Interview Guide for

Embedded Content Strategist

This comprehensive interview guide for the Embedded Content Strategist role provides a structured approach to identifying top talent who can develop compelling content strategies aligned with business goals. The guide contains carefully crafted questions and evaluation criteria to assess candidates' strategic thinking, SEO expertise, audience engagement capabilities, analytical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration skills—ensuring you find someone who can truly drive your content initiatives forward.

How to Use This Guide

Yardstick's interview guide is designed to help your team conduct efficient, effective, and fair interviews for the Embedded Content Strategist position. Here's how to make the most of it:

Customize for Your Needs - Adapt the questions and evaluation criteria to align with your company's specific goals, products, and content needs.
Prepare Thoroughly - Review the guide completely before interviews to understand each question's purpose and what constitutes a strong response.
Maintain Consistency - Use the same structure and core questions for all candidates to ensure fair comparison.
Leverage Follow-up Questions - Use the suggested follow-up questions to probe deeper when needed, uncovering candidates' true capabilities beyond practiced responses.
Score Independently - Have each interviewer complete their scorecard before discussing the candidate to prevent groupthink and capture diverse perspectives.

For additional guidance, check out our resources on how to conduct a job interview and behavioral interview techniques.

Job Description

Embedded Content Strategist

About [Company]

[Company] is a [Industry] leader committed to [Company Mission/Values]. We are a dynamic and innovative organization with a passion for [Company Products/Services]. We believe in the power of content to connect with our audience and drive meaningful results.

The Role

As an Embedded Content Strategist, you'll play a pivotal role in developing and implementing comprehensive content strategies that align with our business goals and enhance customer experience. You'll work across multiple teams to ensure our content is integrated seamlessly throughout the customer journey, from product documentation to marketing campaigns. Your data-driven approach will help optimize our content effectiveness and drive key metrics.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and execute comprehensive content strategies across various platforms and formats, including product documentation, in-app help, knowledge bases, blog posts, website content, social media, email marketing, and video.
Conduct regular content audits and gap analyses to identify opportunities for improvement and new content development.
Research and understand user needs, behaviors, and preferences to create targeted audience personas.
Implement SEO best practices, including keyword research and on-page optimization to improve search rankings.
Collaborate with content creators to develop high-quality, engaging content that meets audience needs and aligns with brand guidelines.
Establish content management processes, workflows, and governance policies to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Track and analyze content performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions.
Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure content alignment with business objectives.
Stay current with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies related to content strategy, SEO, and digital marketing.

What We're Looking For

Proven experience in content strategy, content marketing, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful content strategies that drive results.
Strong understanding of SEO principles and best practices.
Experience with content management systems.
Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
Experience with content analytics tools and project management software.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Curiosity and passion for continually optimizing content effectiveness.
Adaptability to changing priorities and market conditions.

Why Join [Company]

At [Company], we're passionate about creating exceptional content experiences that drive business results. We offer a collaborative and innovative environment where your strategic thinking and creativity will have real impact.

Competitive compensation: [Pay Range]
Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off
Professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement
Flexible work arrangements including hybrid/remote options

Hiring Process

We've designed a streamlined interview process to help us get to know you while respecting your time. Here's what you can expect:

Initial Screening Interview - A 30-minute conversation with our recruiter to discuss your background, experience, and interest in the role.
Content Strategy Exercise - You'll have the opportunity to showcase your strategic thinking and content expertise through a practical exercise.
Content Strategy & SEO Interview - A deeper discussion about your approach to content strategy, SEO knowledge, and analytical thinking.
Team Collaboration Interview - Meet with key stakeholders to discuss cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.
Career & Experience Discussion (Optional) - A review of your career progression and relevant work experiences.

Ideal Candidate Profile (Internal)

Role Overview

The Embedded Content Strategist serves as the bridge between our content creation efforts and business objectives. They will lead the development of cohesive content strategies across multiple platforms and formats, ensuring our content resonates with audiences while driving measurable business results. This role requires someone who combines strategic vision with practical execution skills, analytical thinking with creative problem-solving, and independent work with strong collaboration abilities.

Essential Behavioral Competencies

Strategic Thinking - Ability to develop comprehensive content strategies aligned with business objectives; can anticipate content needs across the customer journey and identify opportunities to leverage content for maximum impact.

SEO Expertise - Deep understanding of search engine optimization principles and techniques; can effectively implement keyword research, on-page optimization, and content promotion strategies to improve organic visibility.

Audience Engagement - Skill in understanding audience needs, behaviors, and preferences; can translate audience insights into compelling content that resonates and drives desired actions.

Analytical Thinking - Capacity to analyze content performance data and extract meaningful insights; makes data-driven decisions to continuously optimize content effectiveness.

Cross-functional Collaboration - Ability to work effectively with diverse teams including marketing, product, engineering, and customer support; can communicate content requirements clearly and build consensus around content priorities.

Desired Outcomes

Develop and implement comprehensive content strategies that increase user engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates across key touchpoints.
Improve search engine visibility through SEO-optimized content, resulting in a 25% increase in organic traffic and improved search rankings for priority keywords.
Establish standardized content management processes and governance policies that ensure 90%+ adherence to brand guidelines and quality standards across all content.
Successfully collaborate with cross-functional teams to create integrated content experiences that receive positive feedback from 85%+ of stakeholders.
Analyze content performance metrics and implement data-driven optimizations that lead to 15%+ improvement in content effectiveness KPIs.

