Cheska Marie D. Geli
For you to arrive on an interesting story, you need to gather information fresh from your reliable sources, and what better way to accomplish it is by conducting an interview.
An interview is one the most purposive form of dyadic communication. It is also organized and structured so you just can’t rush into your subject and spill everything that comes out from your mouth.
So for you to not spoil the interview and cause your subject to a sudden walkout, here are some tips on how to get ready for a smooth flowing exchange of talks.
1. Dig out information. You can’t talk to someone effectively on topics you barely know. Be sure you get a handful of information to aid you in asking your source. Having sufficient knowledge on the topic will not keep you off track and will help you establish a good conversation. If it’s a public figure that you will interview, try to google his/her name and look for background information. This process might even impress your subject that you really prepared for the interview and you’re equipped with additional information. For news makers, you can ask their close friends who can testify for them. Doing this will help you make a good start for the interview.
2. Organize your questions. After looking for facts on your chosen topic, it’s now time for you to make your questionnaire. By doing this, you are creating a guide on what to ask on your subject. Usually, questions are written in bullet form so that you can easily identify them. You do not only think of the questions to ask but in a way you are already creating a flow of the interview by organizing the questions you have at hand. This is your way of planning for the interview so as not to disorient you on the actual scene.
3. Make an appointment. In handling interviews, it is important for you to reach out to your sources. As the interviewer, you’re supposed to make all efforts to contact your subject and ask for their consent on the interview. Going through the formalities before an interview can be the most stressful part than the onset of the interview itself. First of all, you need to write a letter stating what the interview is for and what is it all about. Giving a formal letter doesn’t guarantee you of the interview; you still need to wait for the approval of your subject and then after that, you need to set schedule when and where the interview will happen. Tiring eh? Better follow the procedure than doing a crash interview.
4. Arrive on time or earlier. The principle of being on time still matters and will always be a priority. Arrive early than the expected time of meet-up so that you can have time to prepare for your things, set up your recorder, organize papers and even practice on the delivery of questions. This will also make your subject think that you are really looking forward on the interview if you arrive before them. It is better for you to wait for your sources than for them to wait for you which will be really awkward for it is you who is asking a great favor from them. To be on time means respecting the time of others.
5. Looking good is a plus. You don’t want your source to have an impression that you’re some kind of a trash on that rugged shirt and jagged jeans you’re wearing. It doesn’t mean though that you’ll go in an interview wearing that elegant gown you had back in your high school prom. The point is, you need to look presentable, moreover, dignified on that day of the interview. Wear smart casual and flaunt it in a delicate manner. You want to convince your source that you are someone worthy of handling the interview. Through this you want your source to think that you are aware of what you’re doing. In a way, they will be able to trust you and he/she won’t be hesitant in answering your questions.
Basically, these are some of the tips you need to know to help you achieve that level of confidence and competence for the interview. You need to go through all this to equip yourself on that big day where you’ll face your source who can be the nicest person in the world or the most intimidating one if left without a choice. Of course, the tips given are systematic and correlated which means the importance of one affects the effectiveness of the whole preparation process.
For you to arrive on an interesting story, you need to gather information fresh from your reliable sources, and what better way to accomplish it is by conducting an interview.
An interview is one the most purposive form of dyadic communication. It is also organized and structured so you just can’t rush into your subject and spill everything that comes out from your mouth.
So for you to not spoil the interview and cause your subject to a sudden walkout, here are some tips on how to get ready for a smooth flowing exchange of talks.
1. Dig out information. You can’t talk to someone effectively on topics you barely know. Be sure you get a handful of information to aid you in asking your source. Having sufficient knowledge on the topic will not keep you off track and will help you establish a good conversation. If it’s a public figure that you will interview, try to google his/her name and look for background information. This process might even impress your subject that you really prepared for the interview and you’re equipped with additional information. For news makers, you can ask their close friends who can testify for them. Doing this will help you make a good start for the interview.
2. Organize your questions. After looking for facts on your chosen topic, it’s now time for you to make your questionnaire. By doing this, you are creating a guide on what to ask on your subject. Usually, questions are written in bullet form so that you can easily identify them. You do not only think of the questions to ask but in a way you are already creating a flow of the interview by organizing the questions you have at hand. This is your way of planning for the interview so as not to disorient you on the actual scene.
3. Make an appointment. In handling interviews, it is important for you to reach out to your sources. As the interviewer, you’re supposed to make all efforts to contact your subject and ask for their consent on the interview. Going through the formalities before an interview can be the most stressful part than the onset of the interview itself. First of all, you need to write a letter stating what the interview is for and what is it all about. Giving a formal letter doesn’t guarantee you of the interview; you still need to wait for the approval of your subject and then after that, you need to set schedule when and where the interview will happen. Tiring eh? Better follow the procedure than doing a crash interview.
4. Arrive on time or earlier. The principle of being on time still matters and will always be a priority. Arrive early than the expected time of meet-up so that you can have time to prepare for your things, set up your recorder, organize papers and even practice on the delivery of questions. This will also make your subject think that you are really looking forward on the interview if you arrive before them. It is better for you to wait for your sources than for them to wait for you which will be really awkward for it is you who is asking a great favor from them. To be on time means respecting the time of others.
5. Looking good is a plus. You don’t want your source to have an impression that you’re some kind of a trash on that rugged shirt and jagged jeans you’re wearing. It doesn’t mean though that you’ll go in an interview wearing that elegant gown you had back in your high school prom. The point is, you need to look presentable, moreover, dignified on that day of the interview. Wear smart casual and flaunt it in a delicate manner. You want to convince your source that you are someone worthy of handling the interview. Through this you want your source to think that you are aware of what you’re doing. In a way, they will be able to trust you and he/she won’t be hesitant in answering your questions.
Basically, these are some of the tips you need to know to help you achieve that level of confidence and competence for the interview. You need to go through all this to equip yourself on that big day where you’ll face your source who can be the nicest person in the world or the most intimidating one if left without a choice. Of course, the tips given are systematic and correlated which means the importance of one affects the effectiveness of the whole preparation process.
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