how to write an essay on an interview

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How to write an engaging and informative interview essay that captivates readers.

Are you ready to embark on a journey of words and emotions? Do you yearn to bring real-life stories to life on paper? If so, then the art of conducting an interview essay might just be the path for you. Through a delicate amalgamation of acute observation, introspection, and empathetic listening, you can unravel the intricacies of a person’s life and translate their experiences into a captivating piece of writing. Discover the key steps and techniques that will help you become a master of the interview essay genre.

Imagine yourself as a literary detective, armed with a notepad and pen, delving into the depths of someone’s thoughts and experiences. Your duty is to uncover the hidden layers of a person’s soul and translate them into a narrative that captivates the reader from the very first word. The interview essay offers a unique opportunity to break through the boundaries of traditional storytelling and delve into the realm of intimate conversations. Using skillful questioning and active listening, you can extract stories that will resonate with readers and give them a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Crafting a successful interview essay requires the delicate balance of objective reporting and subjective interpretation. It is a dance between the facts and the emotions, the words spoken and the unspoken truths. As an interviewer, your role extends beyond mere transcription; you are an interpreter, a curator of stories, and a storyteller. By carefully selecting the most powerful quotes, weaving them into a coherent narrative, and providing insightful context, you can create a compelling tapestry of human experiences that will inspire and enlighten your readers.

Overview of Interview Essays

In this section, we will explore the fundamental aspects of conducting and presenting an interview essay. By delving into the art of conversation and storytelling, interview essays provide a unique opportunity to capture the essence of an individual’s experiences and perspectives. These essays allow readers to gain insight into a person’s life journey, accomplishments, and insights on various topics, offering a glimpse into their world.

Interview essays go beyond the realm of traditional journalistic interviews, offering a more personal and in-depth exploration of the interviewee’s thoughts and emotions. Unlike a standard news article or report, interview essays focus on the individual and their unique perspective, providing a platform for their voice to be heard.

Throughout the essay, the interviewer must skillfully navigate the conversation, asking thoughtful and probing questions to elicit meaningful responses. It is crucially important to establish a comfortable and trusting environment, allowing the interviewee to open up and express themselves authentically. The interview process requires active listening and keen observation, ensuring that the essence of the interviewee is accurately portrayed.

The structure of the interview essay typically begins with an engaging introduction that introduces the interviewee and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Following the introduction, a series of questions and answers, presented in a logical and coherent manner, form the body of the essay. This section should highlight the most compelling and enlightening aspects of the interview, showcasing the interviewee’s unique insights and experiences.

As the interview draws to a close, a well-crafted conclusion synthesizes the main points discussed during the interview, providing a final reflection on the interviewee’s thoughts and perspectives. This section should leave the reader with a lasting impression of the interviewee and their story.

In summary, interview essays offer a captivating and rich exploration of an individual’s life and experiences. Through thoughtful questioning and careful listening, these essays provide a platform for the interviewee’s voice to be heard, shedding light on their unique perspective and contributions to the world.

Choosing an Interviewee

When embarking on the task of conducting an interview essay, one of the most crucial decisions to make is choosing the right interviewee. This individual will be the subject of your essay and plays a significant role in shaping the overall narrative and content. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider several factors when selecting an interviewee.

First and foremost, it is essential to choose an interviewee who possesses expertise or experience in the subject matter you wish to explore. The interviewee should have valuable insights and a deep understanding of the topic, ensuring that the interview will provide meaningful and informative content. Consider professionals, experts, or individuals who have unique perspectives that align with your essay’s theme.

In addition to expertise, it is crucial to select an interviewee who is willing and enthusiastic about participating in the interview. Look for individuals who are open to sharing their thoughts and experiences, and who express genuine interest in engaging in a conversation about the chosen topic. This will ensure that the interview is engaging and that the interviewee is willing to provide detailed and insightful responses.

Another factor to consider when choosing an interviewee is their accessibility. It is important to select someone who is readily available and willing to commit the necessary time for the interview. Consider individuals who have a flexible schedule or who are willing to accommodate your interview request. This will help ensure that you can conduct the interview within your desired timeframe.

