingness to do certain things. They may also ask you situational questions to assess how you may react in specific situations.
How Did You Become Interested In Copywriting?
This is a common question that interviewers may ask to get to know more about you and learn about your career goals.
How Comfortable Are You With Writing In Different Brand Voices?
Many times, copywriters need to adjust their writing style based on the brand’s tone of voice. Interviewers may ask this question to gauge your versatility and ability to adapt to different voices in order to accommodate clients’ requirements.
Are You Capable Of Following Specific Templates And Formats When Writing?
Each client typically has different instructions and requirements on what template or format to use, so you’ll need to be flexible and willing to adjust to these things.
How Would You Approach Writing Copy About A Topic That’s Completely New To You?
As an entry-level copywriter, it’s common to encounter new and unfamiliar topics since you’re just starting. Given this, it’ll be important to show that you’re up for the task by explaining what exactly you would do when faced with such a situation.
Will You Complete A Writing Assignment?
Some employers may ask you to complete a writing assignment to test your skills. These assignments are useful in helping you move forward with your applications since they’re a great way to show your potential, especially if you don’t have an established portfolio yet.
Interview Questions For Experienced Copywriters
If you’re an experienced copywriter with an existing portfolio and track record, expect interviewers to drill down into your past work and accomplishments.
Describe Your Copywriting Experience.
This is a standard question that interviewers ask to get a better picture of what you’ve done as a copywriter. The best approach will be to focus on your most relevant work experience and discuss quantitative results – if possible – to show what you’ve achieved in your tenure.
What’s Your Favorite Piece Of Writing In Your Portfolio? Why?
Before heading to any interview, make sure you have a good grasp of your portfolio. Some interviewers may ask you to talk about a specific piece from there, so this will be a good chance for you to show your knowledge, skill, and experience.
Walk Me Through Your Research And Planning Process When Starting A New Task.
Research is a critical skill for all copywriters as it’s a necessary pre-step before starting any project. Responding with a clear answer can give interviewers more insight into your thought process and approach to copywriting, allowing them to gauge if you’re a fit for the role.
Tell Me About A Time That You Received More Comments For Revisions Than You Were Expecting. What Happened And How Did You Respond?
This situational question assesses your ability to respond to feedback and manage your workload. Unexpected circumstances like these may arise, so employers want to test how you reacted to similar situations in the past.
What Copywriting Tools Or Practices Do You Use To Improve The Quality Of Your Copy?
Some employers may require you to use certain tools or practices as part of your workflow, so it’ll be a plus if you have experience. One way to prepare for this is to scan through the job listing again to see if any software is mentioned as a requirement or “nice to have.” Having knowledge or experience with them can be a boost in your interview.
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