Professional Typesetter Interview Questions & Answers:

1. What is typesetting?

Typesetting is the composition of text by means of arranging physical types or the digital equivalents. Stored letters and other symbols (called sorts in mechanical systems and glyphs in digital systems) are retrieved and ordered according to a language's orthography for visual display. Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font (which is widely but erroneously confused with and substituted for typeface). One significant effect of typesetting was that authorship of works could be spotted more easily, making it difficult for copiers who have not gained permission.

2. What is manual typesetting?

During much of the letterpress era, movable type was composed by hand for each page. Cast metal sorts were composed into words, then lines, then paragraphs, then pages of text and tightly bound together to make up a form, with all letter faces exactly the same “height to paper”, creating an even surface of type. The form was placed in a press, inked, and an impression made on paper.

3. What is your greatest weakness as Typesetter? What are you doing to improve it?

My enthusiasim to jump immediately into a project can sometimes be a weakness, but I often create a list of priorities and make sure I follow a procedure that I know works.

4. Explain me if hired, how do you intend on making a difference with our company?

I intend on making a difference by thoroughly meeting all requirements and introducing my own value through unique style and innovation where possible.

5. What is digital era?

The next generation of phototypesetting machines to emerge were those that generated characters on a cathode ray tube. Typical of the type were the Alphanumeric APS2 (1963), IBM 2680 (1967), I.I.I. VideoComp (1973?), Autologic APS5 (1975), and Linotron 202 (1978). These machines were the mainstay of phototypesetting for much of the 1970s and 1980s. Such machines could be "driven online" by a computer front-end system or took their data from magnetic tape. Type fonts were stored digitally on conventional magnetic disk drives.

6. Tell me do you work well under pressure as Typesetter?

I think I do and this has defiantly been about practise and learning very simple cognitive skills. This includes breaking down priorities.

7. Basic Typesetting interview questions:

☛ What are top 3 skills for Typesetting?
☛ What interests you about this Typesetting position?
☛ How do you go about setting goals with subordinates?
☛ Example when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
☛ Give an example of an important goal that you set in the past.
☛ Time when you have encountered conflict in the workplace.
☛ What do you do when priorities change quickly?

8. Phone Based Typesetting interview questions:

☛ Do you have the qualities and skills necessary to Typesetting?
☛ If you were interviewing someone for Typesetting position, what traits would you look for?
☛ What is the difference between a manager and a leader?
☛ When were you most satisfied in your job?
☛ Have you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker? How?
☛ What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
☛ Describe a situation in which you had to collect information.

When answering these typical Typesetting interview questions stay focussed on career goals and aspirations.
This question is asked to find out whether you are committed to the Typesetting job. Having a plan for your future demonstrates motivation and ambition, both of which are important qualities.

9. Informational Typesetting interview questions:

☛ How have you gone about making important decisions?
☛ Give me an example when you felt you were able to motivate a group.
☛ Do you know anyone who works as Typesetting at this company?
☛ How have you changed in the last five years?
☛ What percentage of your time is spent doing each function?
☛ Tell me about a difficult experience you had as Typesetting.
☛ What are your strengths?

10. First Typesetting interview questions:

☛ Do you have the qualities and skills necessary to succeed in your Typesetting career?
☛ Your greatest weakness in school or at work?
☛ How do you keep yourself and your teammates motivated?
☛ What is your greatest fear?
☛ How would you describe your presentation style?
☛ How have you gone about making important decisions?
☛ What personal qualities or characteristics do you most value?

Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. When interviewing, spend a few minutes describing your ideal environment so both sides can make an informed decision. Think of an example where you have had to do something on your own initiative in your current job.