Today is the last day to join, so if you want in on it, be sure to read over the rules and PM Shakespearicles!OPWA: Episode Two · 4:33pm May 2nd, 2016
Overpriced Writing Advice
Where you can learn the stuff I paid thousands of dollars to have taught to me, for free.
10 Formal Interview Tips
1. Prepare. Learn who your subject is and what their field of expertise is. You can’t ask good questions from a place of complete ignorance. Delving deeper means getting your hands dirty with the surface stuff too.
2. Come up with questions beforehand. These will be your guide, but don’t feel stuck to them. Follow-up questions are good, expected, and appreciated! Be sure to share your questions with your interviewee before the interview begins. They’ll appreciate the courtesy, and you’ll get more coherent responses!
3. When you start, warm up your interviewee with some short small talk. Keep it light with general and easy questions. It’ll get you into the mood, too!
4. Avoid “yes” or “no” questions. You want details, not monosyllabic responses!
5. Be a good listener. Let them talk. Interject only if they stray too far from the information you’re looking for.
6. Don’t be afraid of silence. Sometimes not saying anything immediately after a subject “finishes” speaking leads them to reveal something else of potential interest!
7. When asking a follow-up question, try to keep it focused and relevant to the question that preceded it. Avoid getting off-topic yourself.
8. If you feel a misunderstanding has occurred, rephrase and refocus to keep your subject on point. Remember what you are trying to get at during the interview. Never forget your goals!
9. Conclude with a question like: “Is there anything I haven’t asked that you would like to share?”
10. Profit!
