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Appendix
Interviewing
CHAPTER OUTCOMES
In this chapter, students will learn:
• The different types of interviews
• Ways to plan interview topics and interview questions
CHAPTER OUTLINE
WHAT IS INTERVIEWING?
An interview is like a good conversation, filled with thoughtful questions and interesting answers. But an
interview also has a structure and a defined purpose. Its success often depends on how carefully you plan
it, including anticipating the topics that will be covered and the questions that will be asked.
• Interviewing is a planned and structured conversation between two or more persons that uses
questions and answers to meet a specific purpose. An interview is planned and structured because the
• The interviewer determines the interview purpose, plans the questions, and manages the flow of the
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• The interviewee is the person answering the questions. This is not a passive activity because
interviewees must prepare for and actively participate in the interview.
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
• Although there are a large variety of ways interviews occur in public, personal, and professional
settings, you are most likely to encounter one of these two types:
1. Information interviews generate knowledge or understanding of a particular topic. Information
2. Employment interviews manage an organization’s personnel. There are three kinds of
employment interviews:
a. Selection interviews determine whether applicants have the education, experience, and
proper attitude required for a job. The selection interview is the most common method of
selection and is the primary focus of this appendix.
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW
• Preparing for an interview entails a number of steps for both the interviewer and the interviewee. The
interviewer’s steps should include:
Defining Your Purpose
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• If you’re going to be interviewed, take time beforehand to consider what topics might be covered, and
be prepared to answer questions. For example, you may need to be ready to talk in depth about how
you’ve successfully applied your skills in previous work settings.
Developing an Interview Protocol
• An interview protocol is a list of questions, written in a logical order, that guide the interview. When
preparing to conduct an interview, an interview protocol will show whether you are including all the
topics you need and whether you are arranging them in a way that makes sense.
• If you are an interviewee, you should;
o
Be responsive to the order of questions that you’re asked. Answer in turn and completely.
o
Avoid perceptual errors by trying to “second guess” where the interviewer is going with the
questions.
Determining Questions to Ask
• Questions are the heart of any interview, and not all questions are the same. When you’re developing
your interview protocol, consider these different types of questions:
o
Primary questions can be used to introduce topics or new areas within a topic. These questions
guide the conversation and are written into the interview protocol.
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is enough. Use active listening skills to ensure you understand the interviewee’s answers. How
you phrase a question can also affect the way interviewees answer.
o
Closed questions usually require only a yes or no response, which limits the range of possible
answers. They can help you move quickly through topics during the interview and swiftly
determine whether you’ve gathered critical information.
o
Neutral questions can be used to find out what the interviewee really thinks or feels about a
topic.
•
Knowing the different types of questions also helps when you’re being interviewed.
ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR INTERVIEWING
Regardless of your role—interviewer or interviewee—you create a relationship every time you take part
in an interview. Just as with any interpersonal interaction you are a part of, the success of the interview
depends on how well you communicate with your partner.
BEING AN ACTIVE LISTENER
• Listening involves hearing, understanding, remembering, interpreting, evaluating, and responding to
others’ communication.
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1. Choose a quiet location with few distractions, such as an office or another room that allows you
some privacy during the interview. This is true whether you are conducting the interview in
2. Use nonverbal communication to promote immediacy, or a sense of closeness and involvement
between you and your interview partner. For instance, make eye contact, face the other person,
smile, use an engaged vocal tone, and occasionally lean toward them. Your verbal responses can
also confirm that you are listening.
o
One way to do this is by paraphrasing or restating in your own words what you think the
person said. This is helpful when the interviewee has given a long and detailed answer,
BUILDING RAPPORT AND DEMONSTRATING COOPERATION
• Rapport building, or exchanging messages that create a bond and a positive first impression, helps
you quickly set the tone for an interview. Build rapport and demonstrate cooperation by:
o Using an opening handshake.
o
Using a friendly, upbeat greeting.
o
Using the other person’s name, knowing how the person prefers to be addressed, and pronouncing
the name correctly.
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USING MEDIATED COMMUNICATION DURING INTERVIEWS
• Using mediated communication technologies during interviews can help save time and travel costs,
but they can also be challenging for interview participants. To ensure that your interview achieves its
purpose, consider how to best use these technologies.
2.
Asynchronous video interviews are when applicants record answers to questions provided to them
in advance. The recorded video is then uploaded to a secure website, where employers can
quickly view a number of applicants and determine whom to interview further.
o
With synchronous and asynchronous video interviews, the following seven steps will help
you competently conduct or participate in the conversation:
1. Make sure you know how to use whatever equipment is involved. Take time to learn how
the camera operates and how to use the related video conferencing software.
3. Practice your video delivery, and focus the camera to a medium close-up shot, so that you
capture your upper torso and head.
4. Dress appropriately.
5. Maintain eye contact with the camera, and vary your vocal expressiveness.
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INFORMATION INTERVIEWING
You may conduct information interviews for a variety of reasons, such as talking to an expert as research
for a speech or reaching out to a local nonprofit as part of a service-learning project. Or you might meet
with someone who works at a company you want to learn more about. Careful preparation will help you
get the most from these experiences.
