Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Lecture Notes
Chapter 11: Interviewing
Learning Objectives
1. List the characteristics of a good cover letter and résumé.
8. Tell how an employment interview is coming to an end.
9. List the post-interview responsibilities of interviewers and interviewees.
Chapter Outline
I. Introduction
A. Goal-driven transaction, characterized by questions and answers.
B. Clear structure, control, imbalance.
C. Characteristics of interviews: Usually dyadic, takes place between two people.
D. Has all properties of communication:
i. Symbolic; verbal and nonverbal activity; requires meaning.
E. Conduction of identity work, relational work, cultural work.
F. Interviewer and interviewee standpoints.
II. Preparing for an Interview
A. Cover letter: Gets potential employer to review résumé.
i. Should be easy to read, with simple font style.
ii. Content should stand out.
Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
iii. Should be well-structured, relevant.
B. Cover Letters and Résumés
i. Four purposes: Declare interest in position, provide summary of qualifications,
compel person to read résumé, request interview.
ii. Address reader by last name, using proper title.
iii. Identify position applied for, in first paragraph: Also indicate how you discovered
position’s availability.
manner.
ix. Include address, telephone number, e-mail address.
x. Education, training: List in reverse chronological order.
III. Interviews
A. Goal-driven: Clearer purpose than other types of communication: Such as finding out
information, solving a problem, trying to persuade, assisting someone with a personal
problem, and so on.
B. Question–answer format.
C. Structured: Involve planning/preparation, clear sequence.
D. Generally controlled by interviewer: Amount of control depends on goal.
E. Time spend talking by interviewee is unbalanced.
F. Types of Interviews
i. Employment interviews: Potential employer interviews potential employee.
Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
iv. Information-gaining interviews: Solicit information from person; not always
easy to identify.
IV. Pre-Interview Responsibilities
A. Employment interviews most relevant for students.
B. Need for both sides to understand each other.
C. Certain responsibilities for both.
D. Interviewer Responsibilities
i. Reviewing application materials: To develop specific questions for them.
E. Interviewee Responsibilities
i. Gathering information: Read about organization, profession; organize information
about self.
ii. Prepare questions, and practice the interview.
V. Beginning an Employment Interview
A. Greeting and Appropriate Proxemics
i. Interviewee must convey respect for interviewer’s space.
B. Negotiating Relational Connection and Tone
i. Extent of power distance, tone negotiated in the beginning.
ii. Best to follow verbal, nonverbal cues of interviewer.
Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
iv. Otherwise assume tone to be formal.
v. Placement of interviewee in relation to interviewer: May indicate degree of
formality.
C. Establishing Purpose and Agenda
i. Informing interviewee how long interview will take.
VI. Asking the Questions During an Employment Interview
A. Primary and Secondary Questions
i. Primary questions: Introduce new topics during interview.
ii. Secondary questions: Seek elaboration/further information.
B. Open and Closed Questions
i. Open questions: Enable wide range of answers.
ii. Purposes: Gather information, assess communication skills, provide insight into
worldview.
C. Neutral and Leading Questions
i. Neutral questions: No indication of preferred way to respond.
D. Directive and Nondirective Questioning
i. Directive interviews: Fully controlled by interviewer.
ii. Closed, perhaps leading questions; clear line of questioning.
Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
E. Avoiding Illegal Questions
i. Potentially discriminatory questions cannot be asked.
ii. Equal employment opportunity laws: Prevent discrimination during hiring.
VII. Answering the Questions During an Employment Interview
A. Adjusting the Interview Frame
i. Frames: Define scenario, determine meaning, roles/expectations of participants.
ii. Interview frame: One person asks questions, other answers.
B. Learning from Successful and Unsuccessful Interviewees
i. Reframing interview: Can be successful even in absence of selection.
C. Answering Common Questions
i. Tell Me a Little About Yourself: Education, work experience, career highlights,
achievements: Emphasize suitability for position, benefit for organization.
ii. What Are Your Greatest Strengths? Concrete examples to support each
strength.
iii. What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses? Phrase responses to minimize
Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
vi. What Is Your Ideal Job? Attributes of ideal position; how present position
meets description.
vii. Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job? Address, don’t dwell; Taking
partial responsibility, learning from situation.
viii. What Are Your Expectations in Terms of Salary? Conducting research
D. Dealing with Illegal Questions
i. Intentional/unintentional violations are common.
ii. Depends on perception of intentionality, need for job.
iii. Serious need to question whether employer will be appropriate in future.
iv. Stewart, Cash: Strategies to deal with illegal questions, while continuing
interview.
VIII. Concluding an Employment Interview
A. Interviewer Responsibilities
i. Wrap-Up Signal: Initiate conclusion; indicating phrase.
ii. Summarize the Interview: Straightforward, brief; allows for clarifications.
iii. Ask for Questions: About position, organization.
B. Interviewee Responsibilities
i. Ask Questions: Written during pre-interview preparations; concerns about
position.
ii. Reinforce Qualifications and Enthusiasm: Summarize qualifications,
underscore enthusiasm.
iii. Inquire About Schedule (If Not Provided): Future contact, decision making.
Instructor Resource
Duck, Communication in Everyday Life: The Basic Course Edition With Public Speaking, 3e
IX. Post-Interview Responsibilities
A. Interviewer Responsibilities
i. Assess the Job Candidate: Record evaluation, additional thoughts soon after
interview.
ii. Contact Interviewee: Ensure all interviewees are contacted about decision.
B. Interviewee Responsibilities