Lastly, consider the diversity and representation that the interviewee can bring to your essay. Aim for inclusivity and diversity by selecting individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, or perspectives. This will enrich your essay and provide a broader range of insights and experiences to draw from.

In conclusion, choosing the right interviewee is a critical step in writing a successful interview essay. It requires careful consideration of factors such as expertise, willingness to participate, accessibility, and diversity. By selecting the most suitable interviewee, you can ensure that your essay will be engaging, informative, and provide a unique perspective on the chosen topic.

Tips for selecting the right individual to interview for your article

Choosing the right person to interview for your essay is a crucial step in ensuring that your piece is insightful and engaging. The individual you select should have firsthand knowledge or experience related to your topic, offering unique insights and perspectives. Taking the time to carefully select the right person will not only enhance the quality of your interview essay but also lend credibility to your work.

Firstly, consider the expertise and background of the person you are considering interviewing. Look for individuals who have extensive knowledge and experience in the field you are focusing on. This could be a subject matter expert, a professional in the industry, or someone who has had personal experiences relevant to your topic. These individuals can provide valuable insights and opinions, allowing your essay to delve deeper into the subject matter.

In addition to expertise, it is essential to choose someone who is articulate and can effectively convey their thoughts and experiences. Good communication skills are a vital aspect of a successful interview. Look for individuals who can express themselves clearly and concisely, ensuring that the information they provide is easy to understand and engaging for your readers.

Another important factor to consider when selecting an interviewee is their availability and willingness to participate. Ensure that the person you choose is willing and able to commit the necessary time and effort to the interview process. This could include conducting in-person interviews, phone interviews, or even email correspondence. Being flexible and accommodating to the individual’s schedule is key to obtaining the information you need for a compelling interview essay.

Finally, aim for diversity when selecting an interviewee. Consider individuals from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. This will not only provide a well-rounded view of your topic but also make your essay more relatable and interesting to a wider audience. Including diverse voices and opinions will enrich your work and make it more impactful.

By following these tips and selecting the right person to interview, you can ensure that your essay is informative, engaging, and offers a unique perspective on your chosen topic.

Preparing for the Interview

Getting ready for an interview is a crucial step towards a successful conversation that will leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. Adequate preparation is important as it helps you feel confident and ready to showcase your skills and qualifications. In this section, we will discuss the key steps to take before an interview to ensure you are well-prepared and can present yourself in the best possible light.

• Research the company: Before attending an interview, it is essential to research the company you are interviewing with. This includes understanding their mission, values, products or services they offer, and any recent news or projects. This knowledge will not only demonstrate your interest in the company but also allow you to ask relevant questions during the interview.
• Analyze the job description: Take the time to thoroughly analyze the job description for the position you are applying for. Identify the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities mentioned in the description. This will help you tailor your answers during the interview and showcase how your experience aligns with the requirements of the role.
• Prepare your answers: It is a good idea to anticipate some of the questions that may be asked during the interview. Practice your answers to common interview questions, such as “Tell me about yourself” or “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” This preparation will help you showcase your skills and qualifications confidently and concisely.
• Prepare questions to ask: In addition to answering questions, you should also prepare some questions to ask the interviewer. This shows your enthusiasm and interest in the role and allows you to gather more information about the company and the position. Consider asking about company culture, team dynamics, or opportunities for growth.
• Dress appropriately: First impressions matter, so it is important to dress professionally for the interview. Research the company’s dress code and aim to dress slightly more formal than what is expected. Ensure that your attire is clean, ironed, and appropriate for the industry.
• Practice good body language: During the interview, your body language can speak volumes. Practice good posture, maintain eye contact, and use confident and friendly gestures. This will help you appear engaged and interested in the conversation.
• Gather necessary documents: Before the interview, gather all necessary documents, such as copies of your resume, cover letter, and any relevant certifications or references. Organize these documents neatly in a folder or portfolio, so they are easily accessible during the interview.
• Plan your route and arrive early: Before the day of the interview, plan your route and ensure you know how to get to the location. Consider traffic or public transport delays, and aim to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early. This will give you time to relax, collect your thoughts, and make a good first impression.

