Interviewing

What is an interview?

An interview is a fairly formal conversation between people. Although they can be conducted between several people (both asking and telling), in most cases they are between two people: one who elicits facts, and the other who responds.

Are interviews always pre-arranged?
You will have seen impromptu (or opportunistic) interviews during news reports, when the reporter might approach a passer-by or witness. A formal interview, while they can be impromptu, is usually pre-arranged. Often, the questions to be asked are provided to the responder prior to the conversation, so they can prepare their answers. This is particularly useful when the subject matter is sensitive, or when specific facts might be required, such as statistics.

Are interviews always face to face?
Interviews can be conducted in many ways, for example by telephone, through Skype, by social media, or even by correspondence. Mostly, they are conducted in person, face to face.

The following are some tips and tricks to help you conduct interviews, particularly those undertaken face to face. Once you master the skill of interviewing, it can be done with confidence, and in a friendly yet professional manner, which can make the experience worthwhile and enjoyable for you as the interviewer, and for the interviewee. Some of the hints relate to preparation before the interview; some are to help during the interview; and some are to assist in the winding up process.

Tips to help you conduct interviews

Before the interview

Do your homework about the company: know a little about the company involved. Make sure you know their correct name (and how it is spelt), and as much about them as you can (what they do, what their vision is, the hierarchy of personnel).

Know a little about the person: if you know who it is you are to interview, find out a little about them. It is helpful to know their correct name (and how it is spelt), their position in the company, and their role. Keep your knowledge of them on a professional level – it is not appropriate or necessary for you to know about their private lives.

Know what it is you wish to learn: this ensures that you know exactly what you need to ask, and to utilise your and your interviewee’s time wisely.
Prepare your questions: have a list of relevant questions ready. You can do this on a form, or use them simply as your prompts. If you can, a few days before the interview let your interviewee know what your questions will be. Make them as open-ended as possible – see below.

Take a pad and pen: you will not be able to remember answers to questions. You can also record interviews (on your phone, by video) but you will need to seek permission from the interviewee well prior to the interview.

During the interview

Dress appropriately: This means being neat and tidy, and adhering to the dress code of the company, or the particular site you might be visiting. This is where a little pre-interview investigation might be useful. It also includes being careful of hygiene, but also being comfortable and at ease. It is hard to be, or even appear to be, confident and professional if your clothing and footwear are causing discomfort.

Be respectful: maintain a professional attitude. You can be friendly, offering your hand to shake, but maintain a respectful distance.

Be aware of your own non-verbal communication: keep in mind that what our bodies are saying (stance, facial movement, voice volume and so on) is part of our communication, and often tells people more than what we are saying verbally. If you have not yet done so, visit the module called Non-Verbal Communication: Body Language. If you have accessed the module before you might wish to refresh your understanding. Here is the link:

Non-Verbal Communication: Body Language

Be aware of the interviewee’s non-verbal communication: for example, if they are getting restless, or slow to answer, it might be that you might need to bring the interview to a conclusion. It also might be that they need more time to answer, or the question might not be clear or might be inappropriate. If so, rephrase it, or let the matter drop respectfully.

Request before you record: it is suggested above that you take a pen and paper – most interviewees will expect that. However, if you wish to record the interview or part of it (either voice only, or by video) it is best to ask them for permission prior to the interview. If they say they would prefer not to, then respect this wish.

Ask if you can quote: most interviewees would recognise that you are likely to quote part of their responses. However, it is best to ask them up front if it is in order.

Read direct quotes back: if you wish to directly quote the interviewee, make sure you have their words exactly as they said them – if possible, read your notes back to them and check that the words you have recorded are those that they said.

Ask open ended questions: while there will be some questions to which there is only one answer many of these, such as the person’s name, will not need asking because you will have done your homework. Rather, your questions need to be open-ended, that is, they will give the interviewee scope for considered responses. The questions might be along the lines of:

‘What qualities do I need to succeed at this type of work?’
or
‘How would you describe your company?’
or
‘Do you have any advice for someone seeking a job in this field of work?’

Obtain permission to use your interviewee’s name: if you are following up a career with the company, you can ask your interviewee to recommend someone else it may be helpful for you to contact. If so, ask your interviewee if it is in order to use their name when contacting the referral.

After the interview (as soon as possible)

Say thank you: this usually comes automatically to us, and we say thank you in person, but sometimes it is not possible. Even if you do say thank you at the time, you might send a personal note to the interviewee thanking them for their time and information. It is acceptable to do this by email. Perhaps you could mention something that made the interview particularly worthwhile or enjoyable. The note can be informal, but respectful.

Debrief: make notes to yourself about the conversation, and the information that was particularly pertinent.

For your study: remember that every informational interview is a learning experience. Examine your notes and expand on them.

Reflect: Write some personal reflections: how the interview went, the good things about it, and the not-so-good; what you might do/not do in future interviews. You could also consider it from the point of view of the interviewee: put yourself in their shoes (metaphorically) and consider whether there might be something you as interviewer might do to make their experience more worthwhile and enjoyable.

Make plans for the next steps (for example, conduct more interviews, apply for a job): also plan how you might conduct future interviews.