Know yourself

Treat the interview as a professional matter.  You never know if you will make a connection that will benefit you later in life or in your career!

Whatever your state of mind during the interview, it will show. If you are enthusiastic, you will perform better. If you are uncomfortable, your distress will show; if you are preoccupied, you will come across as uninterested.

Know your message

Before you start an interview, know exactly what you want to say.

Prepare your questions and rehearse them.  It's best not to stray too far from the topic at hand and bring the interviewee back to the center if they run on or go off on a tangent.

Do your homework

Know the background of your interviewee.  This means to come prepared to impress the person you are interviewing by being familiar with their job or research or current problems in the field.  

"Off the Record"

Don't consider anything you say as "off the record" simply because you say it is. Say only what you want and keep confidential information confidential.

Identifying yourself

Establish how you want to be identified.

--Adapted from https://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/working-with-media (2021)

• Don't fidget - keep calm and have an even demeanor.  This also means do not talk with your hands! 

• Be upbeat and positive.  Throw a compliment out first to put your interviewee at ease and open up with you. (i.e. "Your office has personality." or "I'm fascinated by this job and am considering this area for a potential job.")

• If you have a camera, don't nudge or move it around during the interview.

• Make sure your audio is coming in clear.  Test it with earbuds or headphones in the environment before you start the interview.  Buzzing and random noises may be picked up that you aren't aware of.  

• Make eye contact.  This establishes trust and ease.

• If the interviewee states something that you feel needs to be explained, go ahead and ask about that.  They may assume you know or may want you to follow up.

• Anyone not being recorded or interviewed should be still and attentive.

• Refer to notes if needed to help keep you on topic.

• This is a one time shot.  Do not waste the interviewees time by having to come back.  Take this task seriously.

• State your name and your reason for interviewing in the beginning as well as introduce your interviewee including their job title and credentials.

• Avoid telling your own personal stories.  The interview is not about you!

• If you feel you the person you are interviewing is going off topic too much, feel free to reign them in.  If you don't, you may have a lot of editing to do!