By following these preparation steps, you will increase your chances of success during the interview. Remember to stay calm, be yourself, and let your qualifications and enthusiasm shine!

Steps to take before conducting the interview to ensure its success

Prior to conducting an interview, there are several key steps one should take to ensure its success. By carefully preparing and organizing beforehand, you can maximize the outcome of the interview and gather the most valuable insights and information from your subject.

• Research your subject: Take the time to thoroughly research your subject before the interview. Familiarize yourself with their background, achievements, and any relevant work they may have done. This will not only help you ask informed and insightful questions but also demonstrate your interest and preparedness during the interview.
• Define your goals: Determine what specific information or insights you hope to gain from the interview. Clarify your objectives and the overall purpose of conducting the interview. This will help you structure your questions and guide the conversation in a focused and meaningful direction.
• Prepare a list of questions: Create a list of questions that will prompt your subject to share their experiences, opinions, and expertise. Mix open-ended questions with more specific ones to encourage thoughtful and detailed responses. Consider the flow and order of your questions to ensure a smooth and logical conversation.
• Consider the logistics: Plan and organize the logistics of the interview in advance. Determine the best format for the interview, whether it is in person, over the phone, or through video conferencing. Confirm the date, time, and location if applicable. Additionally, make sure you have all the necessary equipment ready, such as recording devices or notepads.
• Establish rapport: Building a rapport with your subject is crucial for a successful interview. Prior to the interview, introduce yourself and explain the purpose of the interview. Create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere during the actual interview to allow your subject to feel at ease and open up more naturally.
• Anticipate challenges: Anticipate potential challenges or obstacles that may arise during the interview. Prepare alternative strategies or questions to handle any unexpected circumstances. By being flexible and adaptable, you can ensure the smooth progression of the interview.
• Respect confidentiality: If your interview involves sensitive or confidential information, assure your subject of confidentiality and obtain their consent to share certain details. This will help establish trust and encourage them to share more freely and openly.

By following these steps before conducting an interview, you can set the stage for a successful and valuable exchange of information. Proper preparation and organization will ensure that you extract the most meaningful insights and present a well-rounded and informative interview.

Conducting the Interview

During this phase, you will have the opportunity to engage in a face-to-face conversation with your interviewee. This is a crucial step in gathering valuable information for your interview essay. The interview allows you to unravel the unique perspectives, experiences, and insights of your subject, bringing depth and authenticity to your writing.

Before the interview, it’s important to research your interviewee and become familiar with their background and work. This preparation will enable you to ask informed questions and show respect for their expertise. Showing genuine interest in their work will make them more willing to open up and share their insights during the interview.

When conducting the interview, create a comfortable and relaxed environment for your interviewee. Establishing a friendly rapport will help them feel at ease and encourage thoughtful responses. Begin by asking a few general questions to ease into the conversation and then gradually move into more specific topics of interest. Active listening is key during the interview; pay attention to not only the words spoken but also the tone, body language, and emotions conveyed.

As you progress through the interview, probe deeper into the interviewee’s thoughts and experiences. Ask open-ended questions that invite detailed and reflective responses. Be prepared to adapt your questions based on their responses to keep the conversation flowing naturally. It’s important to strike a balance between guiding the conversation and allowing your interviewee to express themselves freely.

Remember to be respectful and considerate throughout the interview process. Avoid interrupting and allow your interviewee to fully express their thoughts. Take notes during the interview to capture important details and to ensure accuracy in your essay. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or additional information if needed.

By conducting a successful interview, you will gather rich material to create a compelling and engaging interview essay. The insights and personal anecdotes shared by your interviewee will add depth and authenticity to your writing, making it a truly captivating piece.

Techniques and strategies for effectively interviewing your subject

When conducting an interview, it is important to have a set of techniques and strategies to ensure a successful and insightful conversation with your subject. By employing these techniques, you can gather valuable information, establish rapport, and make the most out of your interview.

