best practices for interviews – Education Universe

In some of my English classes, I assign an interview assignment. It allows students to conduct research, engage with a professional in their field of study, format in MLA, and build skills in other areas.

To the student: Interviewing a professional in your future field is an invaluable opportunity to gain firsthand insights into your chosen career path. Whether you are pursuing a career in healthcare, business, engineering, education, or the arts, preparing for and conducting an interview requires careful planning and execution. This article will help guide you through best practices for developing strong interview questions, conducting the interview effectively, and writing a compelling summary and reflection based on the rubric provided for your assignment.

Part 1: Preparing for the Interview

Step 1: Research Your Field and Identify a Professional

Before scheduling your interview, take the time to research your chosen career using credible sources like the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Understand the job description, salary expectations, required education, and typical work environment. This background knowledge will help you craft insightful questions and engage meaningfully with your interviewee.

Once you have a strong understanding of your field, identify a professional who has experience in your desired career. Your interviewee can be a professor, an industry worker, a business owner, or someone in a leadership role related to your field. If you are struggling to find someone, consider reaching out through university faculty, LinkedIn, or professional networking events.

Step 2: Crafting Thoughtful Interview Questions

Your questions should be open-ended and designed to elicit detailed responses. Below are some adaptable question categories with examples:

1. Career Path and Background

What led you to choose this career?
Can you describe your educational background and how it prepared you for this role?
What was your first job in the field, and how did you transition into your current role?

2. Job Responsibilities and Skills

What does a typical day look like in your position?
What are the most essential skills required for success in this field?
How do you stay updated with new industry trends, tools, or regulations?

3. Challenges and Rewards

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
What do you find most rewarding about your career?
How do you handle work-life balance in this profession?

4. Industry Insights and Advice

What changes have you seen in this field over the past few years?
What advice would you give to someone entering this profession?
What are some common mistakes newcomers make in this industry?

Feel free to personalize your questions based on your interests and your interviewee’s expertise. Having a structured list will help ensure a smooth and productive conversation.

Part 2: Conducting the Interview

Step 1: Setting Up the Interview

After selecting a professional, reach out via email or phone to request an interview. Be professional and concise in your request:

Example Email (can be adapted for a call):

Dear [Interviewee’s Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Your Major] student at [Your University]. As part of a class assignment, I am conducting an interview with a professional in my field to gain insights into the career. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about your experiences. If you are available, we could arrange a short interview via phone, video call, or in person at a time that is convenient for you.

Please let me know if you would be open to this, and I can provide additional details. Thank you for your time!

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Any other necessary contact information for the interviewee]

Step 2: Conducting the Interview Professionally

Be punctual. Whether meeting in person or online, arrive on time and prepared.
Record or take notes. With permission, record the interview for accuracy. If the interviewee prefers not to be recorded, take detailed notes. For accountability purposes, I require that students turn in/submit the notes/recordings alongside the write-up (see below).
Maintain professionalism. Use formal language, make eye contact, and be respectful.
Engage actively. Ask follow-up questions when appropriate to encourage deeper discussion.
Thank them. Conclude by expressing gratitude for their time and insights.

Part 3: Writing Your Interview Summary and Reflection

Please note that if you are a student reading this, you should always adhere to the assignment directions that your instructor provides.

Structuring Your Essay

Your final write-up should follow the structure outlined in your assignment directions:

1. Introduction to Your Field of Study (Generally 1 Paragraph)

Start by introducing your future career, including key details such as:

Typical job duties
Required education and skills
Expected salary range and job outlook

Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook or other credible sources for factual information. Make sure this section is informative and sets the stage for your interview summary.

2. Interview Summary (750-1,000 Words)

This section should introduce your interviewee, summarize their responses, and highlight key insights.

Example Structure:

A. Introduction to the Interviewee:

Who are they? (Name, title, background, and expertise)
How did they get into the field?

