It is finally here: the long-awaited invitation to an interview with your employer. When the invitation arrives, many applicants become more nervous. However, this does not have to happen, because you can prepare well for a content management interview. Above all, to typical application questions that are part of the repertoire of every HR manager. These are the top 30 content management interview questions with answers.
1. What Is Content Management’s Purpose?
Working in content management, like editing, means taking care of the content of a company or an organization that is public. In contrast to classic editing, it is primarily about planning, management, and strategic orientation of content and less about the creation. In addition, content management has a lot more tasks. Being part of content management, therefore, includes planning content and the strategic direction with which this content reaches the public. This is called marketing and gives interested people the opportunity to find out about a company.
2. What Are Some Tasks When Working In Content Management?
Working in content management comes with many responsibilities under the shoulder. Some of them are:
- Optimizing a website
- Optimization of blog posts and editorial content
- Content planning and strategic alignment of the blog posts and editing
- Setting up a content management system (CMS)
- Search engine optimization and social media marketing
- Marketing strategy analysis
3. What Is Content Management?
In addition to optimizing the visual impression, the content management’s task is to plan what goes online. This is closely related to the marketing strategy and determines how the company presents itself to the public. To do this, content management draws up editorial plans that specify exactly when which content will appear and where it will be placed. To optimize the content visually and editorially, they need a CMS. This system helps to keep a better overview of planned content and content that is already online. Setting up and maintaining this system is therefore a mandatory task for everyone involved with content management.
4. What Kind Of Qualities In Management And Marketing Should You Bring With You For Jobs Like This?
To cope with the different and sometimes interdisciplinary tasks of content management, a few qualities are required. Because this unusual profession requires not only learned skills in marketing or management but also the necessary enthusiasm so that the work is fun for a long time.
And that can only work if you bring a few things with you. All in all, you should be a tech-savvy creative mind to be able to handle the various tasks in the areas of marketing and management. Add a bit of analytics, and a good portion of team spirit, and the perfect match for content management is ready. Of course, it is not that simple.
5. How Important Is Creativity For Content Management?
Creativity is crucial. You can lack some skills here ad there, but creativity is a must. A wealth of ideas, imagination, and zest for action, is what makes good content management. After all, it is about drafting entire editorial plans, creatively combining content, and keeping an eye on the layout. And not just once, but over the years. New ideas are always needed to keep the readers engaged.
6. What Is A Content Management System (CMS)?
It is software that helps you as the operator of a website create, publish, update and manage content without requiring any programming knowledge. Although HTML and CSS knowledge is helpful, they are not necessary to create a website. The more frequently a website publishes new content and the larger it is, the more complicated the management of the content (images, text, videos) becomes. In this case, a CMS can make the work a lot easier.
7. What Types Of CMS Are There?
CMS can be used online or offline and can therefore also be used via the intranet. For example, publishers use a CMS as an “editorial system” to manage content on an internal level. In everyday language, however, a CMS means a system that is intended for the administration of websites.
8. How Does A Content Management System Works?
To explain it simply, one can say that a content management system has a dichotomy in database and layout, in contrast to a static HTML page. This means that a static HTML web page has all content hard-coded, whereas the dynamic CMS-based page has a database and a layout. Content can thus be continuously fed into the database.
9. Why Should You Use CMS?
Content management systems offer a simple way to organize and manage a website. Of course, a CMS is not mandatory, but it is always helpful if the content is regularly updated and the site is large. This speaks for the use of a CMS:
- The content is changed more easily and quickly than on HTML pages.
- The system has a database.
- With the help of free plugins, you have a lot of design and optimization freedom.
- Do you update the content of your website regularly? Then a CMS makes sense
10. How Do You Make The Right Choice Of A Content Management System?
When choosing the best CMS, you are divided between less complex blog construction kits and extensive enterprise systems. If you have to make a decision, you should primarily check what purpose the system has to serve and what your intentions are with the site. A distinction is made between three areas of use or application: web content management, blog publishing/news, and social publishing/communities. When making your selection, you must define the content and goals.
Web content management focuses on creating and managing content. These offer complex rights management, text search, news management, and multilingualism. Blog Publishing/News focuses on blogging, including links to social media platforms. Social Publishing/Communities has online communities and active users in mind, so it is suitable for user-generated content.
