1. Don’t just conduct an interview, have a conversation. Forget about your list of questions and simply enjoy getting to know someone.
2. Always do your homework. Do as much research as you possibly can: know your subject, know the issues and understand what your audience would want to know if they were asking the questions.
3. Be a good listener and hear what your subject is telling you. Your best questions come off the back of the interviewee’s last answer so even though you may have a list of questions, you don’t have to follow it!
4. Ask open ended questions. Try to start your questions with words like “how” and “why”. Those two words can never be responded to with the words, “yes” or “no”.
5. Keep questions as short as possible and give the interviewee plenty of time to answer.
6. Make use of pauses just as you would in a regular conversation. If the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed the conversation is likely to flow more freely.
7. Have fun. If you’re stressed or focused on note taking or concentrating on your list of questions your subject will “feel it” and will pick up on your nerves or apprehension. Remember that the best conversations are the fun ones. So just have fun and enjoy!
2. Always do your homework. Do as much research as you possibly can: know your subject, know the issues and understand what your audience would want to know if they were asking the questions.
3. Be a good listener and hear what your subject is telling you. Your best questions come off the back of the interviewee’s last answer so even though you may have a list of questions, you don’t have to follow it!
4. Ask open ended questions. Try to start your questions with words like “how” and “why”. Those two words can never be responded to with the words, “yes” or “no”.
5. Keep questions as short as possible and give the interviewee plenty of time to answer.
6. Make use of pauses just as you would in a regular conversation. If the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed the conversation is likely to flow more freely.
7. Have fun. If you’re stressed or focused on note taking or concentrating on your list of questions your subject will “feel it” and will pick up on your nerves or apprehension. Remember that the best conversations are the fun ones. So just have fun and enjoy!
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