I’ve been conducting interviews for over 20 years nowโeveryone from kindergarteners (hands down the most brutally honest interviewees) to CEOs who’ve been media trained to perfection. Here’s what I’ve picked up along the way.
๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ
I always research my interview subjects. LinkedIn profiles, recent company news, industry contextโwhatever I can find. But here’s the thing: I keep most of that knowledge in the background.
When students ask why I’m asking questions I could have googled, I explain that you can’t always trust what’s online until you hear it directly. Plus, how someone tells their own story often reveals priorities and perspectives you won’t find in their official bio.
These days, I donโt ask as much for basics that are reliably posted on LinkedInโgraduation years, job titles, company info. Better to focus your questions on what you can’t find online.
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐
While I prepare questions, I also prepare to toss their order out the window. If they start answering question four while responding to question one, I go with it. Cross it off my list and keep the conversation flowing. I circle back at the end to make sure I’ve covered everything.
The tricky part: letting busy executives expand on important points while gently redirecting if you’re running out of time for the questions your editor specifically requested.
๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ
Interviewing requires some serious multitasking. You’re making genuine conversation while tracking your question list. Putting interviewees at ease while staying alert for non-answers. Taking notes while maintaining engagement.
It’s a lot going on.
As a result, I take time right after the interview to reviewing my notes while the conversation is still fresh. What were the most interesting personal details? What surprised me? What’s my potential lead? This reflection in the moment saves me hours later and keeps my story close to the original experience.
What’s been your biggest interviewing lesson learned?
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