Today Louise gave a really interesting and engaging lecture on interview etiquette and the kind of content we must include in our PB3 interviews.

I’m so grateful that our lectures aren’t dry content and our lecturers actually make the effort to keep our attention throughout. It makes me significantly more obliged to want to learn, which I think is really important in uni, when no one is ‘forcing’ you to do so.

The most daunting thing for me at this point is deciding who I will interview and whether or not they will deliver in front of a camera. According to Louise, as an interviewer, you must give your interviewee questions of an open-ended nature, in order to get the most interesting and wholesome answers. The following are notes that I took during her lecture:

The Who:

• Do they have something to say?
• Are they credible?
• Can they deliver on camera?
• Are they good “talent”?
• Who is my audience?

The What:

• What are you going to ask them?
• Research: reading, speaking, observing
• Write questions: simple, as short as possible, open ended, check wording (bias)
• Practice

The Where:

• Location – Home, work, other? Why? Permissions?
• Things to think about:
• Light: is there enough? Will it change?
• Sound: background noise, interruptions
• Background: What does it say? Will it change? Artworks?

The When:

• Remember to brief the subject (clothing, questions and answers, repeat your question in the answer)
• Maintain eye contact
• Listen (use nods and facial expressions)
• Be flexible/adaptable
• Be respectful and show empathy
• Stay focused
• Be quiet, it’s not about you