How To Hire a Content Writer
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Content Writer hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
Content Writer Recruitment Guide
What does a Content Writer do?
Content Writers work for marketing agencies and in-house advertising/marketing departments to produce engaging written content for digital and print media. Content Writers can write on a range of subjects, which their clients then use to build marketing campaigns for their services or to educate consumers on topics relevant to their brand.
Day to day tasks of a Content Writer
- Producing innovative and engaging written content including, but not limited to, media materials, marketing materials, magazines, blogs, website copy and social media posts
- Researching and developing story angles for print, broadcast and online media
- Interviewing clients and key spokespeople
- Ensuring quality, clarity, audience relevance and consistency of clients’ brand voice
- Contributing to media training workshops
Content Writer definition
A Content Writer is a person who specializes in providing relevant content for a company's marketing collateral. Every company has a specific target audience and requires the most relevant content to attract business. Content should contain keywords aimed towards improving a website's SEO.
HIRING PROCESS
Content Writer Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a Content Writer
A content writer must have a great attention to detail and the ability to draft creative and unique content at scale. They must be able to manage simultaneous projects and fit into the culture and brand of a company.
- Content Writing
- Project Management
- Culture Fit
Pro Tip
For mid-senior roles, you’re likely to receive a larger number of applications than you would for a senior position. Ensure you provide details about what it’s like to work for your company, and what your company values are so applicants know whether your company is the right fit for them.
WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS
How to write a Content Writer job description
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your Content Writer job description:
Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer
Pro Tip
In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a Content Writer must have a great attention to detail, and it would be nice to have management experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a Content Writer
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Question 1
Content Writing
Question Type: File Upload
Submit a file containing your most current B2B writing you’ve done to date.
Question 2
Culture Fit
Question Type: Video
Record a video no more than 2 minutes long describing why you started content writing.
Question 3
Project Management
Question Type: Text
Walk through the process you go through when you start a new project with a client? For example, what is the first thing you’d do the moment you were hired (also considering you have not spoken to the company before being hired), what questions would you ask, etc.?
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a Content Writer
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.
Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.
Making An Offer
How much does it cost to hire a Content Writer?
The US average for a Content Writer is $46,552 according to Glassdoor.com while the reported average salary on Talent.com amounts to $85,000. According to ZipRecruiter, the majority of Content Writer salaries currently range between $33,000 (25th percentile) to $55,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $75,500 annually across the United States
Content Writer Salary United States
Content Writer salaries in the United States range from $13,000 – $101,000 (USD). Content Writer salaries in the U.S vary a lot depending on the industry and the nature and size of the business they work for.
Source: ZipRecruiter
Content Writer Salary United Kingdom
Content Writer salaries in the United Kingdom range from £18,000 – £31,000 (GBP). Content Writer salaries in the UK vary a lot depending on the industry and the nature and size of the business they work for.
Source: PayScale
Content Writer Salary Australia
Content Writer salaries in Australia range from $44,000 – $74,000 (AUD). Content Writer salaries in Australia vary a lot depending on the industry and the nature and size of the business they work for.
Source: PayScale