B. Key Insights from the Interview:

Summarize their answers to your key questions.
Include direct quotes where relevant.
Ensure logical flow—group similar ideas together rather than listing responses in question-answer format.

C. Unique Perspectives:

What was surprising or particularly valuable?
Any challenges or industry trends they discussed?

Example Excerpt:

“Dr. Maria Lopez, a cybersecurity analyst with over ten years of experience, shared that the industry constantly evolves, making continuous learning essential. She emphasized, ‘One of the biggest misconceptions about cybersecurity is that it’s all about hacking—when in reality, it’s about problem-solving and risk management.’ She advised students to focus on networking and hands-on projects to stand out in the field.”

3. Reflection (250-500 Words)

The reflection allows you to connect the interview experience to your academic and career goals.

Consider addressing:

What did you learn?
Did your perception of the career change?
How will this interview shape your future academic or career decisions?

Example Reflection Excerpt:

“Before this interview, I assumed that a marketing career was mostly about advertising campaigns. However, after speaking with Ms. Johnson, I realized the field requires strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of consumer behavior. This insight has motivated me to take more data analysis courses to prepare for my future role.”

Part 4: Formatting and Finalizing Your Essay

MLA Formatting Requirements:

Header: Include your full name, course title, instructor’s name, and date (e.g., 26 January 2025).
Font and Spacing: 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced.
In-text Citations: If using external sources, cite them correctly. Example: (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Word Count: Ensure your essay meets the required length (1,100-1,600 words).

Proofreading and Editing

Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Ensure your tone is professional and appropriate for an academic setting.
Review for logical organization and smooth transitions between sections.

Final Thoughts

Interviewing a professional in your future field is a valuable learning experience that provides real-world insight beyond textbooks. By preparing strong questions, engaging actively in the conversation, and thoughtfully analyzing your findings, you will better understand your career path. This assignment will enhance your research and communication skills and help you make informed decisions about your academic and professional future.

Following these best practices will ensure you complete a compelling and well-structured interview essay that meets all the rubric requirements. Happy interviewing!

Conducting interviews is a powerful method for gathering qualitative data in research. Interviews offer deep insights into participants’ experiences, thoughts, and opinions, allowing researchers to explore topics in detail. However, the effectiveness of an interview largely depends on the quality of the questions and how the interview is conducted. This article will cover best practices for developing interview questions, conducting interviews, gathering data, and writing about the research.

Developing Effective Interview Questions

Creating well-crafted interview questions is crucial to obtaining meaningful and insightful data. Here are key practices to consider:

Start with a Clear Objective—Before developing questions, clearly define the purpose of the interview. What specific information are you trying to gather? What key topics do you want to explore? Understanding your research goals will help guide the development of focused questions.
Use Open-Ended Questions – Open-ended questions encourage participants to share more detailed responses, providing richer data. For example, instead of asking, “Do you enjoy your job?” you might ask, “What do you enjoy most about your job?” This invites the interviewee to elaborate and provide more nuanced information.
Avoid Leading Questions – Leading questions suggest a particular answer and can bias the responses. For example, rather than asking, “Don’t you think the new policy is beneficial?” you could ask, “How do you feel about the new policy?” This phrasing allows for a more neutral and authentic response.
Include Probing Questions – Probing questions are follow-up questions that dig deeper into the interviewee’s initial response. They can clarify or expand on answers, ensuring you get the full picture. Examples include, “Can you explain what you mean by that?” or “Can you give me an example?”
Sequence Your Questions Logically – Start with broad questions and gradually move to more specific ones. This approach helps interviewees feel comfortable and ensures a natural flow of conversation. Begin with general background questions, then move to more detailed questions about the topic.
Keep Questions Clear and Concise – Avoid overly complex or lengthy questions that may confuse the interviewee. Each question should focus on one topic to ensure clarity.

