I have a goal to become the best interviewer in the world.
When I want to get better at something, I start by learning from the people who have mastered their craft. So I started with the following questions: Who are the world’s best interviewers, and what can they teach me?
I spent the last month reviewing hours of interviews conducted by the best of the best to draw out highly specific techniques that make for an exceptional interview.
I made this guide for myself, but I decided to make it public in case you want to implement these interviewing techniques in your own work. The tools outlined below can be applied to journalistic interviews, job interviews, and hell, you can even use them on a first date.
Before we begin, it’s worth nothing that all of these people are relentlessly curious, listen intently, do their research, and ask great questions. I won’t waste your time with those obvious, generic tips.
What I’m interested in this piece is identifying the non-obvious, more nuanced techniques that lead to an exceptional (in-person) interview.
Here’s what I found: