15 Business Writing Interview Questions and Answers

In the business world, being able to communicate clearly and concisely is essential. That’s why employers often ask interview questions about business writing.

If you’re applying for a job that involves any kind of writing, from creating marketing materials to drafting reports, it’s important to be prepared to answer questions about your skills and experience.

In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to answer common business writing interview questions. We’ll also provide sample answers to help you get started.

1. What are the most important skills required to be a good business writer?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your writing skills and how you would apply them in their company. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of the most important skills that you have developed throughout your career as a writer.

Example: “The two most important skills for me are organization and communication. I always make sure to organize my thoughts before starting to write so that I don’t forget anything. This helps me stay focused on the task at hand and ensures that I am delivering quality content. Communication is also very important because it allows me to collaborate with others and ensure that everyone understands what I’m trying to say.”

2. Can you explain what active and passive voice is in writing? Why is it important to use one over another?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of writing techniques. It’s important to show that you understand the basics of grammar and can apply them in your work.

Example: “Active voice is when the subject performs an action on something else, while passive voice is when the subject receives an action from something else. For example, ‘The dog ate my homework’ is active voice because the dog is performing the action of eating the homework. In passive voice, it would be ‘My homework was eaten by the dog.’ Active voice is more direct and engaging for readers, so I prefer to use it whenever possible.”

3. What’s your opinion on using “I” when communicating with customers as opposed to third person language?

This question is a great way to gauge how you feel about the importance of customer service and your ability to communicate with customers. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of when you used “I” language in a previous role or discuss why you prefer one over the other.

Example: “In my experience, I find that using third person language is more effective for communicating with customers because it allows them to know exactly who they’re speaking to. For instance, if a customer has a problem with their order, I would use ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ so they know that we are taking responsibility for fixing the issue.”

4. How do you adapt your communication style when dealing with people of different cultures, ethnicities, or nationalities?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your ability to adapt to different cultures and backgrounds. This can be an important skill for business writers, as they may need to write content that appeals to a variety of audiences. In your answer, try to explain how you’ve adapted to working with people from different backgrounds in the past.

Example: “I have experience writing for international audiences, so I am familiar with adapting my style to appeal to different cultures and nationalities. For example, when I was working at my previous company, we had to create marketing materials for our product that would appeal to both American and Spanish-speaking customers. I researched what words and phrases appealed to each audience and made sure to include them in our content.”

5. What makes a well-written piece of content stand out from an average one?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you know what makes good content and how to create it. Your answer should include examples of well-written pieces of content, the elements that make them effective and why they’re successful.

Example: “A piece of content stands out when it’s clear, concise and engaging. A writer can achieve this by using active voice, avoiding jargon and acronyms and including visuals or graphics where appropriate. I’ve seen many articles that are very informative but don’t have any images, which makes them less interesting for readers. If an article has all three of these qualities, it will be more likely to get shared on social media.”

6. Do you think that the quality of written communication has gone up or down since the advent of the internet? Why?

This question is a great way to assess your critical thinking skills and how you evaluate the quality of written communication. Your answer should show that you can think critically about the internet’s impact on business writing, as well as its benefits.

Example: “I believe that the advent of the internet has had both positive and negative effects on the quality of written communication. On one hand, it has made information more readily available than ever before, which has helped me write better content for my clients. However, I also feel like there are many people who use the internet as an excuse not to communicate in person or over the phone. This leads to misunderstandings and miscommunication.”

7. Is there any difference between editing and proofreading? If yes, then can you give some examples?

Proofreading and editing are two different processes that involve checking for errors in a document. An interviewer may ask this question to see if you understand the differences between these processes and how they can be used together. In your answer, try to explain what proofreading and editing are and when each process is best used.

Example: “Proofreading involves reading through a document carefully to find any spelling or grammar mistakes. It’s usually done after an initial edit to make sure there aren’t any major issues with the content. Editing, on the other hand, is more comprehensive than proofreading. It involves looking at the structure of a document as well as its grammar and spelling. I have experience doing both proofreading and editing during my previous roles.”

8. Is it possible to write too short or too long content? Give me an example where this might happen.

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the right length for content. It also shows that you understand how important it is to keep things concise and easy to read.

