How To Hire A Copywriter
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Copywriter hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
Copywriter Recruitment Guide
What does a Copywriter do?
A copywriter rare responsible for writing clear and concise copy for advertisements (print, digital), marketing materials, company HR material and websites. They are also required to research and plan content.
Day to day tasks of a Copywriter
- Strategically plan content calendars
- Write engaging content for a variety of material relevant to the company’s brand and culture
- Research subject matters and understand the audience by conducting web searches, interviews, competitor analysis, etc.
- Interpret creative briefs and develop into copy concepts
- Propose copy concepts and present underlying strategic thinking to management
- Proofread, subedit, and interpret a range of content developed by internal audiences and workplace experts to ensure easy-to-understand language is used
Copywriter definition
A Copywriters’ primary responsibility is to take in copy briefs and create relevant and concise written text to be used for marketing, advertising and/or HR materials.
HIRING PROCESS
Copywriter Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a Copywriter
A copywriter must be a creative thinker. They must understand SEO and have the ability to conduct in depth research to ensure their end product is relevant. They will be excellent in time management and understand the power of the written word.
- Research
- SEO
- Creative Thinking
- Copywriting
Pro Tip
For entry-level 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 Copywriter 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 Copywriter 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 Copywriter must have a creative mindset, and it would be nice to have creative design experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a Copywriter
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Question 1
Creative Thinking
Question Type: Text
Write a paragraph (100-150 words) that shares a recent piece of business news you find fascinating, your goal is to share the news with your colleagues. Be sure to provide your opinion of its effects.
Question 2
Research
Question Type: Text
Describe a project that you have worked on where you knew absolutely nothing about the topic when you started. Outline the research strategies you utilized and how you learned enough to write about it.
Question 3
Copywriting
Question Type: Text
Based on this home page copy and image from Modcloth, write a brief story about who their target client is, what that client wants most, and the solution Modcloth is offering. In your description, don’t limit your response to demographic information. Dig deeper.
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a Copywriter
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 Copywriter?
The US average for a Copywriter is $52,034 according to Indeed.com while the reported average salary on Builtin.com amounts to $69,046. There is also a reported additional cash compensation of $5,369 that Copywriters make on average every year.
Copywriter Salary United States
Copywriter salaries in the United States range from $43,062 – $65,501 (USD). Copywriter salaries in the U.S vary a lot depending on the industry and location of the role.
Source: Salary.com
Copywriter Salary United Kingdom
Copywriter salaries in the United Kingdom range from £22,000 – £45,000 (GBP). Copywriter salaries in the UK vary a lot depending on the industry and location of the role.
Source: Glassdoor
Copywriter Salary Australia
Copywriter salaries in Australia range from $73,000 – $127,000 (AUD). Copywriter salaries in Australia vary a lot depending on the industry and location of the role.
Source: Talent.com
