17 Content Editor Interview Questions and Answers

If you’re looking for a job that involves reviewing and editing content, you’ll likely need to go through a content editor interview. Content editor interviews focus on your skills and abilities as they relate to the job, so be prepared to answer questions about your editing experience, knowledge of grammar and style, and your ability to communicate effectively.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of common content editor interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview. We’ll also give you tips on how to showcase your strengths and impress your interviewer.

Are you familiar with the AP Style Guide?

The AP Style Guide is a style guide for journalists that outlines the proper way to write news stories. It’s also used by many content editors, so an interviewer may ask this question to see if you’re familiar with it and how you would apply its principles in your work. If you are not familiar with the AP Style Guide, consider researching it before your interview so you can answer honestly.

Example: “I am familiar with the AP Style Guide, although I haven’t worked as a journalist. However, I have applied some of its principles when editing articles at my current job. For example, I remember working on a piece about a new restaurant where the writer referred to the chef as ‘he’ throughout the article. I changed all instances of ‘he’ to ‘they’ because the chef was actually a woman.”

What are some of the most important skills you have for a content editor position?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in their role. They may ask this question to see how well you understand what a content editor does and whether your skills match up with those duties. To answer this question, think about which skills are most important for a content editor’s job. Consider looking at the job description to see what skills the employer is looking for.

Example: “I believe that communication and organization skills are two of the most important skills for a content editor position. As a content editor, I would be working closely with other writers and editors to ensure all of our work was consistent and accurate. These skills allow me to collaborate effectively with others and make sure everyone is on the same page. Another skill that is essential for this position is attention to detail. A content editor needs to carefully review each piece of content before it goes live.”

How do you keep yourself organized when working on multiple projects at once?

Content editing requires you to work on multiple projects at once. Employers ask this question to see if you have a system for staying organized and ensuring that you meet deadlines. In your answer, explain how you stay on top of all the different projects you’re working on. Share any organizational tools or apps you use to help you manage your time and tasks.

Example: “I keep myself organized by using project management software. I find it helpful to separate my projects into folders so I can easily access them when needed. For example, I separate my current projects into ‘in progress,’ ‘completed’ and ‘waiting.’ This helps me stay on track with all of my assignments and ensures that I don’t forget about any projects.”

What is your process for evaluating the quality of a piece of writing?

This question can help interviewers understand your editing process and how you apply your skills to the job. Describe a few steps you take when evaluating writing quality, such as reading for grammar errors or checking for spelling mistakes.

Example: “I first read through the piece of writing to get an overall sense of what it’s about. Then I check for grammatical errors like misspellings, incorrect word usage and punctuation issues. After that, I look for spelling errors and typos. Finally, I proofread the piece one last time to make sure there are no other errors.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to collaborate with multiple authors to produce one piece of content.

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to work with others and how you might handle a team environment. Use examples from previous experience where you had to collaborate with multiple authors or editors on one project, such as:

Example: “In my last role, I worked with three other content writers to produce an article about the best places to visit in our state. Each writer was responsible for writing their own section of the piece, but we all met together to discuss ideas and make sure that each location mentioned by one author was also included in another’s part of the article. We used Google Docs to communicate and share our drafts with each other so we could ensure everything flowed well.”

If hired, what would be your approach to working with our current writers?

This question can help interviewers understand how you plan to work with their current team. It’s important to show that you’re willing to collaborate and communicate with your colleagues. You can answer this question by explaining what steps you would take to ensure a smooth transition into the role.

Example: “I believe it’s important to have open communication with my coworkers. I would make sure to introduce myself to everyone on the team, including writers, editors and other content creators. I’d also ask them about their processes for writing and editing so I could learn from their expertise. This way, I can support them in any way possible while still maintaining my own responsibilities.”

What would you do if you noticed a recurring typo or grammatical error in one of our articles?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a situation that could arise in your new role. Showcase your attention to detail and willingness to take initiative by explaining what steps you would take to correct the error.

Example: “If I noticed a typo or grammatical error, I would first make sure it wasn’t just me who was seeing it. If multiple people were noticing the same thing, I would contact my supervisor immediately so they could address the issue before someone else saw it. Then, I would edit the article myself to fix the error as soon as possible.”

How well do you know our target audience?

As a content editor, you’ll be responsible for creating and editing content that appeals to your target audience. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with their specific target audience. Before your interview, research the company’s target audience. Make sure you understand who they are and what types of content they like to read. In your answer, explain how you plan to create engaging content for this group.

