Screenwriter Interview
Questions

6. Why is this job right for you at this time? 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. Here is an answer example: "I believe this job is right for me at this time because I have been preparing to be a screenwriter for years. I have been taking other writing jobs to learn from others and practice my skills, and I am ready to jump in and do it."7. What other jobs have you taken that differ from screenwriting? 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. Here is an answer example: "In the past, I took a job as a language tutor. I feel that being bilingual in English and Spanish is very important in any job, and will help me incorporate any Spanish into screenwriting to attract a wide variety of audiences."8. How would you describe yourself professionally in five words? 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. Here is an answer example: "I would describe myself as intelligent, energetic, generous, understanding, and unique."9. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? 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. Here is an answer example: "I have always considered myself a better independent worker rather than someone who works well with a team. However, I find that I sometimes produce my best work when I have a team and I know that over time I will be able to work well with the team I am given."10. What style screenplays do you prefer to write? 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. Here is an answer example: "I find that my strengths are in comedic screenplays, or plays that focus on current hot topics and hot button issues. I tailor my works to a younger audience and I believe I can draw in that young crowd do all of the works we put out."11. Do you prefer writing short or long pieces? 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. Here is an answer example: "I believe that my strengths lay in writing longer play-based screenplays best suited for the stage. I am well versed in theatrical directions and speech best heard live."12. Are you flexible with your work hours? 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. Here is an answer example: "I am able to work whatever hours I am given because I am eager to get to work and show that I was born to write screenplays. I will be able to adapt to strange working hours to get the job done."13. Who inspires you in your writing? 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. Here is an answer example: "My writing is inspired by many poets I have read, like Robert Frost, and also the works of Henry David Thoreau. These nature writings inspire me to get in touch with nature as symbolism throughout my stories."14. What are your benefits expectations? 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. Here is an answer example: "In my past job, I had to travel far to work because of my living situation. I hope you can help may for my transportation when I have to come into work."15. What are your salary expectations? 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. Here is an answer example: "Since I feel I fit the description of this job so well, I believe I should be making $30,000-$32,000 to start. I hope we can come to an agreement representing my skills."16. Why do you want to become a screenwriter? 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. Here is an answer example: "I want to become a screenwriter because I have a knack making my writing relate to the public and resonate with current events going on."17. How do you continue a flow of creativity day by day? 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. Here is an answer example: "Coming up with new and fresh ideas each day is something I believe to be my biggest strength. I draw on past experiences in my life and my friends and family's lives, as well as history, while also incorporating progressive ideals, to come up with ideas each day."18. How do you deal with criticism about your writing? 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. Here is an answer example: "I find that every job requires different standards of my writing and storytelling, and I am willing to accept some constructive criticism to help me adapt in the right way for the job. I also believe these changes will be for the best, helping me become a better screenwriter overall."19. How do you work under stress or time constraints? 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. Here is an answer example: "I find that I do some of my best work while under stress because I am able to work quickly and minimize my outside distractions."20. What kinds of skills do you hope to gain from this job? 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. Here is an answer example: "I hope that in this job I will become a stronger screenwriter and develop the skills necessary to produce plays faster than I have in the past. I also hope to learn how to develop characters in a way I have never thought of before."21. Where do you see yourself five years from now? 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. Here is an answer example: "In five years from now, I hope to rise up within this production company and be one of your top screenwriters. I hope to produce innovative scripts and I hope we can make them famous throughout the country because of our creativity."22. If you could choose a different career, what would you do and why? 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. Here is an answer example: "If I chose a different career, I would have become a teacher. I love working with children and love to help them understand tricky concepts more simply. I feel that this resonates with my writing because I make a variety of topics accessible to a large audience."23. In what ways do you set yourself apart from others as a screenwriter? 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. Here is an answer example: "I believe that some of my skills are more unique than others applying for the job. I believe I am not only more well trained for the job, having worked as a screenwriter in the past, but I am particularly skilled at working with a variety of genres, and even blending multiple ones together, to encourage a wide audience."24. How do you communicate with others as a part of a team? 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. Here is an answer example: "I believe I am a great coordinator of a team and I encourage teamwork and cooperation throughout the duration of a project. I demonstrated this in my past job of being a screenwriter in the theater, and I hope to move my skills to your production company."25. What is your favorite project you have ever worked on? 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. Here is an answer example: "My favorite project I have ever worked on is being the lead screenwriter and editor of a college soap opera. It became the longest running television series at the college, spanning the entire four years I was at the school. I take pride in my consistency and ability to keep up storylines and stay interesting."26. How did you know you wanted to become a screenwriter? 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. Here is an answer example: "I knew I wanted to be a screenwriter when I was in college. I was studying journalism, but realized I preferred writing about fiction rather than true news stories. I began writing a series of short plays for my school, and realized that my creativity was never ending."27. What is your favorite genre of writing? 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. Here is an answer example: "My favorite genre of screenplay writing is political or historical stories with story lines that align with fiction. I find that I am strong at referencing events that have happened in the past and making them new again."28. What kind of writer are you? 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. Here is an answer example: "I believe I am a great comedy writer. I always find ways of making my scripts funny and always can brainstorm ways of incorporating humor, despite the situation."29. What kinds of skills do you have that make you a good screenwriter? 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. Here is an answer example: "I am a good screenwriter because of my careful attention to detail, and my ability to write fast without losing sight of the storyline. This has brought me success in the past and I hope I can show you that my fast writing will help us produce fast work for our clients."