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Download
- Interview questions: filled example (CSV) · blank (CSV)
- Spotlight plan: filled example (CSV) · blank (CSV)
- Post drafts: filled example (CSV) · blank (CSV)
In Google Sheets: File, Import, Upload, then pick the CSV.
What's inside
- Twelve interview questions, with why each works and an example answer.
- A spotlight plan for the year, with role, format, platforms, consent and status.
- Post drafts for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Business Profile, written from one interview.
- A filled example for Greenway Hardware, a fictional family-run hardware shop.
- Blank CSV copies of every sheet.
How to use it
- Ask, do not tell. Make taking part optional and easy to say no to.
- Get written consent for the photo, the name and every platform the post will appear on.
- Send the questions ahead and let the person pick the ones they want to answer.
- Do a ten-minute chat, take a few photos or a short clip, and write it up the same day.
- Show the person the draft before it goes out and change anything they are unhappy with.
- Post one version per platform, then add the spotlight to the plan sheet as done.
- Remove or update the post promptly if the person leaves or asks you to.
Preview: Interview questions
A filled example for a made-up small business, first 8 of 12 rows.
| Question | Why it works | Example answer: Dev, paint counter |
|---|---|---|
| What do you do here, in one sentence? | Gives customers a reason to ask for this person. | I mix paint and help people pick colours that won't look different once they're on the wall. |
| What do customers ask you most? | Turns the spotlight into useful advice. | How many tins they need. I always ask for the room size and the number of coats first. |
| What's one tip you wish every customer knew? | Makes the post worth saving. | Paint a test patch on two walls and look at it in the morning and the evening. |
| What's the best part of your job? | Shows character without forcing it. | When someone comes back with a photo of the finished room. |
| What's a job here people don't see? | Behind the scenes that builds trust. | Cleaning the tinting machine every evening so the next colour comes out right. |
| How long have you been here, and what did you do before? | Experience, in their words. | Four years. Before that I was a decorator, so I've made most of the mistakes I now warn people about. |
| Favourite product in the shop and why? | A natural, low-pressure product mention. | A good angled brush. It makes cutting in round windows far easier. |
| What's something that surprised you about working here? | Adds personality. | How many people bring in a cushion or a leaf to match a colour. |
Preview: Spotlight plan
A filled example for a made-up small business.
| Month | Team member | Role | Format | Platforms | Consent signed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dev | Paint counter | Carousel: photo plus three tips | Instagram, Facebook, Google Business Profile | Yes, all platforms | Posted |
| February | Maggie | Tool counter | Short video: her favourite tool | Instagram, Facebook | Yes, all platforms | Drafted |
| March | Whole team | Everyone | Team photo and thank-you for Employee Appreciation Day, 5 March 2027 | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn | Yes, all in photo | Planned |
| April | Tom | Deliveries | Photo and a day-in-the-life caption | Asked, waiting | Planned | |
| May | Priya | Garden section | Carousel: spring planting tips | Instagram, Facebook | Not asked yet | Idea |
| June | Owner | Second generation owner | Short video: how the shop started | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn | n/a | Idea |
| July | Saturday staff | Weekend team | Photo with a question for followers | Not asked yet | Idea | |
| September | New starter | To be confirmed | Welcome post | Instagram, Facebook | Ask after first month | Idea |
Preview: Post drafts
A filled example for a made-up small business.
| Platform | Format | Draft caption | Visual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel | Meet Dev from our paint counter. Before joining us four years ago he was a decorator, so he's made most of the mistakes he now warns people about. His one tip: paint a test patch on two walls and check it morning and evening. Swipe for two more. Come and say hello next time you're choosing a colour. | 1. Dev at the tinting machine. 2. Test patches on a board. 3. His favourite angled brush. | |
| Single photo | Say hello to Dev, who runs our paint counter. Ask him how many tins you need and he'll ask for your room size and how many coats first. Thanks, Dev, for four years of perfect colour matches. | Dev at the counter holding a colour card. | |
| Single photo | A small team is only as good as the people behind the counter. Dev joined Greenway Hardware four years ago after a career as a decorator, and that experience shapes the advice customers get every day. Thank you, Dev. | Dev at the counter, wider shot of the shop. | |
| Google Business Profile | Update with photo | Choosing paint? Ask Dev at our paint counter. Bring your room size and he'll tell you how many tins you need. Open Monday to Saturday. | Dev with the paint wall behind him. |
Tips
- Make it optional and mean it. A spotlight nobody wanted to be in shows.
- Keep consent in writing and record which platforms it covers. A yes to Instagram is not a yes to LinkedIn.
- Never share personal details the person did not offer, such as surnames, family or where they live.
- Spotlight every role, not only the people who are comfortable on camera. A photo and a quote works fine.
- Ask the team member if they would like to share the post. Do not require it.
Common questions
What questions should I ask for an employee spotlight?
What they do, what customers ask them most, a tip they wish everyone knew, the best part of the job, and something people don't see. Let them choose which to answer and how they are named.
Do I need permission to post about an employee?
Ask for clear, written consent for the photo, the name and each platform, and let them review the draft. Rules on using people's images and personal details vary by country, so check what applies to you.
How often should I post employee spotlights?
Once a month suits most small teams. It is regular enough to become a series without asking the same people too often.
Is this template free?
Yes. All three sheets are free to download as CSV with no signup.
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