Ideal Candidate Traits

4+ years of experience in content strategy or content marketing, ideally in a similar [industry]
Proven track record of developing content strategies that achieve measurable business results
Expert knowledge of SEO principles and contemporary content marketing best practices
Experience working with cross-functional teams in collaborative environments
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple content initiatives simultaneously
Excellent analytical skills with experience using data to inform content decisions
Exceptional writing and editing abilities with a keen eye for detail
Adaptable problem-solver who thrives in fast-paced environments
Natural curiosity and passion for learning about new content trends and technologies

Screening Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This initial screening interview aims to quickly identify candidates with high potential for the Embedded Content Strategist role. Focus on assessing their overall experience with content strategy, SEO knowledge, analytical capabilities, and collaboration skills. This conversation should help determine whether the candidate has the fundamental qualifications and approach that would make them successful in the role.

Pay attention to how candidates articulate their experience developing comprehensive content strategies and their approach to measuring success. Look for candidates who demonstrate both strategic thinking and practical execution skills. The strongest candidates will show a balance of creative content thinking and data-driven decision making.

Allocate 5-10 minutes at the end for candidate questions. Their questions often reveal their level of interest, preparation, and understanding of the role.

Directions to Share with Candidate

During this conversation, I'll be asking about your experience with content strategy, SEO, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration. Feel free to share specific examples from your past work. This interview is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and our company, so we'll save time at the end for your questions.

Interview Questions

Tell me about your experience developing content strategies. What platforms and content types have you worked with, and what approaches have you found most effective?

Areas to Cover

Types of content strategies they've developed (multi-channel, SEO-driven, etc.)
Content platforms they have experience with (websites, social media, email, etc.)
Process they use for developing strategies
How they measure the success of their strategies
Experience with different content formats (blog posts, videos, infographics, etc.)

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you ensure your content strategy aligned with business objectives?
Can you describe a specific content strategy that was particularly successful?
How do you adapt your content strategy approach for different audience segments?
What tools do you use to plan and organize content strategies?

Describe your approach to SEO and how you incorporate it into content strategy.

Areas to Cover

Understanding of current SEO best practices
Experience with keyword research and implementation
On-page SEO techniques they use
How they balance SEO requirements with quality content creation
Experience measuring SEO performance

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you stay current with changing SEO algorithms and best practices?
Can you share an example of how you improved search rankings for a specific piece of content?
How do you approach keyword research for different content types?
How do you integrate SEO considerations across different teams?

How do you use data and analytics to inform your content decisions and measure success?

Areas to Cover

Types of content metrics they track and analyze
Tools they've used for content analytics
How they translate data into actionable insights
Experience making data-driven optimizations
Understanding of attribution and funnel analysis

Possible Follow-up Questions

Can you describe a situation where data analysis led you to change your content approach?
What metrics do you believe are most important for measuring content effectiveness?
How do you communicate analytics insights to stakeholders who aren't data-savvy?
How do you balance quantitative data with qualitative feedback?

Tell me about your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams on content initiatives.

Areas to Cover

Types of teams they've collaborated with
Their approach to building consensus
How they communicate content requirements
Experience managing competing priorities
Methods for getting stakeholder buy-in

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you handle situations where team members have conflicting content priorities?
What strategies do you use to get buy-in from stakeholders who may not understand content value?
How do you ensure content consistency when working with multiple contributors?
Can you share an example of a particularly successful cross-team collaboration?

How do you approach understanding and creating content for different audience segments?

Areas to Cover

Methods for audience research
Experience developing audience personas
How they adapt content for different audiences
Experience with content personalization
Ways they measure audience engagement

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you balance creating content for different stages of the customer journey?
Can you describe a situation where you had to significantly shift your content approach based on audience insights?
How do you identify emerging audience needs or interests?
What tools have you used for audience research and segmentation?

Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple content initiatives simultaneously. How did you prioritize and ensure all projects were completed successfully?

Areas to Cover

Project management approaches and tools
Prioritization methods
Time management skills
How they delegate tasks
How they handle tight deadlines

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you maintain content quality when dealing with multiple deadlines?
What do you do when you don't have resources to complete all projects?
How do you communicate timeline challenges to stakeholders?
Can you describe your process for planning complex content initiatives?

Interview Scorecard

Strategic Content Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Lacks strategic approach to content; focuses primarily on tactical execution
2: Shows some strategic thinking but limited in scope or depth
3: Demonstrates solid strategic thinking and content planning capabilities
4: Exceptional strategic vision; connects content strategy to business outcomes in sophisticated ways

SEO Knowledge

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Basic or outdated understanding of SEO principles
2: Familiar with fundamental SEO concepts but limited practical application
3: Strong working knowledge of current SEO best practices with proven implementation
4: Expert-level SEO understanding with advanced techniques and demonstrated results

Analytical Capabilities

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited experience with data analysis or metrics-based decision making
2: Basic understanding of content analytics but limited application
3: Solid experience using data to inform content decisions and measure results
4: Sophisticated analytical approach with evidence of using complex data to drive significant improvements

Cross-functional Collaboration

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Prefers to work independently with minimal collaboration
2: Can collaborate but shows limited experience with cross-functional teams
3: Demonstrated ability to work effectively across teams and build consensus
4: Exceptional collaboration skills with evidence of leading successful cross-functional initiatives

Outcome: Develop comprehensive content strategies that increase engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to achieve this level of impact on engagement and conversion
2: Might achieve partial improvements but likely below target
3: Demonstrates capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows exceptional strategy skills that could exceed the target metrics

Outcome: Improve search engine visibility resulting in 25% increase in organic traffic

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to significantly improve SEO performance
2: May achieve some SEO improvements but below target
3: Demonstrates SEO capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows advanced SEO expertise that could exceed the target metrics

Outcome: Establish standardized content management processes with 90%+ adherence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to effectively establish or enforce content governance
2: May implement basic processes but struggle with adoption
3: Demonstrates capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows exceptional process development skills that could exceed expectations

Outcome: Successfully collaborate with teams to create integrated content experiences

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to effectively collaborate across functions
2: May collaborate with some teams but struggle with complex integration
3: Demonstrates collaboration capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows exceptional cross-functional leadership that could exceed expectations

Outcome: Analyze metrics and implement optimizations for 15%+ improvement in KPIs

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to effectively analyze and optimize based on data
2: May implement basic optimizations with limited impact
3: Demonstrates analytical capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows exceptional data-driven approach that could exceed the target metrics

Hiring Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Content Strategy Exercise (Work Sample)

Directions for the Interviewer

This exercise is designed to assess the candidate's ability to develop a practical content strategy that addresses real-world business objectives. It evaluates their strategic thinking, audience understanding, SEO knowledge, and ability to measure success—all core competencies for the Embedded Content Strategist role.

