How To Prepare Questions for the Interview

By: Idyll Liza Peroramas

Preparing questions for your interviewee is the next step after you research about his/her personal info and background. Take note that interviews would not exist if there are no questions. So, here are some tips on how to prepare your questions. Read on.


1. Write down your questions.
Being prepared is more than impressing your interviewee. Preparing great questions to ask in the interview is the way to show your interviewee how interested you are. These pre-listed questions are based on your research about the person you would interview and the issue you would tackle.



2. Ask open-ended questions.
Open-ended questions are intended to encourage a full and meaningful answer using the subject's own knowledge and emotions. Obviously, it is the opposite of a closed-ended question, which only requires a short or even single-word answer like a “yes” or “no.”

Example:
a. Closed-Ended: Do you get along with your husband?
Open-Ended: Tell me about your relationship with your husband. How is it going?


3. Pay attention.
Truly, it's impossible to foretell what might come up during your conversation. Nevertheless—as what I’ve mentioned earlier—it is still important to be prepared with a series of questions to raise. But usually, most of your questions will be based on their statements rather than the ones you have prepared from your research. That's why you have to focus in listening to your interviewee. You have to be attentive and keen enough to ask a follow-up query on his/her statement.


4. Don’t fret. Don’t hesitate. Don’t pretend.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what your interviewee is talking about. Remember, you are there to get information, to gather data and to know whatever it is you have to know. Don’t hesitate to ask about the things he/she had said. And don’t pretend to know if you don’t.


Preparing questions may seem difficult at first but if you keep on doing it, then surely you will be a great interviewer. Hopefully, the above tips will help you in your interview.###