11. What Are Some Content Management Systems You Are Familiar With?
The best-known examples are content management systems such as WordPress, Typo3, Joomla, and Drupal. These systems are all available with an open source license. This means that they can be accessed and used free of charge. They offer the possibility to write your further developments based on the existing code. While WordPress is an advantage as a CMS for beginners and Typo3 is ideal for professionals, Joomla forms a kind of “golden middle”. The range of functions is greater than with WordPress and the administration is easier than with Typo3.
12. What Are The Trends For Content Management?
The trends in the field of content management are closely related to digital development. Since there are constant changes, companies have to keep up with them. To do this, they need the right staff. Content management is a crucial area for a successful web presence of companies. The need and requirements for content management solutions are growing. If you decide on this profession, this should give you good job prospects. This also applies to the fact that the profession allows for different focus points. As a result, numerous companies offer you a contact point. Various options for further training prepare you to adapt to the changing requirements of the profession. This also opens up corresponding promotion opportunities for you in content management.
13. Why Is Content Marketing Important?
If a company wants to have long-term success on the Internet these days, it has to make a lasting impression on its customers and new prospects. Attractive content and strong brand loyalty are the main factors that make a successful website. People want to be surprised and inspired every day, otherwise, they quickly lose interest and migrate to the competition. Content marketing has the task of developing high-quality content for the Internet and social media platforms, thereby retaining customers over the long term. The tasks of content marketing consist of planning, implementing various measures, and controlling the content of a company. The main task of content marketing is, of course, to create unique and sustainable content for a company’s website. It is particularly important that the customers are enthusiastic and that excellent content is created. Only if customers remember a company’s website will they visit it several times and buy a product or service from the company.
14. What Is A Content Strategy?
A content strategy defines the structured handling of content and creates a holistic picture of how the different types of content in different display locations (channels) should contribute to the achievement of goals in a higher-level context. The strategy provides the framework and is the basis for content marketing, which regulates the operational implementation and develops suitable conceptual approaches based on the overarching content strategy. The content strategy covers periods of a maximum of 1-2 years and will be adjusted if necessary if there are new findings in the meantime.
15. What Do We Mean By Content?
Content is all digital content elements that are available in different channels. There are numerous types of content like transactional content, informational content, branding content, social content, etc. They have different tasks (enabling conversions, providing information, imparting knowledge, making contact, offering entertainment, enabling service, providing orientation, etc.). Overall, the different types of content support the goals of drawing users into the action depending on their possibilities.
16. How Do You Develop A Content Strategy?
When creating a content strategy, you reflect on the overarching marketing strategy and how it interacts with other groundbreaking strategies in your company. That means you ask yourself: What was the order again that I should implement based on the overarching marketing strategy and the digital strategy that applies to content? This way, you ensure that the content strategy is seamlessly integrated into all other strategies and you focus on essential elements. Practice tip: Always look for an exchange with the other people responsible for the groundbreaking strategies (product, sales, management, customer service) – both in the creation phase and in the implementation phase for your content strategy. It is important to remain mindful of their comments and at the same time to continuously advertise your content strategy to the actors of the other pioneering strategies (What are we planning? Why are we doing this? How do we want to proceed?). The other players from the product, sales, and customer service will also work with your content and need a good general understanding of the new content strategy.
17. What Is Part Of A Content Strategy And What Is Not?
The content strategy consists of the actual core strategy (e.g. shown on a sheet as a strategy “in a nutshell”) and a detailed strategy document (e.g. long Word document stored in OneDrive or Google Drive so that everyone has access to it). The following strategies of the individual channels (e.g. website, Amazon, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) all relate directly to the content strategy but are no longer part of it. In practice, I handle all advanced strategies aligned with the content strategy as a package.
18. Why Do You Need A Content Strategy?
For your content marketing to take off, you need a good content strategy! Best practices from companies show that with a well-founded content strategy – and consistent implementation – significant sales improvements are possible. How sales uplifts can be recovered and what potential is specifically available for your business and in your industry is revealed by the analyzes relating to the creation of the content strategy.
19. What Are Some Questions That The Content Strategy Should Answer?
Your content strategy should answer the following questions for your content marketing:
- What do we want to achieve?
- What is our strategic intention behind it?
- How do we want to achieve this?
- What do we have to do for this?
- You also have to clarify a key question at the beginning – who has to work on the content strategy?
- Because only if the content strategy rests on several shoulders, takes various aspects into account, and is understood by everyone, can you enable success with this strategy?
