Interviewing basics
- Do your homework. Know as much as you can about your subject. Know why you are interviewing them.
- Make a list of key questions in advance whenever possible, but don’t use it a script. Remember that yes or no questions usually yield one-word answers. Open-ended questions yield much more information.
- Begin with the basics. Who? What? Why? When? How much?
- Mine for details with follow-ups like, Who else? What else? Why not? And especially: How do you know?
- Ask for examples. “Can you give me some examples of what kind of complaints you’ve received? Can you give me an example of what you mean by ‘improvements’?”
- Get the details that will back up sensitive information. “Who else was in the room when he said that?”
- Ask about records that may be available. “Was there any report made of the complaint? Who would have a copy?”
- Listen for good quotes. Listen for good anecdotes. Try to draw out the details without too much interruption.
- Take good notes. Transcribe them as soon as you can, marking key quotes and rewriting portions that may be hard to interpret when the interview is no longer fresh in your mind.
- Before ending an interview, ask if there is anything you have forgotten to ask. That question often yields some of the most revealing information.
- Ask for names and numbers of other sources. “Is there anyone else I should talk to?” “Do you know how I can reach them?”