Send the exercise instructions to the candidate 24-48 hours before the scheduled discussion, giving them adequate time to prepare. During the review session, focus on understanding their thought process, strategic approach, and how they would implement their recommendations in collaboration with various teams.

Be particularly attentive to how they balance creative content ideas with business objectives, their approach to SEO integration, and their plans for measuring success. The strongest candidates will present a comprehensive strategy that demonstrates both strategic vision and practical implementation knowledge.

Allow 30-40 minutes for the candidate to present and discuss their work sample, followed by 10-15 minutes for questions and feedback.

Directions to Share with Candidate

We'd like you to develop a content strategy proposal for a specific business scenario. This exercise will help us understand your strategic thinking, audience understanding, SEO knowledge, and measurement approach.

Please prepare a brief content strategy presentation (5-7 slides or 2-3 pages) addressing the scenario below. You'll have 15-20 minutes to present your strategy, followed by discussion and questions.

Scenario:

[Company] has recently launched a new [product/service] and needs a content strategy to drive awareness, engagement, and conversions. The target audience includes [brief description of 2-3 audience segments]. The primary business goals are to increase organic traffic by 30% and improve conversion rates by 20% within 6 months.

Your content strategy should include:

Key audience insights and how they inform your approach
Recommended content types and distribution channels
SEO strategy and keyword approach
Content governance and workflow recommendations
Metrics and KPIs to measure success
Timeline for implementation (high-level)

Don't worry about creating actual content—focus on the strategy. Feel free to make reasonable assumptions about the company, product, and audience where needed.

Interview Scorecard

Strategic Approach

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Strategy lacks clear direction or alignment with business objectives
2: Basic strategy that addresses some objectives but lacks cohesion
3: Comprehensive strategy that effectively addresses business goals
4: Exceptional strategy with innovative approaches and clear business alignment

Audience Understanding

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited audience insights or generic approach to audience needs
2: Basic audience understanding but lacking depth or segmentation
3: Thorough audience analysis with appropriate segmentation and tailored approaches
4: Sophisticated audience insights with nuanced understanding of different segments and journey stages

SEO Integration

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Minimal or ineffective SEO considerations
2: Basic SEO approach but limited in scope or depth
3: Comprehensive SEO strategy with appropriate keyword and optimization tactics
4: Advanced SEO strategy with innovative approaches to improving organic visibility

Content Governance & Workflow

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Vague or impractical governance and workflow recommendations
2: Basic governance approach but lacking detail or implementation considerations
3: Clear governance structure and workflows that would enable consistent execution
4: Sophisticated governance model with scalable workflows and quality control mechanisms

Measurement Approach

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Minimal or misaligned metrics and measurement approach
2: Basic metrics identified but lacking connection to business objectives
3: Comprehensive measurement plan with appropriate KPIs tied to business goals
4: Advanced measurement strategy with insightful analysis potential and clear ROI tracking

Outcome: Develop comprehensive content strategies that increase engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Strategy unlikely to achieve significant engagement or conversion improvements
2: Strategy may achieve partial improvements but likely below target
3: Strategy demonstrates approach likely to achieve this outcome
4: Strategy shows exceptional potential that could exceed the target metrics

Outcome: Improve search engine visibility resulting in 25% increase in organic traffic

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: SEO approach unlikely to significantly improve organic traffic
2: May achieve some traffic improvements but below target
3: SEO strategy likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows advanced SEO approach that could exceed the traffic target

Outcome: Establish standardized content management processes with 90%+ adherence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Governance approach unlikely to achieve high process adherence
2: Basic processes that may achieve moderate adherence
3: Governance approach likely to achieve high adherence to standards
4: Exceptional process design that could exceed adherence expectations

Outcome: Successfully collaborate with teams to create integrated content experiences

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Approach unlikely to facilitate effective cross-team collaboration
2: Basic collaboration considerations but potential challenges with integration
3: Strategy includes effective approaches for cross-functional collaboration
4: Outstanding collaboration model that could lead to exceptional integration

Outcome: Analyze metrics and implement optimizations for 15%+ improvement in KPIs

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Measurement approach unlikely to enable significant optimizations
2: Basic analytics that may enable some improvements but below target
3: Measurement strategy likely to enable achieving this outcome
4: Sophisticated analytics approach that could exceed optimization targets

Hiring Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Content Strategy & SEO Competency Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This interview focuses on assessing the candidate's expertise in content strategy development, SEO knowledge, and analytical capabilities. Your goal is to evaluate their ability to create effective content strategies, implement SEO best practices, and use data to drive content decisions. Look for evidence of both strategic thinking and practical implementation experience.

Pay particular attention to how candidates articulate their approach to content strategy development and their understanding of contemporary SEO practices. Strong candidates will demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how content strategy connects to business objectives, current SEO techniques that drive results, and a data-driven approach to content optimization.

Allocate about 45 minutes for the competency questions, allowing 5-10 minutes at the end for the candidate's questions.

Directions to Share with Candidate

In this interview, we'll dive deeper into your approach to content strategy development, SEO implementation, and data-driven decision making. I'll ask you to share specific examples from your experience to help us understand how you'd approach these areas in the role. We'll also leave time at the end for any questions you have about the role or company.

Interview Questions

Walk me through your process for developing a comprehensive content strategy. How do you ensure it aligns with business objectives while meeting audience needs? (Strategic Thinking, Audience Engagement)

Areas to Cover

Initial research and discovery process
How they identify and prioritize business objectives
Methods for understanding audience needs and pain points
Process for content mapping across customer journey
How they measure alignment with objectives
Stakeholder involvement in strategy development

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you balance competing business objectives when developing a content strategy?
How do you identify content gaps in an existing strategy?
How has your approach to content strategy development evolved over time?
Can you share an example of a content strategy that had to be significantly adjusted after implementation? What did you learn?

Tell me about a time when you significantly improved search performance through content optimization. What was your approach and what were the results? (SEO Expertise)

Areas to Cover

Specific SEO techniques they implemented
Their keyword research methodology
On-page optimization approaches
Content structure and organization tactics
Link building or content promotion strategies
Measurement of SEO improvements

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you identify the optimization opportunities?
What tools did you use in your SEO analysis and implementation?
How did you determine which keywords to prioritize?
What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?

Describe how you've used data and analytics to inform content decisions. What metrics do you find most valuable, and how do you translate them into action? (Analytical Thinking)

Areas to Cover

Key metrics they track and why
Analytics tools and platforms they've used
How they segment data for meaningful analysis
Process for turning insights into action items
Examples of content optimizations based on data
How they report on content performance

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you determine if a metric is actually relevant to your business objectives?
How do you handle conflicting data signals?
Can you share an example of when data contradicted your intuition about content performance?
How do you balance quantitative metrics with qualitative feedback?

Tell me about a content audit you've conducted. What was your methodology, what did you discover, and what actions resulted from your findings? (Strategic Thinking, Analytical Thinking)

Areas to Cover

Audit methodology and scope
Tools or frameworks used
Criteria for evaluating content
Key findings and insights
Prioritization of recommendations
Implementation and results

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you determine which content to keep, update, or remove?
How did you involve stakeholders in the audit process?
What were the biggest challenges in implementing your recommendations?
How did you measure the impact of the changes made following the audit?

How do you approach creating content for different stages of the customer journey? Provide specific examples of content types you've developed for different funnel stages. (Audience Engagement, Strategic Thinking)

Areas to Cover

Understanding of customer journey mapping
Content types matched to journey stages
How they measure engagement at different stages
Personalization or targeting strategies
Content progression and narrative building
Conversion optimization approaches

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you identify where prospects are in their journey?
How do you balance content quantity across different funnel stages?
What content formats have you found most effective for bottom-of-funnel conversion?
How do you measure content effectiveness across the journey?

Describe your experience establishing content governance processes. How have you ensured content quality and consistency across teams? (Cross-functional Collaboration)

Areas to Cover

Governance frameworks or models implemented
Documentation and guidelines created
Review and approval processes
Training and enablement approaches
Measurement of governance effectiveness
Handling of governance challenges

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you gain buy-in for governance processes?
How did you handle resistance to following guidelines?
What tools have you used to support content governance?
How did you balance governance with the need for creativity and agility?

Interview Scorecard

Strategic Content Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Demonstrates tactical rather than strategic approach to content
2: Shows basic strategic thinking but limited in sophistication
3: Strong strategic approach that aligns content with business objectives
4: Exceptional strategic vision with innovative content approaches

SEO Expertise

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Basic or outdated SEO knowledge
2: Solid understanding of fundamental SEO principles
3: Strong SEO expertise with proven implementation experience
4: Advanced SEO knowledge with sophisticated optimization techniques

Analytical Capabilities

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited experience with content analytics
2: Basic analytical skills but limited depth
3: Strong analytical approach with clear examples of data-driven decisions
4: Sophisticated analytical mindset with advanced measurement techniques

Audience Understanding

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Surface-level audience understanding
2: Basic audience insights but limited segmentation
3: Strong audience understanding with clear segmentation approach
4: Exceptional audience insights with sophisticated targeting strategies

Content Governance Experience

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited governance experience or approach
2: Basic governance knowledge but limited implementation
3: Strong governance experience with proven processes
4: Advanced governance expertise with scalable frameworks

Outcome: Develop comprehensive content strategies that increase engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to develop strategies that achieve significant improvements
2: May achieve partial improvements but below target
3: Demonstrates capability to achieve this outcome
4: Shows potential to exceed target metrics

Outcome: Improve search engine visibility resulting in 25% increase in organic traffic

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: SEO approach unlikely to significantly improve traffic
2: May achieve some traffic growth but below target
3: SEO capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows potential to exceed traffic growth targets

Outcome: Establish standardized content management processes with 90%+ adherence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Governance approach unlikely to achieve high adherence
2: May establish basic processes with moderate adherence
3: Governance experience likely to achieve this outcome
4: Shows potential to create highly effective governance system

Outcome: Successfully collaborate with teams to create integrated content experiences

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited evidence of successful cross-team collaboration
2: Some collaboration experience but potential challenges
3: Strong collaboration skills likely to achieve this outcome
4: Exceptional collaboration abilities that could exceed expectations

Outcome: Analyze metrics and implement optimizations for 15%+ improvement in KPIs

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited analytical approach unlikely to achieve significant improvements
2: Basic analytics that may enable some improvements
3: Strong analytical skills likely to achieve this outcome
4: Sophisticated analytical approach that could exceed target

Hiring Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Team Collaboration Competency Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This interview focuses on assessing the candidate's cross-functional collaboration skills, communication abilities, and how they work with others to implement content strategies. Your goal is to evaluate their effectiveness in partnering with different teams, managing stakeholder expectations, and driving content initiatives across the organization.

