Interviews

Some ideas on interviews

• “As soon as you move one step up from
the bottom your effectiveness depends on
your ability to reach others through the
spoken word.”
Peter E. Drucker, Management consultant
• Researchers consider communication and
interpersonal skills as the single most
important set of factors in the interview.”
John Galassi and Merna Galassi
 Some Definitions of Interviews

• “The interview is a form of oral

communication, involving two parties, at
least one of whom has a preconceived
and serious purpose and both of whom
speak and listen from time to time.”
--K. E. Buckner, H.S. Field and W. H. Holey
Some Definitions of Interviews

• Interview: a form of goal-oriented,

dyadic human interaction involving
primarily oral/aural communication
behaviour.
--C. W. Downs
 Some Definitions of Interviews
Here are ten general characteristics of interviews:
1. A serious purpose
2. Planned interaction
3. Oral communication
4. Face to face communication
5. Dyadic interaction
6. Inquiry and response
7. Objective and subjective information
8. Role differentiation
9. Alternating roles
10. Multiple measures of success
 Features of an interview
These definitions share a common emphasis
on three defining characteristics of an
interview. An interview is

1. Planned,
2. Dyadic and
3. An interactive discourse
 Common Features of an Interview
1. Planned Discourse:
• An interview has a purpose beyond
initiating and developing a relationship
between the two parties involved.
• At least one of the two parties
(sometimes both) has a predetermined
goal – for example, to share information,
to persuade, to solve problems.
 Common Features of an Interview
• A goal exists before the start of the
interview which helps to plan how to
initiate and conduct the interview in the
best possible way
 Common Features of an Interview
2. Dyadic Discourse:
• Two units that are considered to be a
pair is called a dyad.
• An interview involves two parties.
Although each part in a dyadic discourse
is typically one person, a number of
people may be involved in either of the
two parties at a time.
 Common Features of an Interview
3. Interactive Discourse
An interview
• is a dialogue rather than a monologue.
• involves a two way interaction of two
parties hat involves speaking and
listening
• involves an exchange of verbal and non-
verbal messages
 Conclusion:

An interview is a planned, two-party,

interactive discourse involving strategic
communication
 A Small Number of Interview
Possibilities
• Employment interview
• Orientation interview
• Research interview
• Appraisal interview
• Grievance interview
• Problem-solving interview
• Persuasive interview
 Barriers to achieving the goals of
an interview:
• Competing demands
• Ego threats
• Lack of courtesy
• Trauma
• Forgetfulness
• Confusion
• Jumping to conclusions
• Distracting sub-conscious behaviour
Parts of an Interview: The Opening
The opening moments address three issues
that may concern the interviewee:
1. Credibility
2. Orientation
3. Motivation
Parts of an Interview: The Opening
Judie Burgoon and her colleagues have
proposed some key principles of mutual
impression formation of the interviewer
and interviewee:
Parts of an Interview: The Opening
First impressions are
• developed from limited external
information
• based on stereotypes held by the
perceiver
• Initially based on outward appearance
cues
Parts of an Interview: The Opening
• form a baseline for comparison for
subsequent impressions

• based on physical, socio-cultural and

psychological judgements
Parts of an Interview: The Body
• Directive interview
• Non-scheduled interview
• Moderately scheduled interview
• Highly scheduled interview
• Highly scheduled standardized interview
Parts of an Interview: The Body
Two contrasting approaches

1. Directive interview
• The interviewer controls the purpose,
structure and speed of the interview
• While planning for such an interview, the
interviewer’s choice can range from
“non-scheduled” to “highly scheduled,
standardized” interview
Parts of an Interview: The Body
• Non-scheduled interview:
1. The interviewer prepares an interview-
guide that lists potential topics and sub-
topics that may or may not be covered in
the actual interview or may not be
covered in the listed order
2. The course of the interview depends on
the interviewee’s response rather than
the interviewer’s guide
Parts of an Interview: The Body
• Moderately scheduled interview:
1. The interview guide contains all the
major questions to be asked with
possible probe questions.
2. The questions are asked in the order in
which they are listed but the probes may
or may not be used.
Parts of an Interview: The Body
• In a highly scheduled interview the
questions are asked exactly according to
the interview guide in exactly the same
order.

• A highly scheduled standardized interview

contains questions with answer options
 Parts of an Interview:
The Closing
• Offer to answer questions
• Use a clearing-house question
• Declare that the task is completed
• Make personal inquiries
• Signal that time is up
 Parts of an Interview:
The Closing (Contd.)
• Explain the reason for the close
• Express appreciation or satisfaction
• Exhibit concern
• Plan for the next meeting
• Summarize the interview