Interviews: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Interview

Ethnographies and Interviews can add depth and first hand observations to a writer's credit, yet each of these research tools requires completely different attitudes from the writer. In the article, "The Ethnography: What it is and How to Write it", I stated the goal to be a "fly on the wall". In the interview, the writer jumps into the job of becoming a cross between lawyer and psychiatrist.

An interview requires active participation from the writer or journalist. They become the leader and the director of the conversation, but it is the person "being" interviewed who needs to speak, "not" the interviewer. A successful journalist becomes a master at knowing when to speak and when to listen. For a perfect example of this technique, watch some of Barbara Walter's or Charles Gibson's interviews. You will discover two types of questions: open and closed. Good journalists are wizards at knowing when to ask which type of question.

Closed Questions:

Closed questions are questions requiring a direct, concise answer.

What day is it? What time is it? Where were you born? What is your job title?

As you can tell from the questions above, the closed question inquires, but in a way that the answer closes the topic, allowing the interviewer to redirect the conversation as they wish.

Open Questions:

The open question draws a person out and gets them to talk about themselves or give more detailed information.

What made you feel that way? And how did they react to that? What brought you to that belief? Could you tell me what you saw?

From the questions above, you can see the question leaves the topic wide open, allowing the individual to speak at depth. It is during the answers to open questions, the journalist must really learn to listen.

Both Close and Open Questions Required

Alternating these two methods is how an interviewer can keep his interview going, controlling the flow of conversation like a dam controls water flow. As an interviewer grows in skill, they also learn which is needed in order to get to the truth.

If a journalist is interviewing someone who persists in one-word answers, they can start asking open questions in the hope of finding a topic engaging to the one being interviewed. If they are interviewing someone who wanders and meanders, rambling on without giving any substance, the interviewer can start asking closed questions to keep the individual on-track. The majority of the time, you will find a successful interview will use both of these methods.

Prepared but Flexible

A successful interviewer must be prepared. Not only should you try to have some idea of what this person you are interviewing is all about, but also have a list or idea of what questions you would like to ask. Tip: Be flexible. You do not want to be so rigid in your questions you miss an opportunity to spot a real gem in the conversation. Listen carefully to what you subject is actually saying.

Listening

Again, we come to listening. This is important on so many levels, I cannot stress it enough. Your job as an interviewer is not to validate your own opinion. It is to learn what the individual you are interviewing has to say. You cannot do this if: a) you already hold an opinion and you're merely trying to have someone affirm it or b) you talk so much you don't allow the subject to open up and really tell you something.

We see this problem frequently in political interviews. You listen to the reporter ask a question and receive an answer. Somewhere in the answer they receive, something nags at you. You wait for the reporter to pick it up and ask a follow-up question. That question never comes. The interviewer moves on to something else and completely misses that golden opportunity. With our arena of sound bytes and flashing text bars, often we forget how to listen between the lines.

Tips for a Successful Interview

With the prior subjects in mind, here are some steps to help you work toward successful interviews.

1. Be prepared. Try to learn something about your subject beforehand. You don't have to be an expert but remember, "Engaged writing" You do need to find a common interest. People can feel genuine interest and they are much more likely to open up to someone who is actually interested in what they have to say, rather than someone simply "doing a job."

2. Write up a series of questions or topics you'd like to ask about. This serves two purposes. Having a list helps give you confidence and having a list can help keep you on-track. Note: Consider this list a guideline only. If you hear one of those gems mentioned above in the "Listening" section, don't miss it because you're trying so hard to stick to your list.

3. If the person allows, try to use a tape recorder for the interview. This allows you to put your full attention into listening instead of trying to listen while taking notes. This technique will often require a trusting rapport with the individual you are interviewing. Be honest with this and honor their decision.

4. Go to them; don't make them come to you. This person is doing you a favor. Meet at their convenience, if at all possible, at their chosen location and do your best in the very beginning to put them at ease, making them feel comfortable. Do you have any common ground? Do you have some of the same interests? Brief touches on these can go a long way toward opening someone up.

5. Be interested in what they have to say. Remember, this is not "your" story but "their" story. It is not "your" personal experiences, but "their" personal experiences. Be quiet and actually listen!

6. Use open and closed questions to direct the flow of conversation. Ask, and then listen. Remember the gems. If you hear one, pursue it further. It may not be on the original topic of your interview, but it may be more valuable to you in the long run.

7. Be ethical. If someone says they want to say something off the record, first try to find out why and perhaps offer alternatives. If they don't speak on the record, they really do not help your interview. If after trying to persuade them otherwise, they insist their comments be off the record, turn off your tape recorder, put your pen down and listen.

8. Respect their wishes. If someone requests you not use their name, again you can try to persuade them otherwise as it adds to the validity of your interview but respect their final decision. There may be a true need of anonymity.

9. Keep to their time frame. Many people have very busy schedules and they are giving you a piece of that valuable time. Do not abuse that. If they only have a certain amount of time and you really need more information, try to get them to schedule a follow-up interview with you later. Respect their time frame.

10. Thank them. Thanking someone for their valuable time and attention is just as important as listening. It ends your interview on a positive note and makes it much more likely you will be privileged to interview them again.

Transcript Suggestion

Writing up and keeping a transcript of your interview can be very helpful in both going over your notes and providing for an accurate record. Here's one I try and use during my own interviews.

Part I

Topic:
Who was interviewed?
Type and date of interview (in person, on phone, email)

Part II

The series of questions/answers

You:
Your Subject:

You:
Your Subject:

Part III

Your conclusions on your interview. What worked and what didn't? What would you like to try differently next time?

Keeping this type of record can be very helpful in both going over your notes and providing an accurate record.

Engaged Writing Exercises for Interviews

1. The political season is the perfect time for following interviews. Take an hour or two and watch the interviews of political candidates. Listen to the questions and consider the pertinence, whether they are open or closed. Were there times when you wish a follow up question was asked? Is so, write them down. They may become writing ideas for you later.

2. If you have the opportunity, write your own interview prepared from this lesson's suggestions: Prepare for your interview; Conduct your interview with the individual; Write up your interview results using the format suggested below

Other articles in the Engaged Writing Series

Logical Fallacies: What they are and How do we keep them out of our writing?
The Ethnography: What it is and How to Write it.
Writing for Your Readers: Academic and Informal Papers
For or Against: Writing an Effective Argumentative Essay
Breaking the Writer's Block: Sparking the Ideas