• Prepare: Before the interview, do thorough research on your subject to familiarize yourself with their background, expertise, and accomplishments. This will enable you to ask informed and relevant questions during the interview.
• Establish rapport: Building a connection with your subject is crucial to create a comfortable and open atmosphere during the interview. Begin by introducing yourself, showing genuine interest, and actively listening to their responses.
• Ask open-ended questions: Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” focus on open-ended questions that encourage your subject to provide detailed and insightful responses. These questions often start with “how,” “why,” or “tell me about.”
• Active listening: During the interview, give your full attention to your subject and demonstrate active listening. This involves maintaining eye contact, nodding, and providing verbal cues to show that you are fully engaged in the conversation. Avoid interrupting and allow your subject to complete their thoughts.
• Probing and follow-up questions: To dig deeper into a topic or clarify any ambiguous answers, ask probing questions. These questions can help you extract more specific details and provide a more comprehensive understanding of your subject’s perspective.
• Keep it conversational: While it’s important to maintain a professional approach, aim to make the interview feel like a conversation rather than an interrogation. Use a friendly tone, ask follow-up questions, and be empathetic to create an environment where your subject feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.
• Record or take notes: To fully capture the interview, consider recording the conversation with your subject’s permission. Alternatively, take detailed notes during the interview to ensure accuracy when transcribing and referring back to the interview later.
• Thank your subject: Once the interview is complete, remember to express gratitude to your subject for their time and insights. Sending a follow-up message or a handwritten note as a token of appreciation can leave a positive impression and may result in future interview opportunities.

By utilizing these techniques and strategies during your interview, you can obtain valuable information, establish meaningful connections, and create a successful and insightful interview essay.

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Home ➔ How to Write an Essay ➔ Interview Essay

Interview Essay Guide

An interview essay is a written composition that presents the insights, experiences, and viewpoints of an individual obtained through a structured conversation or interview. This type of essay goes beyond merely summarizing the interviewee’s responses; it integrates narrative storytelling with analytical components to provide a comprehensive perspective on the subject matter.

An interview essay offers a unique platform to capture insights, personal experiences, and expert knowledge directly from the source. Here’s what makes it special:

• Personal Connection: Establishes a personal link between the interviewee and the reader.
• Diverse Perspectives: Showcases varied viewpoints on a subject or issue.
• Depth of Insight: Provides in-depth understanding often missing in third-party accounts.
• Authentic Voice: Captures the authentic voice and experiences of the interviewee.

Overview of the Process

Creating an engaging and informative interview essay involves several key steps:

• Identify Interviewee: Selecting a person who has relevant knowledge or experience.
• Research: Gathering background information to formulate meaningful questions.
• Question Design: Crafting questions that elicit detailed and thoughtful responses.
• Setting: Choosing a comfortable environment conducive to conversation.
• Technique: Employing active listening and strategic questioning.
• Recording: Ensuring accurate capture of the interviewee’s words.
• Transcription: Converting the spoken word into written form.
• Analysis: Identifying key themes and notable quotes.
• Organization: Structuring the essay for maximum impact.
• Introduction : Presenting the interviewee and framing the topic.
• Body: Weaving together narrative and analysis, enriched with direct quotes.
• Conclusion : Reflecting on the insights gained and their broader implications.
• Proofreading: Correcting grammatical and spelling errors.
• Refining: Enhancing clarity, flow, and coherence of the essay.

This process results in an essay that not only conveys valuable information but also provides a window into the personal experiences and perspectives of the interviewee, making it a powerful tool in both journalistic and academic contexts.

Preparation Stage for an Interview Essay

The preparation stage is crucial for laying the groundwork for a successful interview essay. This phase involves thoughtful planning and consideration in several key areas:

Choosing the Interviewee

When selecting an interviewee for your essay, it’s essential to consider several factors to ensure that your interview is informative and engaging. Here’s a more detailed look at the key aspects to consider:

• Expertise or Experience: Look for individuals who have direct experience or specialized knowledge in the topic you’re exploring. This ensures that their insights are grounded in personal experience or professional expertise.
• Contribution to Topic: Consider how the potential interviewee’s background or experiences can contribute unique perspectives or deepen the understanding of your topic.
• Current Relevance: Preferably choose someone whose experience or expertise is currently relevant or topical, as this can add immediacy and interest to your essay.