Look for evidence of strong interpersonal skills, adaptability when working with different departments, and the ability to influence without authority. The strongest candidates will demonstrate a track record of successful cross-functional projects, effective stakeholder management, and the ability to translate content needs for different audiences.

This interview should be conducted by someone who would work closely with the candidate, such as a marketing or product leader, or another key stakeholder.

Directions to Share with Candidate

In this interview, we'll focus on how you collaborate with different teams and stakeholders to implement content strategies. I'll ask you about your experiences working across functions, managing stakeholder relationships, and communicating content needs to different audiences. We'll also discuss how you handle challenges in cross-functional work.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a successful content initiative that required collaboration across multiple teams. What was your role, and how did you ensure effective collaboration? (Cross-functional Collaboration)

Areas to Cover

Types of teams involved and their roles
How the candidate established collaborative relationships
Communication approaches and tools used
How they aligned different priorities and perspectives
Challenges they faced and how they addressed them
Outcomes of the collaboration

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you establish shared goals across different teams?
What was the most challenging aspect of the collaboration and how did you handle it?
How did you ensure all voices were heard during the process?
What would you do differently if you could do it again?

Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders who initially didn't see the value of a content initiative. How did you gain their buy-in? (Cross-functional Collaboration, Strategic Thinking)

Areas to Cover

Initial resistance or objections they faced
How they understood stakeholder priorities and concerns
Approach to making the business case
Communication strategies used
How they addressed objections
Result of their influence attempt

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you identify the stakeholders' key concerns or priorities?
What specific evidence or data did you use to make your case?
Were there any stakeholders you couldn't convince, and how did you handle that?
How has this experience shaped your approach to stakeholder management?

How do you adapt your communication about content strategy for different audiences (e.g., executives, engineers, designers, marketers)? Provide specific examples. (Cross-functional Collaboration)

Areas to Cover

Understanding of different stakeholder perspectives
Communication tailoring approaches
Technical vs. non-technical communication
Visual or presentation strategies
How they determine what matters to each audience
Feedback they've received on their communication

Possible Follow-up Questions

How do you know if your communication approach is effective with a particular audience?
What strategies do you use when communicating complex content concepts to technical teams?
How do you handle situations where communication seems to be breaking down?
How do you balance detail with brevity when communicating with executives?

Tell me about a time when you had to manage competing content priorities from different teams. How did you handle it? (Cross-functional Collaboration, Strategic Thinking)

Areas to Cover

Nature of the competing priorities
Process for evaluating and prioritizing requests
How they communicated decisions
Negotiation or compromise approaches
How they maintained relationships while saying no
Results of their prioritization approach

Possible Follow-up Questions

What criteria did you use to evaluate the competing priorities?
How did you handle disappointed stakeholders?
What would you do differently if faced with a similar situation?
How did you ensure your decisions aligned with overall business objectives?

Describe a content workflow or process you've implemented or improved. How did you ensure adoption across teams? (Cross-functional Collaboration, Analytical Thinking)

Areas to Cover

Workflow design approach
Stakeholder involvement in process development
Implementation and change management strategies
Training or enablement approaches
Adoption challenges and solutions
Measurement of process effectiveness

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you identify the need for a new or improved process?
What resistance did you encounter and how did you address it?
How did you balance process standardization with team-specific needs?
What tools or technologies did you use to support the workflow?

Give an example of a content-related conflict or misalignment between teams that you helped resolve. What was your approach? (Cross-functional Collaboration)

Areas to Cover

Nature of the conflict or misalignment
Their process for understanding different perspectives
Mediation or resolution approaches
How they found common ground
Communication during the resolution process
Outcome and lessons learned

Possible Follow-up Questions

How did you remain neutral while working toward a resolution?
What specific techniques did you use to facilitate agreement?
How did you follow up to ensure the resolution was sustainable?
What would you do differently if faced with a similar situation?

Interview Scorecard

Cross-functional Collaboration

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Shows limited collaboration skills or preference for working independently
2: Basic collaboration abilities but lacks sophistication in complex situations
3: Strong collaboration skills with proven ability to work across diverse teams
4: Exceptional collaboration expertise with evidence of leading successful cross-functional initiatives

Communication Skills

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Communication lacks clarity or adaptability for different audiences
2: Adequate communication skills but room for improvement in some contexts
3: Strong communicator who effectively adapts approach for different stakeholders
4: Exceptional communicator who excels at translating complex concepts across diverse audiences

Stakeholder Management

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited experience managing diverse stakeholders
2: Basic stakeholder management skills but challenges with difficult situations
3: Strong stakeholder management abilities with evidence of building effective relationships
4: Sophisticated stakeholder management approach with proven success influencing at all levels

Conflict Resolution

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Avoids conflict or handles it ineffectively
2: Basic conflict resolution skills but limited experience with complex situations
3: Strong conflict resolution abilities with evidence of successful mediation
4: Exceptional conflict resolution expertise with sophisticated approaches to finding consensus

Process Implementation

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited experience implementing cross-team processes
2: Has implemented basic processes but with adoption challenges
3: Strong process implementation skills with evidence of successful adoption
4: Exceptional process design and implementation expertise with innovative approaches to ensuring adoption

Outcome: Develop comprehensive content strategies that increase engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Collaborative approach unlikely to drive significant improvements
2: May achieve partial improvements through collaboration
3: Collaboration skills likely to help achieve this outcome
4: Exceptional collaboration that could drive exceeding target metrics

Outcome: Improve search engine visibility resulting in 25% increase in organic traffic

