Ten Ways to Conduct a Better Interview
Interviews look real easy from the outside, don’t they? Ideally, you ask a question, somebody answers it, and eventually you can turn those answers into a story—seems cut and dry.
In practice, though, the difference between a forgettable interview and a great one usually comes down to how well you prepare, how closely you listen, and whether you’re willing to abandon the questions you thought you needed when the conversation gives you something better. Over time, I’ve found that the best interviews feel less like interrogations and more like purposeful conversations. Here are 10 habits that have helped me get better ones.
1. Do your research.
This may sound gratuitous but research your guest enough that you’re not asking questions whose answers are on the first page of Google, LinkedIn, or your organization’s website. Know their role, relevant history, accomplishments, and why this person matters to the story. Research isn’t just about sounding prepared; it lets you ask the second-level question instead of wasting 10 minutes establishing basic facts.
2. Know the story you’re after, but don’t shape the narrative before you get started.
You should enter knowing what you’re trying to learn. “I’m writing about alumni mentorship” is useful direction. “This alumnus is going to tell me how fraternity membership made him successful” is a conclusion you’ve already written for him. Have an angle, not a predetermined answer.
3. Prepare more questions than you think you’ll need.
If you think the interview requires eight questions, prepare sixteen. Organize them loosely by subject rather than scripting every transition. Some answers will kill three questions at once; others will lead you somewhere you never anticipated. A deeper bench keeps you from reaching Question 8 after 14 minutes and realizing you booked a 45-minute call.
4. Ask about the memory, not the answer.
“Did Theta Apple Pie help you develop as a leader?” practically begs for “Yes.” Instead, ask, “Can you remember a time when you realized the Fraternity/sorority had changed the way you led people?” Try to ask for a moment, a memory, or an example. “What’s a core memory you have from your time in the chapter?” will almost always give you more to work with than “Did you enjoy your collegiate experience?” The best part is that you can usually find the answer to your original question somewhere inside the story they tell you—and you’ll probably get three or four details you never would have thought to ask for along the way.
5. Take 👏 your 👏 time.
People generally give better interviews once they forget they’re being interviewed. Begin with something comfortable—background, chronology, how they got involved—before asking about difficult experiences, emotional moments, or complicated opinions. You’re building conversational momentum, not rushing to the “big scoop,” or whatever they’re calling it in journalism in the 21st century.
6. Listen harder than you look at your questions.
This is probably the most important one, quiet as kept. If somebody says, “That was probably the lowest point of my college experience,” and your next move is, “Great. Question six: Who was your chapter adviser?” you’ve just thrown up all over the story. Your prepared questions are a safety net, not railroad tracks. Find the interesting thing they just said and dig deeper.
7. Have a couple of obvious follow-up questions at the ready.
“Why?” “What do you mean by that?” “How did that feel?” “What happened next?” “Can you give me an example?” “You mentioned your father—what role did he play in that decision?” Great interviews often come less from brilliant, prepared questions than from recognizing that an answer contains another question. My personal favorite is simply: “Tell me more about that.”
8. Don’t be afraid of the quiet.
Interviewers have a natural urge to rescue someone who pauses for three seconds, and that’s not necessary. People usually give their most interesting answer after they think they’ve finished answering. A little silence can do more work than another question can sometimes.
9. Get the small but important details you’ll desperately wish you had later.
Names, spellings, dates, exact locations, titles, numbers, a timeline of events, etc. are usually forgotten or glossed over if you don't hone in on them. If someone mentions “my roommate Mike,” eventually ask which Mike. If they say “a few years later,” establish what year. Also clarify anything you don’t understand instead of assuming you’ll decipher it while writing. Future You will be extremely grateful to Present You.
10. Always end with: “What haven’t I asked you that I should have?”
…or some version of: “Is there anything we didn’t talk about that feels important?” It’s a very productive closing question because you know your interview outline and they know their life. Sometimes the thing they’ve been waiting 40 minutes to discuss isn’t even on your list of questions. Then, before closing, confirm how you can reach them if you need to verify something later.
A good interview outline can keep you from getting lost, but it shouldn’t keep you from wandering somewhere interesting. The goal isn’t simply to get through your list; it’s to leave the conversation with something you couldn’t have written before you had it. And sometimes, the best way to get there is to ask one last question and see where your guest will take you.