Example: “I’ve worked with many different target audiences throughout my career as a content editor. I find that it’s important to know exactly who you’re writing for. For example, when I was working at XYZ Publishing Company, I knew our target audience was millennials. So, I made sure all of my articles were relatable and easy to understand. I also used millennial-friendly language and slang in my headlines. This helped us reach more people.”

Do you have any experience using content management systems to update website content?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience level with content management systems. If you have previous experience using CMS, share what type of system it was and how often you used it to update website content.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of CMS in my past positions as a content editor. I’m most comfortable working with WordPress because I find it’s easy to use and has many helpful features for updating website content. In my last position, I used WordPress to edit client websites at least once per week.”

When reviewing a piece of writing, how do you decide if it’s ready to be published?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you apply your editing skills to ensure a piece of content is ready for publication. Use examples from past experiences where you applied your critical thinking and communication skills to make sure that what you edited was ready for publishing.

Example: “I always try to publish pieces as soon as I finish my edits, but sometimes there are last-minute changes or additions that need to be made before it’s published. In these cases, I work with the writer to make sure they have enough time to complete their revisions so we can publish on schedule. If I feel like a piece isn’t quite ready to be published, I will communicate this to the writer and provide feedback on areas that still need improvement. This helps me give writers constructive criticism while also helping them improve their writing.”

We want to increase the number of shares our articles receive on social media. How would you go about increasing our social media engagement?

Social media engagement is an important part of content marketing. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience increasing social media shares for their company’s articles. In your answer, explain how you would increase the number of people who share a piece of content on social media. Explain that you would do this by creating engaging and interesting content that readers want to share with others.

Example: “I would first make sure that the article was well-written and edited. I would also ensure that it contained valuable information that people would want to share with others. If the content is useful and interesting, then more people will be willing to share it with their friends and followers online.”

Describe your experience with using SEO best practices when writing for a website.

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of search engine optimization, or SEO. This is a process that helps websites rank higher in search engines like Google and Bing. Your answer should show the interviewer you have experience using SEO best practices when writing content for a website.

Example: “I’ve been working as a freelance writer for several years now, so I’m familiar with how to use SEO best practices when writing for clients. For example, I always make sure to include keywords within my content so it’s easier for search engines to find relevant information on the web. I also try to write at least 300 words per article so it shows up in search results.”

What makes you the best candidate for this content editor position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Focus on highlighting your relevant experience and soft skills.

Example: “I am passionate about writing and editing content that is both informative and engaging. I have five years of experience as a freelance writer and editor, and my clients always rave about my work. In fact, many of them continue to hire me because they know I will deliver high-quality content every time. My attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines are also two reasons why I would be a great fit for this position.”

Which writing software do you prefer to use?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using specific software. If you’re not familiar with a particular writing platform, it’s important to let the interviewer know that you’re willing to learn how to use it.

Example: “I’ve used Microsoft Word for years and find it very easy to navigate. I also have experience with Google Docs, which is free and has many of the same features as Word. I’m always open to learning new software, so if there are other programs you prefer in the office, I’d be happy to try them out.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of proofreading?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the proofreading process. It also allows you to demonstrate how you prioritize tasks and manage time effectively. Your answer should include a specific example from your experience as a content editor that shows your understanding of proofreading best practices.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of proofreading is accuracy. I always make sure to read each sentence carefully, checking for spelling errors, grammar mistakes and inconsistencies in style. In my last role, I was working on a project with tight deadlines when I noticed a few instances where the same word was spelled differently within the same paragraph. This could have been overlooked if I hadn’t taken the extra time to check for these types of errors.”

How often should content be updated on a website?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of content editing and how often you update websites. Use examples from previous experience to show that you know when updates are necessary and what factors influence this decision.

Example: “I believe it depends on the website’s purpose, its target audience and the frequency with which users visit the site. For example, if a company has an informational website for consumers, I would recommend updating content at least once per month. If the website is more sales-oriented, however, I may suggest updating content every week or even daily depending on the type of products being sold.”

There is a discrepancy between what the writer wrote and what the reporter recorded. What is your decision?

This question is a great way to test your decision-making skills and how you handle conflict. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of what you would do in that situation.

Example: “If there was a discrepancy between the writer’s words and the reporter’s recording, I would first ask the writer about their intentions. If they were unclear or if they had no recollection of writing those words, then I would talk with the reporter to see if they could remember why they recorded those words. If both parties are sure of their intentions, I would have them clarify their statements so that everyone knows exactly what was said.”