How to hire a feature writer

How to hire a feature writer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step feature writer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a feature writer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new feature writer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the feature writer you need to hire. Certain feature writer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect feature writer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of feature writers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Feature Writer	Description	Hourly rate
   Feature Writer	Technical writers, also called technical communicators, prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information through an organization’s communications channels.	$11-24
   Editor	An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be... Show more	$16-37
   Journalist	A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms... Show more	$18-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Web Content
   • Feature Stories
   • Lifestyle
   • News Articles
   • SEO
   • News Stories
   • Photography
   • Video Games
   • Conduct Interviews
   • Press Releases
   • Twitter
   • Proofread
   • Human Interest Stories
   • Adobe Photoshop

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the Instagram account, which mean publishing and keeping up to date with the articles.
   • Develop ideas for new content base on reader inquiries and SEO trends.
   • Originate a range of lifestyle, health and human-interest stories targeting a local female audience.
   • Utilize SEO to draw further traffic to a relatively new website, which now has a very strong following.
   • Cover a variety of stories assign by the editor-in-chief
   • Write and edit fiction and non-fiction text to accompany products release and distribute internationally.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your feature writer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A feature writer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, feature writers' average salary in mississippi is 55% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level feature writers earn 53% less than senior-level feature writers.
   • Certifications. A feature writer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a feature writer's salary.

   Average feature writer salary

   $35,590yearly

   $17.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level feature writer salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing a feature writer job description

   A feature writer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a feature writer job description:

   Feature writer job description example

   Application Instructions
   
   Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.
   
   Job Description
   
   The Washington Post is looking for a news and features writer to cover the world of books.
   
   The writer will be an integral part of The Post's coverage digitally and in print, including the recently revived Book World section. The position requires a deep knowledge of both fiction and nonfiction, a sense of which forthcoming books and authors will be generating conversation and which books and authors should generate conversation. The writer will work with the editors at Book World to shape both news and features coverage. News will include writing on deadline about subjects such as the winners of major prizes as they are announced, the deaths of prominent writers, public disputes, etc. Features will cover a wide range of subjects and writers, certainly including Washington-centric interests: the competitive flurry of White House memoirs, books about international affairs and urgent domestic issues, writers and thinkers who offer perspective on the immediate political moment.
   
   The job requires a willingness and ability to write quickly about news developments but also a distinctive and elegant style for profiles and larger ideas pieces. The ideal candidate will be a broadly curious reader who has a long-standing personal interest in and knowledge of books and a sense of their own taste. They will enjoy being part of a team and collaborate well with others.
   
   Interested candidates should upload a résumé with links to their work and a cover letter outlining the experience and approach they would bring to the role to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by 10/25/2022 will be prioritized. Your cover letter should be addressed to Books Editor John Williams.
   
   The Post strives to provide its readers with high-quality, trustworthy news and information while constantly innovating. That mission is best served by a diverse, multi-generational workforce with varied life experiences and perspectives. All cultures and backgrounds are welcomed.
   
   Ever wondered if what you are doing will Impact Tomorrow? At The Washington Post, every employee shapes the way we deliver the news. Find the career that's right for you
   #washpostlife

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find feature writers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your feature writer job on Zippia to find and recruit feature writer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit feature writers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new feature writer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the feature writer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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