Conducting an Interview

1
Conducting an Interview

• Wednesday, Mar 12, 2008

2
A good interview paper

• Give the name of the interviewee and explain why
  that person is a credible source for a particular
  topic.
• Paraphrase and quote interviewee(s)
• Organize information logically

3
Setting up the interview

• Decide who would be the most appropriate person
  or people to interview.
• Contact the person
• Polite
• Motivated

4
Requesting an interview

• Your name and why you are contacting the person?
• Why do you choose to interview this person?
• How long will the interview be?
• Set up a time and place
• (a few alternative dates and times)
• A sincere thank-you at the end

5
Prepare for the interview

• Prepare a list of interview questions
• Open-ended questions
• Ask the interviewee to describe, explain, or tell
  things
• All the questions have a focus
• The questions are well organized

6
Inappropriate interview questions

• Do you agree that ?
• When did you ...?
• How many ?

7
Before the interview

• Decide whether to tape-record the interview
  process (permission from the interviewee
  required)
• Contact the interviewee the day before the
  interview to confirm the appointment
• Print off the interview questions

8
During the interview

• Arrive on time
• Dressed appropriately
• Set up the equipments (if necessary)
• Speak slowly and clearly
• Eye contact
• Time keeping

9
During the interview

• Break the ice at the beginning
• Add follow-up questions if necessary.
• Note-taking
• Ask for permission to call or email for further
  questions
• Say a sincere thank-you before you leave

10
After the interview

• Write up the notes ASAP
• Write down your own response to what the
  interviewee said
• Check for missing information
• Send a thank-you email to the interviewee