Why Do An Interview?

Interviewing an informed person provides you with first hand answers to your questions, lets you ask follow-up questions, and gives you access to the most up-to-date thinking.

Interviews are used for many things in the working world. You may have to talk to perspective employees and assess their suitability for a position in the company. Police officers routinely interview witnesses to accidents and crimes. Journalists interview people in their pursuit of stories. The list goes on and on.

Interviews can also be useful for students working on research. Professional and technical personnel are a rich source of interview candidates. The faculty of any university can provide insights into a wide range of subjects. Doctors, pharmacists, and other health professionals can draw upon their expertise to help you, as can lawyers, engineers, researchers, corporation managers, and employees at every level of government--federal, state, and local.

Getting the Interview Set Up

If you are not particularly excited about the idea of phoning or asking for an interview, keep in mind that most interviewees are eager to discuss their areas of expertise and are often flattered by the opportunity. The worst that can happen is a turn-down, and in that event you can always find someone else in the same field.

Before you attempt to set up the interview, review your own upcoming commitments and try to determine which ones you could reschedule if necessary. You may need to make an adjustment to accommodate the schedule of a busy person (who is, after all, doing you a favor). When you call or stop by, indicate who you are, that you are requesting an interview, the subject of the interview, and how much time you would like. It is especially important to have an answer to the time question. People are busy, and they need to know exactly what you want. Also, show enthusiasm for your project. People are much more likely to say yes if you sound excited about what you are doing. 

If the person agrees to meet with you, then ask when it would be convenient. Carefully record the time, day, and place of the interview, and if for any reason you need to cancel, but sure to call well in advance.

Preparing for the Interview

Before the interview, do as much background reading as possible. For the faculty interviews, see if the person has a web site. Find out where the person got his/her degrees. This reading will help you develop a list of key questions and avoid those with obvious and readily available answers. Write out your questions to help ensure that the interview will proceed smoothly.

Good questions permit elaboration and don't call for simple "yes" or "no" answers. For example:

• Poor: Is it difficult to work with adult illiterates? 

• Better: What have you found most challenging about working with adult illiterates?

On the other hand, don't ask overly broad questions that can't be answered in a relatively brief interview.

• Poor: What's wrong with primary-school education?

• Better: Why do you think so many children have trouble learning to read?

Avoid questions that are biased and may insult the interviewee

• Poor: Why do you bother to work with adult illiterates?

• Better: Why did you decide to work with adult illiterates?

Likewise, avoid questions that restrict the interviewee's options for answering.

• Poor: What do you think accounts for the poor academic performance of so many American secondary-school students--too much TV watching or overly large classes?

• Better: People often blame the poor academic performance of so many American students on too much TV watching or overly large classes. What importance do you attach to these factors? Do you think other factors contribute to the problem?

The number of questions you prepare depends on the length of the interview. It's a good idea to draft more questions than you think you'll have time to ask, then arrange them from most to least important. If the interviewee keeps to the schedule, you'll obtain your desired information. If the interviewee grants you extra time, your written follow-up will have even more substance.

Conducting the Interview

When you arrive for your interview, you will want to be on time and prepared with a notepad and a pen. Some interviewees will allow you to tape record the interview, but you need to ask if this is okay. Don't assume that you can. Some people take a minute or two to warm up, so you might start off with one or two brief, general questions that will provide you with useful background information. For example, you might ask "How long have you been employed in this field?"

As you continue the interview, ask your most important questions first. If you believe a question hasn't been answered or that an answer is incomplete, don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions.

As the interview unfolds, take notes but don't attempt to copy everything that is said. Instead, listen carefully, and jot down key phrases and ideas that will serve as memory prompts. If you want to capture an essential explanation or some other important material in the interviewee's own words, ask the person to go slowly while you copy them down. However, this should be done infrequently. Listening carefully is still your best strategy.

When the interview is over, thank the person for talking to you. You may also offer to supply a copy of the finished report. I would also encourage you to send the interviewee a thank you note. By spending this time with the person, you have established a connection--you want to be sure it is a good one.

Reflecting on the Interview

As soon as you get to your car, or as soon as you can find a bench to sit on, expand on your notes by filling in details, supplying necessary connections between points that were made and your reactions. Also, make notes about the atmosphere. What was the office like? How were you received? What was the mood of the interview?  Often how something is said is more important than what was actually said. These details may come in handy as you are working on your essay, and if you write down this information now, you will have it to work with. Don't rely on your memory.