PREPARING FOR AN INFORMATION INTERVIEW
Conduct Background Research
•
Deciding whom you want to interview isn’t always as easy as it sounds; the key is to select someone
who has the relevant experience and knowledge to provide the information you need.
Identify Your Purpose
• Why do you want to interview this particular person? What information are you hoping to gain?
Prepare Your Interview Protocol
•Develop a protocol by coming up with a set of primary questions to introduce major topics and
Request the Interview
• Contact the person to request a meeting. Usually, email is the best way to do this, but you can also
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• Decide on a mutually agreeable date and time to meet—one that’s convenient for the interviewee.
• Confirm details, such as location, telephone number, or screen name and application.
MANAGING AN INFORMATION INTERVIEW
• Once you’ve been granted an information interview, you can manage it competently by doing the
following:
Build Rapport
• Open the interview by building rapport. Chatting informally at first will help both of you feel more
Be Engaged
• Apply active listening skills by asking follow-up questions to clarify the person’s meaning or to get
more information. Paraphrase lengthy answers to ensure that you understand what the interviewee has
End on a Productive Note
• The process of ending an interview is known as leave-taking and indicates that the interview is about
to finish. You can signal this through your final question, such as, “Is there anything I didn’t ask
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correcting. You can also ask permission to get back in touch with any additional questions that might
come up. Be sure to thank the person for his or her time, and follow up with a thank-you note.
EMPLOYMENT SELECTION INTERVIEWING
Your best chance of getting the job of your dreams is to make an excellent impression during the
employment selection interview. To do that, you’ll need to prepare carefully for the interview and then
skillfully manage the communication that unfolds during the interview.
PREPARING FOR AN EMPLOYMENT SELECTION INTERVIEW
Research Potential Employers
• Learn as much as you can about the company that is interviewing you. Recruiters and hiring
managers favor applicants who know something about the organization, which includes
• Armed with this knowledge you will be able to:
• Speak intelligently about how your experience and skills are a good fit for the job.
• Have a better sense of whether you’re a good fit for the position.
Develop Your Résumé and Cover Letter
• When you apply for a job, you typically submit a résumé, a written summary of your education, work
experience, and skills. Most employers require one of two types of résumés:
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1. A chronological résumé outlines the history of your education and work experience, starting
with the most recent. See Figure A.1 on page A-17 of the text for an example.
• There are a lot of varying opinions on what detailed content should be covered, so you should
research what the acceptable standard is regarding the amount of information to include for the
industry to which you are applying.
• Many
good online resources exist that can help you create résumés, including monster.com and
jobsearch.about.com. You can also seek support at your college’s career services department. Use
these sources as well as your own research to carefully craft your application materials.
• Résumés are often accompanied by a cover letter, which introduces you and highlights your
qualifications for the job in question. Think of the cover letter as a persuasive message that expresses
how your work experience and skills meet the employer’s needs. Remember these three tips when
preparing your cover letter:
a. Use vivid and descriptive language to direct the reader to key areas of your résumé that showcase
your qualifications.
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c. Conclude your cover letter by requesting an interview.
• Remember that your résumé and cover letter are the first impressions for a potential employer. Make
sure that they:
a. Convey your qualifications for the job.
b. Are professional-looking documents with clean, crisp formats.
c. Use a readable font, such as Arial or Helvetica.
Review Your Social Media Image
• If potential employers saw your Instagram feed, Twitter feed, or Facebook account, what impressions
would they form about you? Some employers check Google, LinkedIn, and social media sites to
gather additional information about job applicants.
Develop Your Own Questions
• Most employment selection interviewers conclude the interview by inviting the applicant to ask
questions. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you know about the company. Rather
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MANAGING AN EMPLOYMENT SELECTION INTERVIEW
• In addition to carefully preparing for a job interview, you’ll make a good impression by
Dress Appropriately
• Although it may seem unfair, interviewers will judge you by your clothes, hairstyle, body art, and
other nonverbal behaviors. Research has found that students who dressed professionally for the
interview were rated higher in social skills and were considered more desirable for employment than
those who were informally dressed. Be sure to do the following:
o
You can also ask someone who’s familiar with the business or someone in the company’s human
resources department.
o
Overall, the standard rule is to dress in a professional manner.
Understand Every Question
• Even when interviewers have prepared for the meeting, they may ask confusing or assumptive
questions. Rather than just spouting out a response you are unsure of:
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Deal Competently with Unlawful Questions
• Federal and state laws exist to protect citizens from discrimination when applying for a job. It is
illegal for employers to ask job applicants about things that are not relevant to the job, such as their
age, sex, ethnicity, national origin, and religion. The following are examples of questions an
interviewer should not ask:
o
Where were you born?
o Are you married?
o
Do you have or plan to have children?
• Employers may ask a question about religion, gender, age, or national origin if it relates to a bona
fide occupational qualification, which is a characteristic essential to operating the business.
