Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision based on conflicting editorial guidelines.

Sample answer to the question

There was a time when I was working with conflicting editorial guidelines while editing an article. The first guideline required a more formal and academic tone, while the second guideline wanted a more conversational and informal tone. I had to make a decision on which guideline to follow while maintaining the coherence and integrity of the article. After carefully considering the target audience and the purpose of the article, I decided to follow the first guideline as it aligned better with the intended message. I discussed my decision with the writer and explained the rationale behind it. We made some adjustments to the language and tone to ensure that the article maintained a professional yet engaging style.

A more solid answer

I encountered a situation where I had to make a decision based on conflicting editorial guidelines while editing an article. One guideline emphasized a formal and academic tone, while the other guideline called for a conversational and informal tone. To resolve this conflict, I analyzed the target audience and the purpose of the article. Considering the audience's preference for a more approachable style, I decided to follow the second guideline. However, I still ensured that the article maintained clarity and readability. I discussed my decision with the writer and explained the rationale behind it. Together, we made adjustments to the language and tone of the article to strike a balance between professionalism and engagement.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer provides more details about the conflicting guidelines and demonstrates the candidate's ability to analyze the situation and make a decision based on the target audience and purpose of the article. It also emphasizes communication and collaboration skills by mentioning the discussion with the writer and the adjustments made. However, it can be further improved by addressing critical thinking and time management skills in the response.

An exceptional answer

During my time as a Copy Editor, I faced a challenging situation involving conflicting editorial guidelines while editing a series of articles. One guideline required a formal and authoritative tone, while the other guideline demanded a friendly and conversational style. To tackle this conflict, I assessed the nature of the content and its intended impact on the readers. Through careful analysis, I determined that the articles needed to strike a balance between establishing credibility and maintaining reader engagement. I created a detailed style guide that outlined specific criteria for different sections of the articles, addressing both sets of guidelines. This enabled consistency and coherence throughout the series while accommodating the distinctiveness of each piece. I shared the style guide with the writing team and facilitated training sessions to ensure everyone understood the criteria and could adhere to it. Through my proactive approach, I successfully resolved the conflict and delivered high-quality articles that satisfied both sets of guidelines.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer goes above and beyond by providing a more complex and detailed scenario involving a series of articles with conflicting guidelines. It showcases the candidate's critical thinking, adaptability, and ability to create a practical solution by developing a style guide. Additionally, it highlights the candidate's teamwork skills by involving the writing team and facilitating training sessions. This answer demonstrates that the candidate possesses the necessary skills and qualities for the Copy Editor role in a highly effective manner.

How to prepare for this question

Research common conflicts in editorial guidelines and be prepared to discuss how you would handle them.
Practice analyzing and assessing the target audience and purpose of written material to make informed decisions.
Develop a strong understanding of different style guides and familiarize yourself with their specific guidelines.
Demonstrate your ability to balance conflicting requirements by providing examples from previous work or projects.
Highlight your communication and collaboration skills by discussing how you would involve others in resolving conflicts.

What interviewers are evaluating

Communication Skills
Adaptability
Critical Thinking