Why pre-screen podcast interns before the interview
Almost every applicant for this role listens to podcasts and many have started one. The difference is who published more than four episodes, because that is where scheduling, editing and chasing guests stop being fun. Interns worth hiring have finished something and can say what they would do differently. A short screen asks for the link and the honest assessment of it.
What actually matters when screening Podcast Producer Intern candidates
- 01
Body of work
Ask for episodes they cut or produced, even student or hobby shows: RSS feed links, download numbers, guest bookings handled, and which segments they personally edited.
- 02
Craft and technique
Test working knowledge of Descript, Audition, Reaper or Hindenburg: noise reduction, loudness targets near -16 LUFS, multitrack sync, and removing filler without audible seams.
- 03
Reliability and process
Probe how they track release schedules: episode trackers, guest prep docs, transcript turnaround, show notes with timestamps, and what they did when a recording arrived corrupted.
- 04
Presence with an audience
Judge how they handle guests on a call: pre-interview briefing, mic and Riverside setup coaching, and keeping nervous speakers talking without dominating.
Pre-screening questions to ask Podcast Producer Intern candidates
12 questions grouped by what they test. Ask the same set in every screen and score answers on a consistent scale, or send them as an async video screen and compare answers side by side.
Episodes published
3 questions01Can you briefly describe your experience with podcast production?
Listen forEpisodes they worked on that were published, with their own tasks described rather than the team's output.
Experience described as listening to podcasts, or projects that were never published anywhere.
02Have you developed a podcast from scratch, alone or as part of a team?
Listen forA show taken from idea to published episodes, with an honest account of what they would do differently.
Shows abandoned after a couple of episodes, or no reflection on what went wrong.
03Can you discuss your experience with scripting or content preparation?
Listen forPreparation done before recording, including research on the guest and a structure for the conversation.
Recording started with no preparation, or questions written during the conversation itself.
Can edit audio
3 questions04Can you describe your experience with audio editing software?
Listen forHands-on editing including cuts, levels and noise reduction, with a specific tool they can work in confidently.
Software named with no editing done, or editing limited to trimming the start and end.
05How do you ensure the sound quality of a podcast?
Listen forQuality addressed at recording through microphone technique and room, not just fixed afterwards in editing.
Sound quality treated as a post-production problem, or no awareness of recording environment.
06What is your understanding of sound editing and the tools involved?
Listen forBasic terms understood correctly, with a sense of how long an edit actually takes per episode.
Editing time badly underestimated, or terminology used without understanding what it means.
Guests handled
3 questions07Do you have experience scheduling and coordinating episodes?
Listen forA schedule maintained across time zones, with confirmations sent and equipment checks arranged in advance.
Scheduling handled informally, or recordings arranged without confirming guest setup beforehand.
08How would you handle a guest cancelling shortly before a recording?
Listen forA calm reschedule with the slot reused, and a backup approach so the publishing schedule holds.
No plan beyond rescheduling, or the publishing schedule treated as flexible by default.
09Do you have experience conducting interviews or coordinating with guests?
Listen forGuests briefed properly beforehand, with follow-up questions asked rather than a list read out.
Guests arriving unbriefed, or interviews conducted strictly from a prepared list.
Rights understood
3 questions10Do you have experience with podcast distribution platforms?
Listen forFeeds, metadata and episode artwork handled, with an understanding of how a show reaches directories.
Distribution assumed automatic, or no knowledge of what a feed contains.
11What is your understanding of copyright as it applies to podcast content?
Listen forMusic and clip licensing treated seriously, with consent for recording confirmed with guests.
Commercial music used without licence, or recording consent never explicitly obtained.
12How comfortable are you receiving constructive criticism and feedback?
Listen forFeedback taken well, with an example of a note that changed how they edit or prepare.
Defensiveness about their own work, or no example of feedback they acted on.
How to score responses
Score every candidate on the same four criteria immediately after the screen. At this stage you are shortlisting for panel interviews, not making the final call.
Body of work
35%5Points to published episodes with named role, shares feed or Spotify links, and describes edits they made shot by shot.
Craft and technique
25%5Names their editing chain, explains loudness normalisation and de-essing choices, and can defend why a cut sounds clean.
Reliability and process
25%5Describes a repeatable weekly pipeline with backups, double-recording habits, and clear deadlines they met without reminders.
Presence with an audience
15%5Shows calm guest-side manner, gives concrete examples of coaching mic technique, and reads when to prompt versus stay silent.
Everyone listens to podcasts; few have published more than four episodes. A one-way video screen asks for the link.
Try it on HirevireScreening FAQ
Process basics
How long should a pre-screening round for this role take?
Ten minutes across eight questions, answered async, with a link to something they made. Enough to establish what they published, test editing skill, and check how they handle logistics.
Why screen this role on video?
Because audio and speaking are the job. How someone sounds and how clearly they explain something on camera tells you more than any written application for this role.
Evaluating answers
What is the strongest signal when screening an intern here?
Something published, however small. Interns who finished a run of episodes understand the workload. Anyone who started a podcast and stopped after two episodes has not hit the difficult part.
How do I judge their reliability?
Ask what they would do if a guest cancels an hour before recording. Sound answers cover a reschedule and a backup plan. Anyone who has not thought about it will leave you with dead air.
Go deeper on this role
Sanat has been hiring since 2012 and watching the recruitment industry change up close ever since, and turned that screening process into Hirevire's video screening platform. LinkedIn
