Harris Bromly

Tips and Tricks: Recording Your Interview

Be Prepared:

  • have your key questions ready – know what you are going to ask and the order you are going to ask it;
  • provide the interviewee with copies of the questions beforehand, if appropriate, to allow them time to think about their answers. Otherwise think about how they might answer the questions and be prepared for their responses;
  • know the person you are interviewing – how to pronounce their name correctly, how they wish to be addressed, their background, position in the organisation, what makes them the person you want to interview;
  • choose a suitable venue – check for background noise, likelihood of interruptions, lighting if videoing, overhead fans, etc;.
  • have your technology tested and ready.

Before interview:

  • make the situation comfortable – move chairs, etc.
  • do a test recording checking for volume, distance of microphones, etc
  • put the interviewee at ease – chat about the weather, share a joke, etc.
  • let the interviewee know the recording can be edited (if that is the case) and they will be given a copy for sign-off before it is published;
  • for CIV in Frontline Management – Project 3 – remind the interviewee:
    • that they are NOT commenting on behalf of the Office – these are their own thoughts and ideas based on their own experience;
    • names of colleagues, managers, etc must not be mentioned without that person’s prior permission;
    • while they do not have to reveal who they are, they should at least give an idea of their position, eg middle manager in a Govt Dept, customer service office in a Public Sector agency etc.

When interviewing:

  • paint a picture for the listener – introduce the interviewee, the date, time, place of interview if appropriate;
  • let the interviewee know you are listening – use body language, eg silent nod, quizzical raising of eyebrows, smile, etc.
  • be ready to prod the interviewee if required – ask questions to clarify answers;
  • let the interviewee tell their story without interruption, ie let them always finish their sentences before prodding or asking the next question;
  • don’t be afraid of long silences or ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ – these can be edited later if necessary;
  • refer to your questions but keep them ‘conversational’ rather than a rehearsed list.

After interview:

  • edit recording;
  • share final edit with interviewee for their permission to publish;
  • use interview publishing permission contracts if relevant;
  • post profile/biography and photo of interviewee next to published recording.

Helpful links:

Items prepared by Stephan Ridgway –