Interviewing tips (esp. for profile)

1. Begin with basic information
1. Name, age, hometown, major, year in school
2. Exchange contact information for follow-up questions
2. Ease into it
1. Simple conversation, begin to find what is important to the individual
2. Once importance is found, begin to find theme
3. Focus questions
1. Avoid vague questions (what was it like growing up in…)
2. Instead, try to focus on a specific element (growing up near the coast must have offered many opportunities for…)
3. Not too focused, though
   1. Avoid yes/no questions (was that fun?  Did you enjoy it?) -- do not lead to informative/interesting answers
4. Probe
1. Once a rapport is developed and interests are identified, begin to follow-up with why it is important
2. Additional information – and anecdotes that will drive your story – are discovered with probing questions like:

1. What places did you visit?
2. Could you help by giving an example?
3. And what happened after that?
4. What exactly did you mean by “…”?
5. How did your friend/family/etc. react?
6. And…?

5. Strategies
1. Reassure with body language
2. Don’t interrupt
3. Ask interviewee to slow down
4. Note gestures, physical descriptions, colorful elements for story