Screenwriter Interview Questions & Answers
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1.
What kinds of skills do you have that make you a good screenwriter?
How to Answer
A good screenwriter is someone who is organized, creative, always coming up with fresh and good ideas, keeping their work and the workplace interesting, and never loses motivation to keep working. The candidate should discuss their skills that make them a good fit for the job and why they believe they should work at this particular company as a writer. They should mention particular skills that have lead to their success in the past.
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2.
Why do you want to become a screenwriter?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what inspires them to become a screenwriter and what motivates them to keep doing it as a career. The candidate should discuss what influenced them to get into the writing career and how they continue to find creative ways of staying modern and unique in the screenplay world.
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3.
Are you flexible with your work hours?
How to Answer
A screenwriter may be subject to working strange hours, including nights, early mornings, and even on weekends, depending on how quickly the deadline for the script is. The candidate should discuss their availability to work whatever hours they are given to get the job done.
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4.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what kinds of skills and experience they will gain in this career, and where that will put them in the near future. Whether or not the candidate chooses to stick with the company or begin to apply elsewhere, they should be confident that their first choice would be to stay within the company and continue to grow their skills and be a strong asset to the team.
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5.
How does this job fit into your career plans?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know what the candidate has planned for the job and beyond, showing a person who wants to grow. The candidate should discuss why they feel this is a good position for them at this moment of their career based on their skills in screenwriting, and they should also discuss what skills they hope to learn so they can grow in the future and move on to future endeavors.
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6.
Who inspires you in your writing?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss where they get their inspiration in their writing to show the interviewer what kind of writing they aspire to create. The candidate may also discuss what kinds of stories they use to inspire their works.
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7.
What style screenplays do you prefer to write?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what kinds of screenplays they feel they write best and what they enjoy writing. The interviewer can get a sense of the candidate's strengths by seeing what they enjoy writing and where their creativities lay.
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8.
What other jobs have you taken that differ from screenwriting?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss other jobs they have had in the past, and what skills they have gained from working in this other field. The candidate should discuss why they ultimately decided to leave the job, but what do they believe made them a better worker because of it. The candidate should discuss what new and unique skills and talents they bring to the screenwriting position from other careers others perhaps do not have.
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9.
What kind of writer are you?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss the kinds of works of writing they have produced in the past as it relates to the kinds of writing they do best in their job. Then hiring manager will be able to see if the candidate's writing style fits with the job opening, and the candidate will be able to explain what their strengths are.
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10.
What is your favorite genre of writing?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss their favorite genre to write about and why they believe this is their strength. The hiring manager may be looking for a particular kind of writer, and the candidate should tailor their strengths to the job they are applying to.
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11.
How did you know you wanted to become a screenwriter?
How to Answer
The candidate may discuss any previous careers or experiences they have had in their life that has lead to them wanting to be a professional screenwriter. The candidate may discuss who inspired them to go into the career in the first place, or why they believe they will be successful in this job.
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12.
What is your favorite project you have ever worked on?
How to Answer
The hiring manager should be inspired to learn about the candidate's favorite projects, as this would be the candidate's highest quality work to date that would be similar to what they would perhaps produce in this new job. The candidate should discuss their favorite screenplay in the past or a previous successful piece of writing and why this was their favorite. Ultimately, the hiring manager should see that the candidate is passionate about their work and hopes to add this kind of writing style to their team.
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13.
How do you communicate with others as a part of a team?
How to Answer
A screenwriter often has to work with a team of writers, and even with editors, and those who produce the show. Sometimes they are even directed by clients dictating the plot line of the entire duration of the screenplay. The candidate must be able to work well with a team and coordinate jobs, and should discuss their success in doing so in previous careers.
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14.
In what ways do you set yourself apart from others as a screenwriter?
How to Answer
The candidate should describe the ways in which they are unique as a candidate for this position, and should talk with the interviewer about what specific skills they have that set them apart from the rest.
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15.
If you could choose a different career, what would you do and why?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what other interests they have had when thinking about pursuing careers, but should ultimately be positive about the decision they made to become a screenwriter. The candidate may discuss what other strengths they have as they relate to other interesting career fields, and how having those skills make them a great screenwriter as well.
