When formatting interview questions, be careful to type the way you would in informal communication. There should be no “LOLs” "I dunnos," but it should still read like a conversation. You need an artful balance.
Interview questions should be more open-ended. Yes/no questions will not get you far, and you will not be able to get the most out of your time with your interview subject. That said, do research on the person/company ahead of time so you do not ask questions you easily could have gotten the answer to yourself. Never make the interviewee feel as if they are wasting their time talking to you. Follow-up questions and clarifying questions are always a good idea.
Example of a good interview question: “Rachel, how did you get your start in magazine reporting?”
Good follow up/clarifying questions might include: “So, do you think your internship experiences or your college class work was more influential in getting your first job?”; “How did you go about actually finding that job?”; “Are there other helpful resources you would suggest for students who want to do more public writing?”
Except for certain situations (like investigative reporting, for example, which we aren’t dealing with in this class) make sure to not ever directly criticize yourself and definitely do not criticize the person you are interviewing. These are informative interviews, aimed to help you!
Speak clearly. HOLD EYE CONTACT—this is a way to show respect, and that you value your interviewee’s time. Do not fidget.
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