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Interview · Editor

Editor interview questions, with what they test.

13 questions built from what the job actually involves: its core duties, the skills rated most important and the tools in use. Switch on practice mode to rehearse before you look.

13 questions · practice mode
Updated Nov 2, 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0
Quick answer

Editor interviews test whether you can do the core work, such as verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources, and the skills rated most important for the role: reading comprehension, writing and active listening (O*NET). Prepare one true, specific story for each, with a result.

Had it 0Practise 0Practice mode
Q01Walk me through how you verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.Core duty
What they are really testing

Hands-on experience with one of the duties workers rate most important for editors, and the judgment calls inside it.

Likely follow-ups
  • How does this connect to how you allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations…?
  • What went wrong the last time, and what did you change?
Answer approach
  1. Step 1Where you did it, how often and for whom
  2. Step 2Your steps in order, including how you used Adobe Photoshop
  3. Step 3One judgment call you made, and why
  4. Step 4The result, with a number you can defend
Q02Walk me through how you write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.Core duty
What they are really testing

Hands-on experience with one of the duties workers rate most important for editors, and the judgment calls inside it.

Likely follow-ups
  • How does this connect to how you confer with management and editorial staff members regarding…?
  • What went wrong the last time, and what did you change?
Answer approach
  1. Step 1Where you did it, how often and for whom
  2. Step 2Your steps in order, including how you used Content management systems CMS
  3. Step 3One judgment call you made, and why
  4. Step 4The result, with a number you can defend
Q03Walk me through how you read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.Core duty
What they are really testing

Hands-on experience with one of the duties workers rate most important for editors, and the judgment calls inside it.

Likely follow-ups
  • How does this connect to how you oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer…?
  • What went wrong the last time, and what did you change?
Answer approach
  1. Step 1Where you did it, how often and for whom
  2. Step 2Your steps in order, including how you used Adobe After Effects
  3. Step 3One judgment call you made, and why
  4. Step 4The result, with a number you can defend
Q04Walk me through how you prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.Core duty
What they are really testing

Hands-on experience with one of the duties workers rate most important for editors, and the judgment calls inside it.

Likely follow-ups
  • How does this connect to how you supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors?
  • What went wrong the last time, and what did you change?
Answer approach
  1. Step 1Where you did it, how often and for whom
  2. Step 2Your steps in order, including how you used Adobe Creative Cloud software
  3. Step 3One judgment call you made, and why
  4. Step 4The result, with a number you can defend
Q05Walk me through how you develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.Core duty
What they are really testing

Hands-on experience with one of the duties workers rate most important for editors, and the judgment calls inside it.

Likely follow-ups
  • How does this connect to how you assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters…?
  • What went wrong the last time, and what did you change?
Answer approach
  1. Step 1Where you did it, how often and for whom
  2. Step 2Your steps in order, including how you used Adobe Illustrator
  3. Step 3One judgment call you made, and why
  4. Step 4The result, with a number you can defend
Q06Describe a time you had to act on a long or technical document under time pressure.Reading Comprehension
What they are really testing

How you extract what matters from written material and apply it correctly. Reading Comprehension is rated 5.0 of 5 for this job, +1.5 against the average occupation (O*NET).

Answer approach
  1. Step 1The document and the deadline
  2. Step 2How you found the parts that mattered
  3. Step 3What you did with it
  4. Step 4Pick the example from the core work, for instance when you had to verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources
Q07Tell me about something you wrote at work that changed a decision.Writing
What they are really testing

Clarity and purpose in writing, and awareness of the reader. Writing is rated 4.4 of 5 for this job, +1.2 against the average occupation (O*NET).

Answer approach
  1. Step 1Who it was for
  2. Step 2The decision at stake
  3. Step 3How you structured it
  4. Step 4Pick the example from the core work, for instance when you had to write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters
Q08How do you check that work meets the standard before it goes out?Quality Control Analysis
What they are really testing

Inspection habits and standards. Quality Control Analysis is rated 3.0 of 5 for this job, +0.6 against the average occupation (O*NET).

Answer approach
  1. Step 1The standard
  2. Step 2Your checks
  3. Step 3A defect you caught
  4. Step 4Pick the example from the core work, for instance when you had to read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and…
Q09Tell me about a time you had to get the best out of a team.Management of Personnel Resources
What they are really testing

Motivating, developing and directing people. Management of Personnel Resources is rated 3.1 of 5 for this job, +0.5 against the average occupation (O*NET).

Answer approach
  1. Step 1The team and the goal
  2. Step 2What was not working
  3. Step 3What you did
  4. Step 4Pick the example from the core work, for instance when you had to prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who…
Q10Describe a negotiation at work where both sides had to give something up.Negotiation
What they are really testing

Finding agreement without damaging the relationship. Negotiation is rated 3.1 of 5 for this job, +0.5 against the average occupation (O*NET).

Answer approach
  1. Step 1What each side wanted
  2. Step 2Where you had room
  3. Step 3How you reached agreement
  4. Step 4Pick the example from the core work, for instance when you had to develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal
Q11Which of these have you used: Adobe Photoshop, Content management systems CMS, Adobe After Effects? Tell me about a recent piece of work with one of them.Tools
What they are really testing

Real, recent use of the tools editors depend on, not a list of names.

Likely follow-ups
  • How would you get up to speed on Facebook if you haven't used it?
Answer approach
  1. Step 1Name the tool and the task, e.g. Adobe Photoshop for verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard…
  2. Step 2What you did with it
  3. Step 3A problem you solved with it
  4. Step 4What the output was used for
Q12This job runs on deadlines. Tell me about the tightest one you have met.Working conditions
What they are really testing

Composure and quality when time is short. Workers rate this 4.3 of 5 in the job's work context (O*NET).

Answer approach
  1. Step 1A specific example from your work as an Editor or similar
  2. Step 2What was at stake
  3. Step 3What you did
  4. Step 4The outcome
Q13Why do you want to work as an Editor?Motivation
What they are really testing

Whether you understand what the job really involves, and whether that is what you want.

Answer approach
  1. Step 1Name the part of the work you like: e.g. verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard…
  2. Step 2Evidence you have done it or something close
  3. Step 3Why this employer
  4. Step 4Where you want to grow

Data Duty, skill, tool and conditions questions are built from O*NET data for this occupation. Advice Answer approaches are our coaching advice.

Answer framework

Two structures that work

SSituationOne sentence of context.
TTaskWhat you owned.
AActionWhat you did, in your words.
RResultWhat changed, with a number if true.
Questions to ask them

End the interview well

Advice

  • What does a strong first 90 days look like for this editor role?
  • Which part of the work takes the most time in a typical week?
  • How is performance measured here?
  • What tools and systems does the team use?
FAQ

Common questions

What are common Editor interview questions?
Expect questions about the core duties (verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard…), about reading comprehension and writing, and about the tools you have used. This page lists 13 with what each one tests.
How should I answer behavioral questions?
Use a short structure such as Situation, Task, Action, Result, and end with a specific, true result.
Method

How this page is built

Questions are generated from O*NET 31.0 data for the occupation: its core tasks, the skills with the highest importance ratings, the tools reported, and work-context ratings. The interviewer intent and answer approach are TryHired coaching advice.

What this page can't tell you
  • What a specific employer will ask.
  • Technical tests or licensing exams for the role.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.

How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.

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