Example: “Yes, it’s possible to write too short or too long content. For example, if I’m writing an article about a new product release, I would want to make sure my content is long enough to include all the details but not so long that readers lose interest. If I were writing a blog post on social media, I might want to keep it shorter because people are scrolling through their feeds quickly. In this case, I would try to get my point across in as few words as possible.”

9. What is the single most important thing you should do before starting to write anything for customers?

This question is a great way to assess your writing skills and how you apply them in the workplace. It also shows employers that you understand what it takes to be successful as a business writer. When answering this question, make sure to emphasize the importance of planning before starting any project.

Example: “The single most important thing I do before starting anything for customers is plan. Planning helps me organize my thoughts and ideas so I can write more efficiently. It also allows me to anticipate potential problems or questions that may arise from my content. This saves time later on when I’m editing because I’ve already addressed many issues during the planning stage.”

10. What does “clarity of thought” mean when it comes to written communication?

Clarity of thought is a key skill for business writers. It’s important to be able to clearly communicate ideas and concepts in writing so that your audience can understand them. When you answer this question, explain what clarity of thought means and how it applies to the role you’re interviewing for.

Example: “Clarity of thought means being able to write in a way that makes complex information easy to understand. In my last position as a marketing writer, I wrote content for several different audiences, including customers, investors and employees. To make sure everyone understood my work, I would read through my drafts multiple times before submitting them. This helped me ensure that all of my points were clear and concise.”

11. Where would you go to find industry-specific jargon or technical terms used by professionals in a particular field?

This question can help an interviewer determine your research skills and how you apply them to the workplace. Use examples from past experiences when you had to look up jargon or technical terms in order to complete a project successfully.

Example: “I would start by looking through my company’s internal glossary of terms, which I have done before at my previous job. If I still couldn’t find what I was looking for, I would then search online using Google or other search engines to see if there are any industry-specific forums where professionals discuss these types of terms. Finally, if all else fails, I would ask my supervisor or another colleague who may know the term.”

12. What is the best way to get feedback about your writing from others?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you use feedback to improve your writing skills. Showcase your ability to accept and implement constructive criticism by giving examples of when you’ve done so in the past.

Example: “I find that having a colleague or supervisor read my work before I submit it is the best way for me to get feedback on my writing. This allows me to make any last-minute changes before submitting, which helps ensure there are no errors. If someone does point out an error after I’ve submitted something, I take note of their feedback and try to incorporate it into future projects.”

13. In what circumstances would you use contractions like “don’t” instead of full words such as “do not”?

This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of grammar and writing style. Use examples from previous work to show that you know when contractions are appropriate and how they can improve a document’s readability.

Example: “I use contractions like ‘don’t’ instead of full words such as ‘do not’ in business documents because it makes them more readable for the audience. For example, at my last job I wrote a memo about company policies regarding vacation time. Instead of using the word ‘not,’ which is longer and harder to understand, I used the contraction ‘don’t.’ This made the memo easier to read and helped employees understand the policy.”

14. Can you explain what tone means in the context of business writing?

Tone is an important aspect of business writing because it can affect how your audience perceives you and the company. A hiring manager may ask this question to see if you understand tone’s importance in a professional setting. In your answer, explain what tone means and why it’s crucial for writers to consider when they’re creating content.

Example: “Tone refers to the attitude or mood that comes across in a piece of writing. For example, if I’m writing about a new product launch, my tone would be positive and excited. If I’m writing about a problem with a customer, my tone should be apologetic and empathetic. Tone is one of the most important aspects of effective business writing because it helps me connect with my audience.”

15. Can you tell me some tips for improving my writing skills?

Employers may ask this question to see if you have any tips for improving their employees’ writing skills. They want to know that you can help others improve their writing and editing abilities, so be sure to share some of your best advice with them.

Example: “I think the most important thing is to read what you write out loud. This helps you catch mistakes like missing words or typos more easily than just reading it in your head. I also recommend using a style guide when writing anything longer than a paragraph. It’s helpful to use one standard format for all documents so they’re easier to read and understand.”