Interviews are a common and useful method to gather information, opinions, and insights from different sources. Whether you are a journalist, a researcher, a marketer, or a recruiter, you may need to conduct interviews as part of your work.
However, conducting effective interviews is not as easy as it may seem. You need to prepare well, ask the right questions, listen actively, and follow up properly. You also need to choose the best format for your interviews, whether in person or online.
In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to conduct effective interviews in person or online.
Tips for Conducting Effective Interviews
Here are some tips that can help you conduct effective interviews, regardless of the format or purpose:
Do your research:
Before you interview someone, make sure you know enough about them and their background. This will help you tailor your questions and show respect and interest. You can also prepare some icebreakers or small talk topics to build rapport and ease into the conversation.
Prepare your questions:
Depending on the type and goal of your interview, you may want to prepare a list of questions in advance. You can use open-ended questions to encourage detailed and elaborate answers, or closed-ended questions to get specific and factual information. You can also use follow-up questions to probe deeper or clarify something. However, be flexible and adaptable to the flow of the conversation. Don’t stick to a rigid script or interrupt the interviewee unnecessarily.
Choose a suitable location:
If you are conducting an in-person interview, choose a location that is quiet, comfortable, and convenient for both parties. Avoid places that are noisy, crowded, or distracting. If you are conducting an online interview, make sure you have a stable internet connection and a reliable platform. Test your equipment and software before the interview and make sure your screen name is professional. Also, choose a place with good lighting and a neutral background.
Be respectful and attentive:
During the interview, be respectful and attentive to the interviewee. Greet them warmly, introduce yourself and the purpose of the interview, and thank them for their time. Maintain eye contact (or look at the camera if online), nod, smile, and use verbal cues to show that you are listening. Avoid checking your phone, looking at your notes, or doing anything else that may distract you or the interviewee.
Record and transcribe the interview:
One of the most important steps in conducting effective interviews is to record and transcribe them. Recording allows you to capture everything that was said without missing any details or nuances. Transcribing allows you to convert the audio into text that you can easily review, analyze, quote, or share. However, recording and transcribing interviews can be time-consuming and challenging if you do it yourself.
Benefits of Using OutSec for Interview Transcription
OutSec is an online transcription service that provides fast, accurate, and secure transcription of interviews and other types of audio or video files. OutSec has over 20 years of experience in transcription and works with various industries and sectors.
Here are some of the benefits of using OutSec for interview transcription:
- Quality: OutSec employs qualified and experienced transcribers who can handle different accents, dialects, jargon, and terminology. OutSec also has a rigorous quality control process that ensures high standards of accuracy and consistency.
- Speed: OutSec can deliver your transcripts in a timely fashion. depending on your urgency and need.
- Security: OutSec uses encryption technology and strict confidentiality policies to protect your data and privacy. OutSec also complies with GDPR regulations.
- Flexibility: OutSec offers various options for transcription based on your needs and preferences. You can choose between verbatim transcription (word-for-word) or intelligent verbatim transcription (without fillers or irrelevant information). You can also request timestamps, speaker identification, formatting specifications, or any other special instructions.
Conclusion
Interviews are a valuable method to collect information from different sources for various purposes. However, conducting effective interviews requires preparation, skills, and tools. If you are looking to have your interview transcribed, then look no further than OutSec, the UK’s leading online transcription company.
About OutSec
OutSec is the UK’s leading online transcription company whose business has grown substantially since 2002. We are one of the most successful transcription companies in the United Kingdom.
OutSec provides secure outsourced transcription services to the medical, legal, property and surveying, universities, media and interviews, advisory boards, conferences & seminars, inventories, financial, corporate, HR, recruitment and Executive Search sectors.
Why is Dictation More Efficient than Typing?
Well, the simple fact is that we can all speak considerably faster than we can physically type:
“The average person types between 38 and 40 words per minute”.
A “good rate of speech ranges between 140 -160 words per minute.”
In other words, dictation is up to four times faster than we can type. Therefore, simply dictating a document is more cost-efficient, giving you more time to dedicate your efforts elsewhere in your business.
Therefore why not add OutSec as a business continuity option for your business? Accounts are free, you pay on a per-minute basis (rounded to the nearest minute) on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no contracts or minimum spend. What do you have to lose? Why not open an account today?
Picture Attribution:
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