No matter if you’re going for a full-time or contract role or you’re hopping on a discovery call with a potential freelance client, a copywriting interview is your time to show a prospective employer why they should hire you.
In the second episode of this three-part series, Nicki and Kate cover common copywriter interview questions and how you can prepare for them. Plus, they share the types of questions you should ask during the interview.
Missed part one? Listen to it here.
When you’re done, make sure to listen to part 3 right here.
TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[2:12] Nicki and Kate dive into what to do for your interviews and how to ace them. Kate notes that you should do your proper research and look into more than their homepage, as well as their social media presence. You want to know the company inside and out.
[4:23] Since you are going into an interview for a copywriting job, it’s important to look at the company’s ads and what those ads are saying. Nicki mentions that if it’s an internal agency, look at their marketing ads. If it’s an agency that has several clients, look at the agency’s clients and the ads and messages they’ve created for their clients. You should be really well versed on what that company is doing so you can come in and hit the ground running.
[6:35] If it’s a job that you know you really want, don’t hesitate to put together a spec piece. Don’t take something they’re doing now and try to improve on it. However, if they’re doing a campaign or something you feel you can build on, create a spec piece that can run in line with that campaign to show that you’re familiar with that brand and can build off an existing concept.
[8:55] Companies may ask specific questions during an interview. They also may dig into your portfolio and ask more pointed questions to that. Kate mentions the questions she’s heard and shares her experience.
[11:45] Our hosts talk about the question, “What is your writing style?” and how to answer it. Nicki then notes that copywriters who are good at what they do blend seamlessly into the company they’re working for; they don’t have their own writing style when it comes to working within an organization.
[13:50] Companies want to know that you can pick up the company voice. Depth and breadth should be in your portfolio to showcase that you can write in more than one type of voice.
[16:15] Nicki notes that the question, “who is your favorite copywriter?” is a bit tricky. However, you can redirect that and talk about your favorite piece of copy.
[19:00] Another question that may come up is, “how do you collaborate with designers?” That’s the opportunity for you to say that you like working closely with the people around you. The more you can show that you can work as a team player, shows that you would be able to come in and bring something to the team.
[22:30] Nicki notes how important it is to prepare your answers so that you can ace that interview. A ton of interviews still have those basic behavioral questions, so make you sure you have great answers!
[25:10] Don’t forget that in an interview, you are trying to market yourself. Think about how you can demonstrate how you, as a copywriter, will benefit this company. Nicki mentions how tempting it can be to talk about you, however the points you should hit are: this is what I’m looking for, why, and how this would benefit you if you hire me.
[31:06] When picking examples to tell in an interview, talk about stories that will show you in your best light. Nicki and Kate share their real life experiences and how this can translate in interviews.
[33:45] Our hosts mention that it’s important to come up with questions for the end of the interview. Cultural questions are very important, because that shows that you’re actually interested in the company and can see yourself working there.
Check out part three for tips on what to do after the interview. Nicki and Kate lend their expertise to help you bring your A game!
Related Links
- What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview
- Copywriting Q&A: Tough Interview Questions Copywriters Get
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
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Ep. 52: What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview (Part 1 of 3)
Last Updated on September 10, 2023