• If you believe a question is unlawful, you’ll need to decide how to respond. Consider the following:
o The motive behind the question. Is it an innocent mistake or malicious in intent?
o
Think about how much you want the job. Though not legal or even fair, know that it might be
risky to point out that a question is unlawful. With these factors in mind, you could respond in a
Demonstrate Positivity and Optimism
• Interviewers expect you to do some self-promotion, including describing your job-related experiences
positively, without misrepresenting your accomplishments. Focus on strengths you bring to the
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position. Your aim is to sell yourself by demonstrating how your experience and skills can meet the
employer’s needs.
• Don’t downplay or cover up negative work experiences. Instead, acknowledge a negative experience
and emphasize what you learned from it. If you had a bad experience with a previous boss or job, be
as diplomatic as possible in describing it. Criticizing your last boss will only make you look bad.
Follow Up Promptly
• Even after an interview, you’ll need to continue making a positive impression as you follow up. If the
interviewer asks for a list of references, send it within 24 hours.
• While a handwritten note is ideal, an email sent to your interviewer is also acceptable. A gracious
thank-you note also includes specific details from the interview, such as why you continue to be
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Describe your most recent interview. Did you feel prepared for the questions that were asked?
If you could do it over again, what would you change?
• Have students share examples from their recent interview experiences. Use these examples to
2. Should ethics affect the process of preparing a résumé and cover letter for the interview
process? Explain your response.
• Help students understand the importance of being honest during the interview process. Ask
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3. Discuss the importance of conducting research on a potential employer prior to an interview.
What are some easy ways to do this research? Give an example of what might happen if you are
interviewed but have failed to do any research ahead of time.
• Discuss with students the positive impact that being knowledgeable about the history, the service,
4. During an interview, when do you think it is appropriate to ask an interviewer about the salary,
work hours, and vacation time? Why?
• Remind students that although these questions are important, seeming too eager to discover a
salary or benefit information or required hours may send the wrong signals to the interviewer.
5. If you have had little direct experience in your chosen field, how should you signal to a potential
employer that you would be an asset to their company?
• Have students give examples of ways to overcome a lack of experience and discuss these ideas.
Many students fail to recognize the value or existence of skills they have obtained through school,
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1.
Accomplishment Brainstorming and Interview Roleplay
Goal: To help students brainstorm their own accomplishments that could be useful on a résumé or in
an interview.
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Time: 30 minutes
What you will need: Three note cards per student.
1. Give each student three note cards.
2. Ask students to spend five minutes developing at least three items that would answer the
following question:
3. Once complete, give students an additional five minutes to select answer the following questions
about each:
a. What skills or knowledge did you use?
4. Ask students to pair up and take turns as interviewee and interviewer. The interviewer draws a
card and asks interview questions about the accomplishment while the interviewee responds.
2. Mock Job Fair
Goal: To give students an opportunity to practice preparing a résumé and cover letter and attending an
interview or job fair.
Time: 60 minutes
1. Ask two or three local professionals to participate in your “job fair.” This activity works best if
the people you choose are experienced at reviewing résumés and hiring employees.
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3. To prepare for the mock job fair, ask students to create a résumé and cover letter for their dream
job. Explain that they will need to dress professionally and bring several clean copies of their
4. Hold the mock job fair at a designated place and time, such as during one class period.
5. In a later class, return the critiqued cover letters and résumés and discuss how to use the
3.
So, You’ve Landed an Interview—Now What?
Goal: To help students think through the process of preparing for an interview.
Time: 30 minutes
1. Divide students into groups of three or four.
What additional information would they want to know ahead of time to prepare for their
interview? How would they suggest obtaining the information?
3. Bring the groups back together to discuss their results and make additional suggestions.
4.
Human Resources Interviews
Goal: To help students improve both their résumés and their interviewing techniques.
Time: 45 minutes
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1. As an assignment, have students bring a copy of a current cover letter and résumé to class. I
2. Ask students to pair off and exchange cover letters and résumés.
3. Explain to students that they should pretend they are working as an interviewer in human
4. Once they have developed their questions, have the students interview each other.
5.
Who Am I?
Goal: To help students practice their interviewing skills while having a little fun.
Time: 60 minutes
1. Have students select a famous public figure, sports figure, or actor, but to keep that person’s
identity a secret.
2. Students should imagine they are the public figure they selected. As that person, students will be
MEDIA RESOURCES
1.
How to Prepare for a Job Interview
This one-minute video from Toastmasters International offers tips on important elements needed for
interviews. The video is from the perspective of a college graduate on what she learned from
2. Quintessential Careers
Have students visit the Quintessential Careers career development website to find a wealth of
3.
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together in 2007 at D5
This interview with both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates at the D5: All Things Digital Conference is
4.
The Art of the Interview
Cultural historian Marc Pachter presents a TED Talk about the secrets of conducting a great
5.
Job Search Tips (Part 11): How to Write a Cover Letter
This three-minute video from Snagajob explains why and how to write an effective cover letter. You