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to effectively collaborate on SEO initiatives
2: May achieve some improvements through basic collaboration
3: Strong collaboration likely to support achieving this outcome
4: Exceptional cross-team leadership that could exceed traffic targets

Outcome: Establish standardized content management processes with 90%+ adherence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Process implementation approach unlikely to achieve high adherence
2: May establish processes with moderate adoption
3: Strong process skills likely to achieve this outcome
4: Exceptional process implementation that could exceed adherence targets

Outcome: Successfully collaborate with teams to create integrated content experiences

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited collaboration skills unlikely to create truly integrated experiences
2: Basic collaboration that may achieve partial integration
3: Strong collaboration skills likely to achieve this outcome
4: Exceptional collaboration expertise that could exceed expectations

Outcome: Analyze metrics and implement optimizations for 15%+ improvement in KPIs

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to effectively collaborate on data-driven optimizations
2: May achieve some improvements through basic collaborative analysis
3: Strong collaborative analytics approach likely to achieve this outcome
4: Exceptional cross-functional data leadership that could exceed targets

Hiring Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Chronological Interview (Optional)

Directions for the Interviewer

This optional interview provides a deeper understanding of the candidate's career progression and relevant work experiences. Your goal is to systematically review their professional history, focusing on content strategy roles and projects that demonstrate the skills required for this position. This interview is particularly valuable for understanding how the candidate has grown in their career and applied their expertise in different contexts.

Pay attention to patterns across roles, reasons for transitions, and how their approach to content strategy has evolved over time. Look for growth in strategic thinking, increasing complexity in their work, and evidence of measurable impact. Also note any gaps in employment or frequent job changes that may warrant further discussion.

This interview is recommended for candidates with 5+ years of relevant experience and should be conducted by the hiring manager or a senior leader on the team.

Directions to Share with Candidate

In this conversation, we'll walk through your career history to better understand your professional journey and how your past experiences have prepared you for this role. We'll start with your earliest relevant position and work forward chronologically, discussing your responsibilities, achievements, and lessons learned at each step. This helps us understand how you've grown as a content strategist and what you might bring to our team.

Interview Questions

Before we dive into your specific roles, what aspects of content strategy are you most passionate about, and how has that evolved throughout your career?

Areas to Cover

Content areas they're most excited about
How their interests have developed over time
Self-awareness about strengths and growth areas
Career motivations and aspirations
Professional development approach

Possible Follow-up Questions

What content-related skills have you found most valuable throughout your career?
How has your definition of "good content" changed over the years?
What content trends or developments have most influenced your career direction?
What aspects of content strategy do you believe will be most important in the future?

Starting with [earliest relevant role], tell me about your responsibilities and the content strategy environment. What attracted you to this opportunity?

Areas to Cover

Main responsibilities and scope of the role
Types of content they worked with
Team structure and their position within it
What they found appealing about the role
State of content strategy at the organization
Notable projects or initiatives

Possible Follow-up Questions

What was the most challenging aspect of this role?
How developed was the content strategy function when you joined?
What were the main business objectives your content supported?
What tools or technologies were you using at this time?

What were your most significant accomplishments in this role? How did you measure success?

Areas to Cover

Key achievements and their impact
Metrics used to measure success
Their specific contribution to team achievements
Challenges overcome to achieve results
Recognition received for their work
Business outcomes resulting from their efforts

Possible Follow-up Questions

What made this accomplishment particularly significant?
How did you determine what metrics to track?
What strategies or approaches led to this success?
How did this accomplishment influence your future work?

What were the most significant challenges you faced in this position, and how did you handle them?

Areas to Cover

Major obstacles or difficulties encountered
Their approach to problem-solving
Resources or support utilized
Lessons learned from challenges
How they adapted their approach
Results of their solution attempts

Possible Follow-up Questions

What would you do differently if faced with a similar challenge today?
How did this challenge affect your approach to content strategy?
What resources or support helped you address this challenge?
How did you maintain momentum when facing these difficulties?

Tell me about your relationship with leadership and key stakeholders in this role. How did you gain their trust and support for content initiatives?

Areas to Cover

Key stakeholders they worked with
Approach to building relationships
Communication strategies with leadership
How they demonstrated content value
Challenges in stakeholder relationships
Evolution of stakeholder support over time

Possible Follow-up Questions

What strategies were most effective in gaining leadership buy-in?
How did you handle situations where stakeholders had competing priorities?
What approaches did you use to educate stakeholders about content strategy?
How did stakeholder relationships impact your ability to implement your strategies?

What prompted you to move from this role to your next position?

Areas to Cover

Motivations for the transition
How the decision connected to career goals
What they were looking for in their next role
Whether the move was proactive or reactive
Timing and circumstances of the transition
What they learned from the role they were leaving

Possible Follow-up Questions

What skills or experiences were you hoping to gain in your next role?
How did this transition align with your long-term career goals?
What aspects of this role did you most want to continue in your next position?
Were there specific challenges or limitations that influenced your decision?

[Repeat questions about responsibilities, accomplishments, challenges, relationships, and transitions for each subsequent role, paying special attention to growth in responsibilities and impact]

Looking at your career as a whole, which past role or project do you think best prepared you for this Embedded Content Strategist position, and why?

Areas to Cover

Similarities between past experience and this role
Transferable skills and knowledge
Relevant challenges they've overcome
How past experiences inform their approach
What they learned that would be applicable
How they would apply those lessons

Possible Follow-up Questions

What aspects of that experience would be most relevant to our situation?
How would you approach things differently based on what you learned?
What additional skills have you developed since that would complement that experience?
How would you adapt strategies from that context to our environment?

