Managing Editor Interview Questions

The goal of a successful interview for a Managing Editor is to assess the candidate’s ability to oversee the editorial team, ensure timely and high-quality content production and develop and maintain relationships with external contributors and stakeholders.

Situational interview questions

• How would you handle a situation where one of your staff members misses a critical deadline for a project?
• If you noticed a decline in the quality of work from one of your writers, how would you address the issue?
• You receive multiple pitches on the same topic from different writers, but only one idea can be used for an upcoming issue. How would you make a decision on which pitch to move forward with?
• One of your writers has submitted an article that contains several factual errors. How would you handle this situation and ensure the correction is made?
• How would you address a situation where a member of your team continuously misses mandatory meetings without giving prior notice or finding coverage?

Soft skills interview questions

• How do you motivate your team and ensure that every member of your team is invested in the overall success of the project?
• Tell me about a difficult situation you faced when working with a team member who was not meeting expectations. How did you handle it?
• Can you describe a time when you had to delegate tasks to team members? How did you ensure that each person was given tasks that matched their skills and abilities?
• How do you manage competing priorities and ensure that all projects are completed on time, even if unexpected challenges arise?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision that affected the project, but ultimately led to a positive outcome for the team and the organization?

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you provide an example of how you implemented and maintained a content management system for a publication?
• How do you ensure all content meets brand guidelines and editorial standards, especially when working with multiple authors?
• What strategies have you used to manage a team of writers, editors, and other production staff effectively?
• Have you ever implemented a successful content marketing campaign? Can you explain your approach and the results achieved?
• Can you walk me through a time when you had to make a difficult editorial decision, and how you navigated that situation?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you describe a situation where you had to deal with a sudden disruption in the publishing process? What was your task, and how did you respond to the situation? What was the end result, and what did you learn from the experience?

2. Have you ever introduced a new editorial policy or standard to your team? What was your task, and how did you go about implementing it? What results did you see as a result of the change?

3. Explain a situation where you had to manage a team member who was struggling to meet deadlines or complete assigned tasks. What steps did you take to address the situation, and what were the end results? What did you learn from the experience?

4. Can you share an example of a time when you were challenged with meeting budget or resource constraints for a project? How did you manage the situation, and what was the outcome? What did you learn from the experience?

5. What was the most challenging project you have ever managed, and what was your role in the project? How did you approach your responsibilities, what actions did you take, and what were the final results? What did you learn from the experience?