The 10 Stages of the Interview

The Ten Stages of the Interview

1. Defining the purpose of the interview – Ask yourself these questions: What information do I want? Who can best provide it? Be candid about your purpose with your subject and you will sweep away barriers of mistrust. Even difficult questions become easier if the subject knows why you are asking.

2. Conducting background research – Acquaint yourself with the issues and events related to your purpose. Only by research – reviewing what’s gone before – can you grasp what questions may lead you into new territory. Also, you don’t want to look like a fool to your interview subject!

3. Requesting an interview appointment – No one is obliged to grant you an interview. If you have not met the person before, you may have to sell yourself much as a salesperson would. Be enthusiastic. Be confident. Explain your purpose. Establish rapport.

4. Planning the interview – The more you plan, the more unplanned and spontaneous the interview seems. Make a statement of goals. Plan your greeting (icebreakers, etc.), jot down topics and questions, plan to ask for examples, illustrative anecdotes and summarizing comments. Build into your plan stuff that’s unplanned. In other words, be prepared to venture into new territory.

5. Meeting the respondent – Use social conventions to let the person get to know you. They are sizing you up. Make connections with small talk. Be friendly, amiable, and use humor where appropriate. Take their time into consideration.

6. Asking your first questions – Transition into serious questions. Tell your respondent the purpose, if you haven’t done so already.

7. Establishing an easy rapport – This is the heart of your interview. If you’ve done your preparation, the information will flow freely and candidly. The more informal the conversation, the more you will learn. The more you listen and respond enthusiastically to what the source says, the more you will learn. And the more you show your curiosity and your preparation by the questions you ask, the more you will learn. Don’t worry about fumbling or struggling. Be human. It will work in your favor.

8. Asking the bomb – Keep them late in the interview, banking on the rapport you’ve built. Most interviews don’t have a bomb, but don’t be afraid to pursue one if it seems appropriate.

9. Recovering from the bomb – Bank on your rapport to carry you back into a free-flowing interviewing mode. Play the “me, too” card. Tell an embarrassing story about yourself or identify with the information from “the bomb” in some way.

10. Concluding the interview – Offer to stop on time, but keep going if the good information is flowing. Signal your intent to close. Ask for any final thoughts. Leave your card. Ask for documents. Leave the door open for a followup. Say good-bye. Watch for the afterglow, and keep listening for good info. Write a thank you if appropriate.