Interview Tips:

Think like a Pro & Ask questions like a Boss.

Stage 1 : Empathize

Our next step in Empathizing is conducting interviews. How we develop our questions
and plan ahead of time will directly impact the quality of the information we learn.
DONT GO IN WITHOUT A PLAN!!

Here are some tips from the professionals:

1. Start with GENERAL questions about hobbies, passions, etc. to get things started.
This will help make both of you comfortable.

2. Always ask OPEN ENDED questions, not yes/no questions

Tell me what you think
Why do you think

3. Ask REFLECTION questions:

What were some of the unexpected challenges/benefits?
How has this experience impacted your life?

4. Ask questions that CONFIRM what you may ALREADY KNOW. They may not
volunteer the information you are looking for if you dont ask for it!

5. Ask about FEELINGS:

How do you feel about
What was it like to do
Why do you do what you do
What motivates you

6. Trick them into getting the sound bite you want:

If you want them to say This was the most important event in my life, then ask
was this the most important event in your life? Then if they answer yes, you can
write _______ said this was the most important event in his/her life.

7. Always close with IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOUD LIKE TO ADD?

IQW: Interview Question Worksheet

Interview: Advocate
Which interview is this?

Objective: Learn more about the issue, and what advocates have been
doing to make change

Potential Contacts: You should have at least 3 potential contacts to start.

Name:Matthew Phone: (503) 232-6639 xt. 110 or
Shepard (503) 807-1577
Position:Media Email: matthew.shepard@zerces.org
director for the Address: ??
Xerces Contacted?: no
Society

Name:Pete Phone: (619)286-7258

Holtzen Email:honeybeerescue@mac.com
Position: Local Address: ???
Beekeeper Contacted?: yes

Name:Jef Phone: 619.293.3617

Position: Local Email: Jef@beecrazysandiego.com
beekeeper/stor Address: 2637 University Avenue, San
e owner Diego 92104.
Contacted?: yes

Questions: What is your position, and what do you do for your

Start with your opening organization?
questions and funnel down
to your meaty questions. How did you become interested in bees?
You want to guide them
gently from simple, general
Could you explain what you and/or your organization been
questions to the questions
that attack the heart of your
doing to help save the bees?
issue.
What are some sustainable solutions to bee population
decline that the average person can take part in?

When it comes to bee advocacy, which do you think is

more important, education, or action?

What do you think that everyone should know about bee

population decline and CCD?

*for xerces only* So, one of your organizations projects is

to reduce pesticide use. What is it like trying to fight
against giant corporations like Bayer, Dow and Monsanto?
Is it intimidating?

What do you think is you and your organizations biggest

victory in the fight against bee decline?
 Is there anything else you would like to add?

Interview: Expert
Which interview is this?

Objective: Learn more about what is causing colony collapse and bee
population decline. What is being done about it?

Potential Contacts: You should have at least 3 potential contacts to start.

Name: Elaine Phone:

Evans Email: fuzzybumblebee@gmail.com
Position: Address: 1980 Folwell Ace ste219
Professor/autho St. Paul, MN 55108
r Contacted?: yes

Name: Hilary Phone: (619) 921-8189

Kearney Email: girlnextdoorhoney@gmail.com
Position: Address: ???
beekeeper Contacted: yes

Name:Bee Phone: (619)268-6002/(858)815-9207

Rescue Email:???
Position: Address:8316 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA
Beekeeper 92108
Contacted:no

Name: Aimee Phone:

Code Email: aimee@xerces.org
Position: Address: ??
Pesticides Contacted: yes
director Xerces
Society

Questions: First, could you explain who you are and what you do
relating to bees?

What caused you to first be interested in bees?

We hear the words colony collapse a lot, could you

explain what that means, and what is the cause.

Are there any actions your everyday citizens could take to

help stop the decline in bees?

What is the main reason the honeybee is slowly dying of?

What would the world look like without bees?

 Ive seen some mixed information, some people say the
bees are dying but some statistics show that the bee
population has actually increased. Could you explain
where these numbers come from?

*for xerces only* So, one of your organizations projects is

to reduce pesticide use. What is it like trying to fight
against giant corporations like Bayer, Dow and Monsanto?
Is it intimidating?

So the last time we spoke, you gave me a lot of insight into

what its like to work with large corporations. I was wondering
what has come from these experiences.

Shift government policy to regulate the industry that produces

pesticides.

At the local level local policies that have banned pesticides in

public areas.

Hold the industry more accountable

What would you say is your biggest victory as far as tangible

changes you have made through your work

Haveing been in the background and support system for

over two dozen communities nation wide who have
banned pesticide use on public properties

What is your favorite project that you have worked on since

youve been working with the xerces foundation?

With this administration I think its most important that we

make a change within our local communities and local
governments

Interview: Victim
Which interview is this?

Objective: Identify who the victims of CCD/bee population decline

are, and how it afects them.

Potential Contacts:
Name:Jared S. Phone: ??
Hopkins Email:hopkins.jared@gmail.com
 Position: Address: ??
Journalist for Contacted: Yes
The Herald

Name: David Phone: 570-568-2337

Hackenberg Email: bufybee@sunlink.net
Position: Address: 1466 Crossroads Drive
Beekeeper- Lewisburg, PA 17837
Hackenberg Apiaries Contacted?: yes
Buffy Bee Honey

Name:Tom Phone: (620)879-2926

Tucker Email:tuckerb@hit.net
Position: VP of Address:
the American Contacted: Yes
Beekeeping
Federation

Questions: How have you been afected by the decline of bees?

How do you think the economy will look after 5 years if

the amount of bee loss per year continues in this pattern?

What captured your interest in this issue?

Do you think that we can recover our economic state if

the bees completely disappear?

What is your biggest fear about this situation?

Whats your opinion on the stats that show that the global
bee population has increased?

Remember ALWAYS CLOSE with this question:

Is there anything else youd like to add?

Interview: Opposer
Which interview is this?

Objective: To identify who is opposed to saving the bees (or is denying bee
population decline) and why.

Potential Contacts: You should have at least 3 potential contacts to start.

Name: Phone: (314) 694-1000 / (314) 694-

Monsanto NEWS (6397)
Position: Email: ???
 Address:Monsanto Company
800 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63167

Contacted?: yes

Name:Henry I. Phone: (650)725-0185

Miller Email: Henry.Miller@stanford.edu
Position: Forbes Address: ????
Contributer/ Contacted: Yes
Columnist

Name:Mike Phone: (760) 964-9461

Rothschild Email:vvchamber@vvchamber.com
Position: Address:
Contacted: Yes

Questions: Who are you, and what does your organization do?
Start with your opening
questions and funnel down
to your meaty questions. How did you first learn about the concept of bee decline?
You want to guide them
gently from simple, general
As new evidence has resurfaced, has your opinion been
questions to the questions
that attack the heart of your
swayed?
issue.
What do you think is the most exploited false fact about
bee extinction and why?

Ive seen some mixed information, some people say the

bees are dying but some statistics show that the bee
population has actually increased. Could you explain
where these numbers come from?

Who do you think is trying to spread the narrative that the

bees are dying and why?

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/business/a-bee-mogul-confronts-the-crisis-in-his-
field.html?_r=0
http://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-abcarian-bees-almonds-20160226-
column.html