Features Writer practice interview
Original feature ideas, immersive reporting, strong narrative structure, precise prose and thoughtful revision for a defined audience. Practise the 5 questions interviewers ask for this role with follow-ups. Paid plans add scored feedback on every answer.
Free with an Intaviu account: 320 credits a month, at 10 credits a minute of practice. Private: interview creators never see them.
- Mid level
- 15 minutes
- 5 questions
- Scored feedback on paid plans
About the role
A features writer finds original angles and reports beyond the immediate headline to create memorable, accurate stories. The panel is looking for strong pitches, careful observation and interviewing, control of narrative structure and the maturity to reshape a draft after editorial feedback.
How to prepare
- Select features that show different subjects, structures and reporting methods.
- Prepare two fresh pitches with a precise angle, likely contributors and a practical reporting plan.
- Analyse how the opening, scenes and ending work in one of your strongest pieces.
- Think of an example where reporting challenged your first assumption about the story.
- Prepare to discuss a difficult edit and the choices you made in the revision.
Common mistakes
- Pitching a broad subject without a question, tension or reporting route.
- Using colourful description that is not supported by observation.
- Forcing every interview into the original angle when the reporting points elsewhere.
- Defending favourite passages without considering pace, relevance or the reader.
What to expect
A real first-round interview
5 questions the way interviewers ask for this role, with follow-ups when an answer needs more.
Spoken, like the real thing
Speak your answers in your browser or the free desktop app, with live captions. You can ask the interviewer to repeat anything.
Scored on 4 areas
The things this interview weighs most. With a paid plan, your report shows how you did on each one.
A private report
On Plus, Pro and Premium: every answer scored, your strongest lines quoted and what to say differently next time. Interview creators never see it.
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