Interview Tips

1
Interview Tips

• Compiled from
• Profiles of Practitioners
• Practice Stories from the Field
• (http//instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/Courses/practice
  stories/index.htm)

2
Creating Questions

• Ask why and how questions.
• Avoid yes/no questions.
• Avoid questions with loaded (emotionally charged)
  language.
• Choose questions about which youre genuinely
  curious.
• Read the questions aloud to yourself to hear how
  theyll sound to your subject.

3
Questions

• Order your questions so the more challenging come
  later in the interview. Easy questions will help
  the subject feel at ease.
• Prepare your questions ahead of time, but dont
  feel like you need to stick to them. You can
  always go back at the end of the interview and
  ask anything that was overlooked.

4
In the beginning

• Tell a little bit about yourself.
• This helps break the ice with your interviewee
  and should make both of you more comfortable.
• Express excitement.
• People are flattered when someone is genuinely
  interested in what they say and do.
• Thank your subject.

5
During the interview

• Encourage the subject to tell his or her story.
• The word interview can be scary in itself.
  Your subject might be more comfortable if you
  converse naturally rather than follow
  predetermined questions.
• You should control the interview, but the subject
  should do most of the talking.

6
During

• Ask probing questions as the subject tells his or
  her story.
• Can you give me an example of that?
• Wowwhat was that like?
• Will you tell me more about _____?
• You mentioned X can you provide a bit more
  detail?
• Show active interest.
• Use body language and verbal cues.
• Share your interests with your subject.

7
During

• Ask one short question at a time.
• Listen.
• Its easy to get caught up in your questions, but
  try to listen carefully and consider your
  subjects words. This may result in more
  meaningful, spontaneous questions.
• Take notes, even if you are recording the
  interview.

8
After the interview

• Thank your subject.
• Set up another interview time or establish
  contact information.
• Write down your thoughts.
• Fastwrite about the experience.
• This will help you remember your specific
  feelings and thoughts about the interview.
• Send a thank you note to your subject.