How to Conduct a Professional Phone Interview

For many journalists and freelancers, getting an interview can sometimes prove to be difficult task. There are various reasons that an interview cannot be conducted in person: conflicting schedules, distance and availability. Because of this, phone interviews are the next best thing. However, you must approach the phone interview with the same professionalism you would for one face-to-face.

Things You'll Need

• Digital voice recorder (optional)
• Mic for digital voice recorder (optional)

Instructions

1. Call your source in advance--usually no more than a week, though this may vary depending on the individual you are interviewing. At minimum, you should allow two days notice so that the individual can allot the appropriate amount of time for the interview. As a rule, ask for 30 minutes for the interview.

2. Write out your questions in advance. The last thing you want is to be scrambling around trying to craft your questions when the source answers the phone. Keep your questions open-ended. This allows the source to better explain his or her answers.

3. Ask the source if it is alright if you record the interview. Recording the interview serves as insurance for accuracy when it comes to transcribing the quotations later on. If you choose not to use a digital voice recorder, be sure to take good notes. If you find there are lengthy pauses, due to writing, just apologize and let the individual know that you are taking down notes. Most people understand that our mouths move quicker than our hands.

4. Keep the number of questions you plan to ask to five or six. It is fine if you don't get to all the questions; just be sure that you get the relevant information you need for the article.

5. Make notes on inflection and speech patterns. Since you are interviewing over the phone you obviously cannot make observational notes. Inflections can often denote the more important or relevant parts of what the individual is expressing.

6. Ask the source if you can contact him or her at a later time if you have any other questions or need clarification. Be sure to get the individual's email address and submit further questions via a quick note.

Tips & Warnings

• Thank the source for taking time to speak with you. Follow up and send the source a note via email thanking him for his time.

• Keep closed-ended questions to a minimum if you absolutely have to use them.

• If you see that you are going to go over the alloted time, ask if you can submit further questions via email. If the individual has time, you may be able to finish up the interview right then, but leave it to the interviewee's discretion. After all, you are asking for their time, not the other way around.