Interview Scorecard

Career Progression

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited growth or progression across roles
2: Some advancement but lacking clear upward trajectory
3: Solid career progression with increasing responsibilities
4: Exceptional growth path with clear advancement and expanding impact

Strategic Growth

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited development of strategic thinking over time
2: Some strategic growth but inconsistent across roles
3: Clear development of strategic capabilities throughout career
4: Remarkable evolution from tactical to highly strategic approaches

Content Impact

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited evidence of significant content impact
2: Some measurable results but modest in scale
3: Strong track record of meaningful content impact
4: Exceptional history of driving substantial business results through content

Adaptability

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited evidence of adapting to different environments
2: Some adaptability but preference for familiar contexts
3: Strong adaptability across different organizations and challenges
4: Exceptional ability to thrive in varied environments and evolving conditions

Relationship Building

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited success building effective stakeholder relationships
2: Some relationship building skills but with notable limitations
3: Strong history of building productive professional relationships
4: Exceptional track record of developing influential relationships at all levels

Outcome: Develop comprehensive content strategies that increase engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Career history suggests limited ability to achieve this outcome
2: Some evidence of impact but likely below this target
3: Career demonstrates capability to achieve this outcome
4: History of exceptional results that could exceed these targets

Outcome: Improve search engine visibility resulting in 25% increase in organic traffic

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited evidence of SEO impact throughout career
2: Some SEO successes but below this level of impact
3: Career history suggests capability to achieve this outcome
4: Demonstrated exceptional SEO results that could exceed this target

Outcome: Establish standardized content management processes with 90%+ adherence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited process implementation experience in career
2: Some process work but without high adoption evidence
3: Career demonstrates capability to achieve this outcome
4: History of exceptional process implementation success

Outcome: Successfully collaborate with teams to create integrated content experiences

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Career suggests limited cross-functional collaboration
2: Some collaboration success but with notable limitations
3: Strong history of successful collaboration across teams
4: Exceptional collaborative leadership throughout career

Outcome: Analyze metrics and implement optimizations for 15%+ improvement in KPIs

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited evidence of data-driven optimization in career
2: Some analytical impact but below this threshold
3: Career demonstrates capability to achieve this outcome
4: History of exceptional analytical impact that could exceed this target

Hiring Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Debrief Meeting

Directions for Conducting the Debrief Meeting

The Debrief Meeting is an open discussion for the hiring team members to share the information learned during the candidate interviews. Use the questions below to guide the discussion.

Start the meeting by reviewing the requirements for the role and the key competencies and goals to succeed.

The meeting leader should strive to create an environment where it is okay to express opinions about the candidate that differ from the consensus or from leadership's opinions.

Scores and interview notes are important data points but should not be the sole factor in making the final decision.

Any hiring team member should feel free to change their recommendation as they learn new information and reflect on what they've learned.

Questions to Guide the Debrief Meeting

Does anyone have any questions for the other interviewers about the candidate?

Guidance: The meeting facilitator should initially present themselves as neutral and try not to sway the conversation before others have a chance to speak up.

Are there any additional comments about the Candidate?

Guidance: This is an opportunity for all the interviewers to share anything they learned that is important for the other interviewers to know.

How well does the candidate's content strategy experience align with our specific needs?

Guidance: Discuss whether the candidate's background in content strategy is relevant to your company's industry, audience, and content goals. Consider both the depth and breadth of their experience.

How would you evaluate the candidate's balance of strategic thinking and practical execution?

Guidance: Content strategy requires both big-picture thinking and hands-on implementation skills. Discuss where the candidate's strengths lie and whether they have the right balance for your needs.

Is there anything further we need to investigate before making a decision?

Guidance: Based on this discussion, you may decide to probe further on certain issues with the candidate or explore specific issues in the reference calls.

Has anyone changed their hire/no-hire recommendation?

Guidance: This is an opportunity for the interviewers to change their recommendation from the new information they learned in this meeting.

If the consensus is no hire, should the candidate be considered for other roles? If so, what roles?

Guidance: Discuss whether engaging with the candidate about a different role would be worthwhile.

What are the next steps?

Guidance: If there is no consensus, follow the process for that situation (e.g., it is the hiring manager's decision). Further investigation may be needed before making the decision. If there is a consensus on hiring, reference checks could be the next step.

Reference Checks

Directions for Conducting Reference Checks

Reference checks are a crucial final step in the hiring process, providing valuable third-party perspectives on the candidate's abilities and work style. Your goal is to validate what you've learned during interviews and gain additional insights from people who have directly worked with the candidate.

Focus particularly on the candidate's experience with content strategy development, their collaborative approach, and their impact on business results. Ask follow-up questions to get specific examples that illustrate their abilities in action. The strongest references will provide detailed accounts of the candidate's contributions and impact, not just general positive statements.

Ideally, speak with at least one former manager and one cross-functional colleague or team member. Request that the candidate make the initial introduction to their references to establish context and permission.

Questions for Reference Checks

In what capacity did you work with [Candidate], and for how long?

Guidance: Establish the reference's relationship with the candidate, including reporting structure, project collaboration, and timeline. This helps contextualize their subsequent feedback.

What were [Candidate]'s primary responsibilities related to content strategy in your organization?

Guidance: Verify the candidate's role and scope of responsibility. Listen for alignment with what the candidate described in interviews, and probe for specific projects or initiatives they led.

How would you describe [Candidate]'s approach to developing content strategies? What impact did their strategies have on the business?

Guidance: Assess the candidate's strategic thinking abilities and results orientation. Ask for specific metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of their work.

How effectively did [Candidate] collaborate with different teams and stakeholders? Can you share an example that illustrates their approach?

Guidance: Evaluate the candidate's cross-functional collaboration skills, which are critical for the Embedded Content Strategist role. Listen for specific examples of how they built relationships and navigated complex stakeholder environments.

