Interviewing

Making contact with your interviewee

• Contact the potential interviewee in advance.
• Be sure that you ask for the interview. This person is doing you a favor.
• Arrange a specific time and place, and let the interviewee know how much time it will take.
• Identify the topic that you will be discussing during the interview.

Preparing for the interview

• Be sure to write out a list of questions in advance.
• Find out whatever information you can about the person you’re interviewing (website, company brochures, etc.).
• Decide which questions are highest priority if time runs short.
• Decide what your goals are for the interview.

Coming up with Questions

• Ask yourself: What is it that I need to know?
• Write down a list of things that you are hoping to find out.
• Write a list of questions that you think will lead to these answers.
• Check the questions carefully to see if the wording could be offensive or simply confusing to your interviewee.

Meeting with your interviewee

• Bring a notebook and several pens.
• It's OK to tape-record the interview, but be sure to ask permission first.
• Keep notes on the interview, but make sure that you are still talking to the interviewee, not just scribbling.
• Be sure that you come to the interview with a prepared list of questions (more than you think you’ll need!).
• Try to stick to the topic at hand, but be ready to be flexible if your interviewee brings up unexpected but valuable information.

Email Interviewing

• If you need to interview via email, don’t forget to ask permission for the interview.
• Make sure that you establish the scope of the interview and the amount of time the interviewee is committing to.
• Remember that the same rules of courtesy still apply.

Following up on your interview

• Always be sure to thank your interviewee, orally and in writing.
• Once you have written up your results, let your interviewee see the results, in order to confirm that you’ve represented him/her accurately.