Things that Matter to Me as an Interviewer

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Things that Matter to Me as an Interviewer

💡Talk to a neighbor about your best or most awkward interviewing experience.

Use this list as a checklist to give feedback to your peer. Check the things that you think are most relevant for improving and/or guaranteeing a quality interview.

I will send both you and your partner a copy of your answers. You will be able to see others' responses after submission.

Optional: Use the Other option to add additional thoughts about your experience with a particular tip.

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Be prepared. Informed questions are the best questions. *

Inform yourself about the topic, source, and/or interviewee. Do some background research on the story and educate yourself.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Write your questions by hand. *

You remember things more when you hand-write vs. type. The questions will stick more if you hand-write them.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

It never hurts to practice. *

Practice your interview questions beforehand if you’re nervous or want to feel better-prepared going into the interview. And practice being curious-sounding, professional, and clam rather than accusatory, aggressive, or a know-it-all.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Make small talk before the interview. *

It relaxes you and the interviewee. Talk about the weather, their office, the location of the interview, etc.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Voice recording. *

Ask permission to record the interview, if you want to.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

ALWAYS TAKE NOTES! *

Even if you’re recording the interviewee, you must take notes. You will remember the conversation better and also know where particular points were made in the conversation.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Annotate your notes. *

Star direct quotes that will be useful. Note the recording time.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Begin with a softball. *

Begin the interview with a softball question that you may not care too much about. This will relax the interviewee and yourself.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Keep it conversational. *

Don’t ask one question after another with no casual feedback and discussion. You want to have a give-and-take, turn-taking conversation, rather than a firing-squad style conversation.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Listen. *

Really listen to your interviewee talking as you take notes. Think about if you have any follow-up questions about their statements. If you don’t, then move on to the next prepared question.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Prepare a basic outline of questions, but avoid reading them word-for-word. *

Again, you want to know your questions enough to ask them in a casual way to your interviewee. And you want to ask them when it’s appropriate to in the conversation.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions. *

You want to understand the interviewee and the story well. You want to clarify things so you can clearly explain things to your audience.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Ask the “do you have anything else to add before we finish” question. *

You never know what helpful information will come out!

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Allow silence. *

Silence is awkward. People fill silence with additional banter. It may be helpful banter for your story.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Show interest with proper response. *

Make eye contact, smile, and nod to show your interest. Try not to make the “uh huh” and “go on” noises. This is a bad habit and will ruin audio interviews if you engage in those behaviors.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Option 3

Other:

Required

Watch, look, and listen to the environment around you. *

Reporters and storytellers are excellent observers and listeners. They are socially aware.

This tip isn't particularly helpful for me.

Other:

Required

Any Other Suggestions for Yourself/Partner? *

Please Write Down Your Name. *

I will send both you and your partner a copy of your answers.

Please Write Down Your Partner's Name. *

I will send both you and your partner a copy of your answers.

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