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16.
What kinds of skills do you hope to gain from this job?
How to Answer
A screenwriter always has work to do, whether it is their writing techniques and styles, their communication, their writing speed, editing, or more. The candidate should discuss what they hope to learn from the company and employees in order to achieve more in the future and grow as a person. Their aspirations for learning also shows the interviewer that they hope to improve on their already strong skills.
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17.
How do you work under stress or time constraints?
How to Answer
Every job has some kind of stress, and especially writers face time constraints to get the job done based on when managers or clients want the play ready. The candidate should discuss how they have worked under pressure in the past and how they expect to see their work change based on stress in the future. The candidate should always remain positive about finding ways to improve on their career despite being stressed physically or mentally on the job.
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18.
How do you deal with criticism about your writing?
How to Answer
All writers and those in creative fields face some kind of criticism about the way they do their job, and the candidate should be prepared for different bosses to require different standards of writing and story development. The candidate should discuss their openness to adapting their writing style and storytelling techniques to the new clients and new works they will be producing.
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19.
How do you continue a flow of creativity day by day?
How to Answer
A screenwriter must always be able to come up with new and different ideas for screenplays depending on the types of stories they are working on. The candidate should discuss how they personally keep their ideas flowing on stories and what sources they use to come up with new ideas depending on the topic.
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20.
What are your salary expectations?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what they believe they deserve to make in salary based on prior experience they have and the kind of work they produce. Starting salaries for screenwriters are typically between $20,000-$40,000. The candidate should discuss what they are willing to make based on the position.
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21.
What are your benefits expectations?
How to Answer
Oftentimes, screenwriters can receive benefits other that salary, including a gas stipend, supplies, transportation coverages for meeting clients, and more. The candidate should discuss what arrangements they might have had in the past, and what they hope to receive based on their needs in the current job.
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22.
Do you prefer writing short or long pieces?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what kinds of screenplays they believe they write best. Whether the candidate writes series, one long show, movie, or screenplay, or likes to write episodes, they should discuss their strength so the interviewer can see what position the candidate would fit into best.
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23.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
How to Answer
Everyone has faults, and the ability for someone to recognize faults in themselves shows they are self-aware and hopeful for change. The candidate should discuss some drawbacks in their character or in their workflow, but ultimately talk about how these flaws are fixable over time.
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24.
How would you describe yourself professionally in five words?
How to Answer
The candidate is able to give the interview a window into the type of person they really are in the workplace outside of the interview. The candidate should use words that they feel really represent them and how they are as a person, not a robotic worker.
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25.
Why is this job right for you at this time?
How to Answer
A variety of candidates will be applying for the job, with all different ages and backstories. The candidate should discuss why they feel this job is right for them at this time, given their previous experience, and where they hope to go in the future. The candidate should have a good explanation as to why they feel they are ready to take on this job, and why they believe they are prepared to do so.
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26.
What previous experience do you have as a screen writer or in another writing career?
How to Answer
In order to be a successful screenwriter, one must do a good amount of writing and have experience with writing stories. The candidate should discuss their writing experience in the past and how it has developed over time. The candidate should discuss their other writing experience and how it relates to the job they are applying for as a screenwriter.
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27.
In what ways do you strengthen a team?
How to Answer
A hiring manager is not only looking for a skilled worker, but also wants someone who is a good communicator with others and who works well with a team. The candidate should discuss their experience being a part of one, and the ways in which they will make the team better and stronger.
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28.
How do you work to improve your writing on a daily basis?
How to Answer
A good screenwriter is someone who believes they are never truly done learning, and is always seeking ways to improve their workflow and writing techniques. The candidate should discuss the ways in which they strive to improve their writing, from doing lots of reading, doing research, or learning from others in the office.
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29.
Do you prefer to work at home or in the office?
How to Answer
Oftentimes, screenwriters are able to work from home if they choose. Writing careers often some flexibility in their hours and where they work, as long as the project gets done on time. The candidate should discuss which location they prefer to work and why they feel their work will be best performed here.
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