What would you say are [Candidate]'s greatest strengths when it comes to content strategy? Were there areas where they needed support or development?

Guidance: Get a balanced view of the candidate's capabilities. Listen carefully to both strengths and development areas, and follow up on how the candidate worked to address any limitations.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely would you be to hire or work with [Candidate] again if you had the opportunity? Why?

Guidance: This question often elicits more candid feedback than yes/no questions. Pay attention to both the numerical rating and the explanation, and note any hesitation or qualifications in the response.

Is there anything else we should know about [Candidate] that would help us determine their fit for an Embedded Content Strategist role?

Guidance: This open-ended question allows the reference to share additional insights that might not have been covered by your specific questions. It can sometimes yield the most valuable information.

Reference Check Scorecard

Strategic Content Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference indicates limited strategic capabilities
2: Described as having adequate but not exceptional strategic skills
3: Reference confirms strong strategic thinking abilities
4: Described as having outstanding strategic vision with significant impact

Cross-functional Collaboration

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests challenges working across teams
2: Described as adequately collaborative but with some limitations
3: Reference confirms strong collaboration skills across functions
4: Described as exceptionally effective at building relationships and driving cross-team initiatives

Content Impact and Results

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited evidence of meaningful content impact
2: Some positive results but modest in scope
3: Reference confirms significant positive impact on content outcomes
4: Described as delivering exceptional results that transformed content effectiveness

SEO and Technical Knowledge

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference indicates limited technical or SEO capabilities
2: Described as having basic technical understanding
3: Reference confirms strong SEO and technical knowledge
4: Described as having exceptional technical expertise that drove significant improvements

Content Leadership

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests limited leadership or influence
2: Described as adequately influential but not a strong leader
3: Reference confirms effective content leadership capabilities
4: Described as an exceptional content leader who inspired and mobilized others

Outcome: Develop comprehensive content strategies that increase engagement by 20% and improve conversion rates

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests candidate unlikely to achieve this level of impact
2: Described capabilities suggest partial improvements possible
3: Reference confirms capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Described capabilities suggest candidate could exceed these targets

Outcome: Improve search engine visibility resulting in 25% increase in organic traffic

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests limited SEO impact in previous roles
2: Described as achieving modest SEO improvements
3: Reference confirms SEO capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Described as having exceptional SEO impact that could exceed this target

Outcome: Establish standardized content management processes with 90%+ adherence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests limited process implementation success
2: Described as implementing processes with moderate adoption
3: Reference confirms process capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Described as exceptionally effective at creating and enforcing content processes

Outcome: Successfully collaborate with teams to create integrated content experiences

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests collaboration challenges in previous roles
2: Described as adequately collaborative but with some limitations
3: Reference confirms collaboration capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Described as having exceptional collaborative impact on content integration

Outcome: Analyze metrics and implement optimizations for 15%+ improvement in KPIs

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Reference suggests limited analytical impact in previous roles
2: Described as making data-driven improvements but below this threshold
3: Reference confirms analytical capabilities likely to achieve this outcome
4: Described as delivering exceptional analytical impact that could exceed this target

Frequently Asked Questions

What skills should I prioritize when evaluating candidates for the Embedded Content Strategist role?

Focus on assessing five key areas: strategic thinking ability, SEO expertise, audience understanding, analytical capabilities, and cross-functional collaboration skills. The most successful candidates will demonstrate strength across all these dimensions, with particular emphasis on their ability to develop comprehensive content strategies aligned with business goals while effectively collaborating across teams.

How can I evaluate a candidate's SEO knowledge if I'm not an SEO expert myself?

Look for candidates who can clearly explain SEO concepts in accessible terms and provide specific examples of how they've implemented SEO strategies to improve content performance. Strong candidates will discuss keyword research methodology, on-page optimization techniques, and how they measure SEO success.

What's the best way to assess a candidate's ability to collaborate across teams?

The Team Collaboration Competency Interview is specifically designed for this purpose. Pay attention to how candidates describe their experiences working with different departments, handling conflicting priorities, and influencing without authority. Ask for specific examples of successful cross-functional projects and how they navigated challenges. The best candidates will demonstrate empathy for different stakeholder perspectives and clear communication strategies.

How do we ensure we're evaluating candidates consistently across our interview panel?

Using this structured interview guide helps ensure consistency. Have all interviewers review the guide before interviews begin, and make sure everyone understands the competencies and outcomes being evaluated. Complete scorecards independently before the debrief meeting to prevent groupthink. You can use our interview scorecard guide for additional guidance on fair evaluation.

Should we prioritize candidates with industry-specific content experience or those with strong general content strategy skills?

This depends on your specific needs, but generally, strong foundational content strategy skills are more valuable than industry-specific experience for this role. Look for candidates who demonstrate adaptability and the ability to quickly learn new subject matter. A candidate with excellent strategic thinking, audience understanding, and collaboration skills can typically apply these strengths across industries more easily than someone with industry knowledge but weaker core competencies.

What if a candidate doesn't have experience with our specific content management system?

Technical tools can be learned, while strategic thinking and collaboration skills are more fundamental. Prioritize candidates who demonstrate strong core competencies and an aptitude for learning new systems. During the interviews, ask about their experience learning and adapting to new tools in the past. The content strategy exercise will also help you assess how they approach content challenges regardless of specific tool knowledge.

How important is the work sample compared to the interview responses?

The content strategy exercise provides valuable insight into how candidates approach real-world content challenges and can often be more predictive of on-the-job performance than interview responses alone. Pay particular attention to their strategic thinking, audience understanding, and measurement approach in the exercise. Strong candidates will present a comprehensive strategy that balances creativity with business objectives and demonstrates practical implementation knowledge.