Tips for Conducting "In Person" (face-to-face) Interviews

Written by Jill Black


If you are a writer or self-publisher that are times when an interview will be required to add an extra dimension, insight or more depth to a project you are working on.

In offline interviewing there are generally three ways to conduct an interview:

1) In person (face-to-face interview) 2) By telephone 3) By mail

In this article I will be focusing onrepparttar "In person" (face to face) interview.

Many beginner writers find interviewing a daunting experience and avoid doing interviews even when it would benefit what they are working on and makerepparttar 102015 project more complete.

Beginners Tip: To overcome your nervousness practice, and then practice some more, on your family and friends before ever requesting your first "live person" interview.

Below you will find a few tips for whenrepparttar 102016 day arrives and you need to conduct THE INTERVIEW ...

Tools you will need:

=> Cassette Recorder

=> Notebook and Pen

=> Press Pass

(I carry my press pass with me to interviews, however, this is not a necessity for carrying out interviews. If you do have a press pass remember to take it along with you though as it is a sign of your professionalism when you introduce yourself)

=> Background Research:

Do your homework onrepparttar 102017 person before going torepparttar 102018 interview.

This could involve a search ofrepparttar 102019 persons online press kit page, through media press clippings, atrepparttar 102020 library,repparttar 102021 who's who directory etc.

Having some background knowledge will give you greater self-confidence and will help give a stronger line as torepparttar 102022 questions you may want to ask.

Interviews can be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour or over repparttar 102023 course of a month or more e.g. if you are doing an autobiography.

When you make a time forrepparttar 102024 interview propose to take at least 30 minutes.

Suggest you go torepparttar 102025 persons, home, office or place of business - being in their own environment will put them at ease and may providerepparttar 102026 right background to your interview.

Dress appropriately for where you are going, and who you are meeting. As a rule wear clothes that will not cause offence as many people you meet will be very conservative.

=> Preparing Questions:

Rule #1 Don't ask stupid questions... and don't ask questions you can find out through research unless it's to confirm a point.

Prepare your list of questions in advance jotting downrepparttar 102027 questions and points you want to ask in brief heading form (they should be used only as a point of reference duringrepparttar 102028 interview).

Maintain eye contact withrepparttar 102029 person you are interviewing as much as possible.

Listen carefully and establish a relaxed style of questioning.

Allowrepparttar 102030 questions to flow according torepparttar 102031 context, glancing at your list only to refresh your memory or fill a long pause inrepparttar 102032 conversation.

Be open to new questions and new points raised duringrepparttar 102033 interview. Flexibility in your interviewing will allow you to pursue interesting or relevant sidelines as they come up. These may be areas of activity that you are unaware of despite your research.

Don't worry about ending up with more information than you require. Use what you need and putrepparttar 102034 rest in your files to be used at another time.

=> Cassette recorder and notebook:

Checkrepparttar 102035 cassette recorder batteries, cassette tape and volume BEFORE you arrive forrepparttar 102036 interview.

Your cassette recorder should be compact, light and discreet in appearance. I find it best to use a recorder that uses standard size cassettes as they are easier to obtain than micro cassettes if you find yourself in an out ofrepparttar 102037 way place.

Afterrepparttar 102038 introductory formalities always ask permission if you can use a recorder BEFORErepparttar 102039 interview starts, then produce it and get started onrepparttar 102040 interview. Few people object to a cassette recorder but if they do, just use your notebook.

Using a cassette recorder helps establish an easy-going communication between you andrepparttar 102041 person you are interviewing as you are not constantly looking down take write notes.

This Twenty Six Hour Day Is Not Fiction! A Book Review

Written by Mike Banks Valentine


Vince Panella might have been accused of writing a work of fiction when titling his book "The 26 Hour Day, How to Gain at Least 2 Hours a Day with Time Control". When he begins his "Introduction to Time Control" chapter by stating onrepparttar first page that he's . . . "come torepparttar 102014 conclusion that -- time management does not work!" he immediately had me hooked.

I was charmed byrepparttar 102015 intensely human approach he takes fromrepparttar 102016 beginning. I've got to agree with him because my own experience with time management is that it has a mechanistic, almost robotic feel to it as presented by efficiency experts, management consultants and minutia-charting time accountants. Here is an approach that allows for "wasting time" and, even more surprisingly, advocates getting sufficient sleep!

Although he suggests wasting incrementally less time than you normally might he is clearly aware that as human beings, we are driven less by deadlines than by emotional needs. At least once in every chapter, remindingrepparttar 102017 reader that we are not perfect and that it's OK that we're not precise as robots.

Panella blendsrepparttar 102018 best of self improvement with his unique approach to what he calls "Time Control", quoting personal growth gurus Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra beside references to American Statistician, W. Edwards Deming,repparttar 102019 man who was ". . . given credit for engineering Japan's modern industrial success overrepparttar 102020 last 50 years." Deming guided Japanese business through a formula of continual success improvement.

Constant incremental refining of success formulas is certainly not limited to Deming. One of my strongest early inspirations was reading "The Autobiography of Ben Franklin", in whichrepparttar 102021 continual improvement of Franklin's character throughout his life is chronicled. Self improvement predated Franklin as well, but Panella has combinedrepparttar 102022 best of personal growth with time control to offer what he has called "Success Centered Time Management."

Although Panella does cover critical topics typical to time management such as standard issue and admittedly important -

* Winningrepparttar 102023 War Against Procrastination * The Power and Purpose of Goals * Reducing Distractions

Those key points are presented in ways that kept my interest, a surprising accomplishment in itself. But Panella has some more compelling thoughts on some new approaches he has refined over his nearly 20 years of presenting this material. Notable are several concepts that resonate strongly with humanity.

* Gain 2 More Hours a Day Throughrepparttar 102024 Power of Sleep As one with sleep apnea disorder, I require more sleep than most, but Panella boldly proclaims that, "Lack of adequate sleep isrepparttar 102025 reason for 90 percent ofrepparttar 102026 problems many of us experience in gaining more control of our time."

He makes a strong case for a society that values sleep far more than does ours. He goes so far as to cite a Gallup poll that showed "Twenty-Five percent of adults believe they cannot be successful AND get enough sleep!" He gives ample reasons, from reduced productivity and performance right on through loss of life caused by drowsiness and inattention.

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