Conducting Interviews: Best Practices

The success of an interview depends not just on the questions but also on how the interview is conducted. Here are some best practices:

Create a Comfortable Environment – Conduct the interview in a quiet, private location where the interviewee feels comfortable and free to speak openly. Ensure there are minimal distractions or interruptions.
Build Rapport with the Interviewee – Begin the interview with some small talk to help put the interviewee at ease. Establishing rapport can lead to more honest and open responses.
Be an Active Listener – Pay close attention to the interviewee’s responses and listen without interrupting. Active listening shows that you value the participant’s input and helps you pick up on cues that may lead to further probing questions.
Stay Neutral – Maintain a neutral tone and avoid showing bias or judgment during the interview. Your role is to gather information, not to influence the responses.
Be Flexible – While preparing a set of questions is important, be willing to deviate from your script if the conversation takes an interesting or relevant turn. Follow the natural flow of the interview, but ensure you cover all key topics by the end.
Record the Interview (with Permission) – Recording the interview allows you to capture all the details accurately and focus on the conversation rather than taking extensive notes. Always ask for the participant’s consent before recording.

Gathering Data from Interviews

The interview data can be rich and complex, requiring careful management and analysis. Here’s how to effectively gather and organize your data:

Transcribe the Interviews -Transcribing the interviews verbatim is a critical step. This process involves converting the recorded audio into written text, allowing for detailed analysis. While transcription can be time-consuming, it provides a valuable resource for identifying themes and patterns.
Organize the Data—Once transcribed, organize the data into categories or themes based on the research questions. Coding the data—labeling portions of the text with specific themes or concepts—can help identify patterns and draw conclusions.
Maintain Data Integrity – Ensure that the data is kept confidential and secure, especially if sensitive topics are discussed. Anonymize the data if necessary to protect the privacy of the participants.

Writing About the Research

After collecting and analyzing the data, the next step is to present your findings clearly and structured. Here’s how to write about your interview research:

Provide Context – Begin by explaining the purpose of the research, the significance of the topic, and the methodology used. Include details about how the interviews were conducted, the selection of participants, and any challenges faced during the process.
Present the Findings – Organize the findings thematically or by research questions. Use quotes from the interviews to support your analysis, but ensure that these are relevant and add value to your discussion. Avoid overloading the reader with too many quotes; focus on the most illustrative ones.
Analyze and Interpret – Go beyond merely presenting the data by offering analysis and interpretation. Discuss the implications of the findings, how they relate to existing literature, and what they reveal about the research topic.
Address Limitations – Acknowledge research limitations, such as a small sample size or potential biases. Discuss how these limitations might affect the results and suggest areas for future research.
Conclude with Insights – Summarize the key findings and their significance. Reflect on the research’s contribution to the field and how it might inform future studies or practical applications.

Conclusion

Conducting effective interviews and analyzing the data requires careful planning, skillful execution, and thoughtful reflection. You can uncover deep insights and produce meaningful research by developing clear, open-ended questions, creating a comfortable interview environment, and rigorously analyzing the data. Whether you’re studying social behaviors, personal experiences, or cultural phenomena, the practices outlined here will help you gather and present valuable qualitative data.

Exercise: Crafting and Conducting an Interview

Objective: To practice developing interview questions and conducting interviews for research purposes.

Step 1: Develop Your Questions

Identify the research topic.
Write 5-7 open-ended questions that explore different aspects of the topic.
Ensure the questions are clear and free of bias.

Step 2: Conduct the Interview

Find a participant who is knowledgeable about the topic.
Conduct the interview in a quiet, comfortable setting.
Record the interview (with permission) and take brief notes.

Step 3: Analyze the Data

Transcribe the interview.
Identify key themes and patterns in the responses.
Write a brief summary of your findings.

Reflect:

What insights did you gain from the interview?
How did the interview process influence the quality of the data collected?
What would you do differently in future interviews?

This exercise will help you develop the skills to conduct and analyze interviews effectively, providing a solid foundation for qualitative research.

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Interview Best Practices for Interviewing in Your Field of Study & Assignment Rubric for Instructors