20. What Does The Perfect Content Management Strategy Look Like?
In principle, it is impossible to identify the one perfect strategy in content management, since every customer and every campaign has different goals. But when building an optimal strategy, it helps to imagine the content management process as a funnel or to visualize the customer journey. Then it is crucial to pick up potential customers with the appropriate format at the right touchpoint. To give the strategy an optimal structure and to proceed systematically, it helps to create an editorial plan, which you can use not only to plan content for the appropriate channels but also to plan your resources (i.e. personnel, budget, etc.) effectively. If you have succeeded in placing the content correctly, this increases customer engagement and brand awareness, for example, which in turn has a higher conversion potential. To not only address a core target group, but you also need multipliers. They help you distribute content about your company/brand products through their channels.
21. How Do You Communicate Your Content Strategy?
I go on an internal road trip and present my strategy to sales, service, management, and the content team as well as the external parties involved. That means I present my content strategy in a nutshell over and over again and whenever I talk about the content I bring out my strategy and point to the considerations, bring the strategy to the mind of each actor, show the appropriate visualizations and get the big picture out. When communicating, it is helpful to create clarity about expectations in connection with the newly developed strategy.
22. What Are Some Technical And Soft Skills You Possess That Make You Perfect For This Job?
In summary, the following things are essential from my point of view:
Data understanding: As a strategist, a deep understanding of data is a must. Strategic decisions must or should only be made based on data. In the scope of search engine optimization, this can mean, for example, evaluating the Google Search Console data. Interpreting large datasets is not an easy task and takes a few years of experience.
Search engine optimization: Anyone who works with content should also understand the basic principles of search engine optimization. For example, if you work as a content strategist for an e-commerce brand, SEO is an important channel and must be used accordingly.
Algorithms and platforms understanding: Content is often not only distributed on one channel but on many different platforms. A basic understanding of algorithms and platforms is part of the repertoire of a good content strategist.
Leadership: As a content strategist, you usually have a team around you or work in-house with other departments. It is therefore helpful to develop leadership or management skills. Only content strategists who build a good team around themselves can work successfully and efficiently.
Copywriting and editing: Even if as a content strategist you no longer necessarily produce content yourself, in my opinion, the ability to create good texts is absolutely part of the skill set of a good content strategist. How else are you supposed to judge whether your team is doing a good job if you cannot produce good content yourself?
Project management: Managing different tasks within a department is one of the top competencies of a good content strategist. They must ensure that the team as a unit works efficiently, processes are carried out correctly and deadlines are met.
23. Can You Tell Us More About Yourself?
I started my career in consulting, and then switched to content management. I have always been attracted by the culture of success combined with intelligently calculated risk-taking. I am offensive and curious. As thinking outside the box is easy for me, I quickly became involved in content management, a mission that is close to my heart.
24. Why Did You Apply To Us?
Your company is a leader in its market and renowned for the quality of its products. As one of your clients myself, I would be delighted to be able to contribute to the development of your brand. I was also excited by the job description, which precisely matched my skills.
25. What Is Your Greatest Strength?
I am a curious person. In my work, as outside, I like to discover new things, new tools, new methods… This thirst for discovery allows me to get out of my comfort zone, continuously improve my skills, and make innovative decisions.
26. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
I am a commercial temperament, and sometimes I am a bit talkative. To improve this point, I try to listen more to my interlocutors and synthesize my remarks when necessary. I have learned when to talk and when to listen.
27. What Is A Trait You Cannot Stand?
I am an honest person, and I do not appreciate the lack of transparency. Your company is renowned for its transparency and its benevolence towards its employees. These are two values I find in myself and which make me want to join you.
28. Do You Prefer To Work Alone Or In A Team?
I am quite capable of working alone. But I realize that working in a team makes it possible to go faster and obtain better results. So even when I am working on individual tasks and projects, I like to communicate and consult with team members.
29. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?
The company just did not let me grow professionally. And I learned to fight for my professional interests. Now I know where I will be better.
30. What Do You Think Of Your Previous Bosses?
Although all my former bosses were outstanding, some taught me more than others. I learned which style of management I get along with best. I prefer a work environment with open communication, which leaves plenty of space for growth and development.
Conclusion
Interviews are a necessary step in the recruitment process but do not have to intimidate you. It is essential to prepare in advance for certain headaches and to remember to ask for reflection time to answer the most important questions. Remaining calm and composed in a stressful situation will only highlight your professionalism while differentiating you from other candidates.