Accessibility

• Availability: Confirm that the potential interviewee can participate within your timeframe. Scheduling conflicts or unavailability can delay or change your essay plans.
• Willingness to Participate: Ensure that the interviewee is available and willing to share their experiences and thoughts openly. An enthusiastic participant often provides more in-depth and engaging responses.
• Communication Ease: Consider the ease of communication with the interviewee, especially if dealing with different time zones, languages, or cultural backgrounds.
• Varied Perspectives: Seek out interviewees who can offer different perspectives from your own or from what is commonly represented in discussions about your topic. This diversity can add depth and breadth to your essay.
• Underrepresented Voices: Actively look for voices often underrepresented in your topic’s discourse. Including these perspectives can provide a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of the subject matter.
• Cultural and Background Diversity: Consider choosing interviewees from different cultural backgrounds, professions, or life experiences. This diversity can bring a richer and more varied range of insights to your essay.

By carefully considering these factors when choosing your interviewee, you can ensure that your interview essay is informative and relevant and rich in perspective and depth, offering readers a well-rounded and insightful exploration of your chosen topic.

Researching the Interview Subject

Conducting thorough research before the interview is crucial for crafting meaningful questions and understanding the context of the interviewee’s responses. Here’s a more detailed approach to researching your interview subject:

Background Information

• Professional Background: Investigate the interviewee’s career path, including their current position, past roles, and any notable achievements in their field. This information can provide context to their responses and highlight their expertise.
• Educational History: Look into their educational background, including any relevant degrees, certifications, or training pertinent to the interview topic.
• Publications or Contributions: If applicable, review any publications, articles, or projects the interviewee has worked on. This can give you insights into their areas of interest and expertise.
• Personal Story: Where relevant, learn about the interviewee’s personal journey, including life experiences that may have shaped their perspectives. This can add a more human dimension to your essay.

Subject Matter

• Current Trends and Debates: Understand the current trends, debates, and recent developments related to the interview topic. This helps in formulating timely and relevant questions.
• Historical Context: Explore the historical background of the topic to provide a more comprehensive understanding during the interview.
• Relevant News and Events: Stay informed about any recent news or events related to the interview subject or the interviewee’s field of expertise.

Purpose Alignment

• Align with Essay Objectives: Ensure that your research aligns with the overall objectives and angle of your essay. Focus on gathering information that supports or enriches your essay’s intended narrative or argument.
• Identify Gaps in Existing Literature: Look for areas within the topic that haven’t been extensively covered in existing literature. This can guide you to explore new angles or under-discussed issues during the interview.
• Relevance to Audience: Consider what aspects of the interviewee’s background and the subject matter will be most relevant and engaging to your target audience. Tailoring your research to your audience’s interests can make the essay more impactful.

By thoroughly researching both the interviewee’s background and the broader context of the subject matter, you ensure that your interview essay is well-informed, relevant, and engaging, providing your readers with a comprehensive and insightful look into the topic.

Formulating Interview Questions

The right set of questions is pivotal for eliciting insightful and meaningful responses during the interview. Here’s a more detailed approach to formulating effective interview questions:

Open-Ended Questions

• Encourage Exploration: Design questions that encourage the interviewee to elaborate on their thoughts and experiences. For example, “Can you describe a significant challenge you faced in your career and how you overcame it?”
• Avoid Yes/No Responses: Frame questions to avoid simple yes or no answers. Instead, aim for questions that require a narrative or explanation.
• Personal Insights: Ask questions that allow the interviewee to reflect on their personal journey or opinions, such as, “What motivated you to pursue this field?”

Focused Questions

• Direct Relevance: Ensure each question is directly tied to the main subject of your essay. If the topic is specific, your questions should align closely with it.
• Specificity: Avoid overly broad questions. Instead, ask about specific events, decisions, or opinions for more detailed insights.
• Objective Clarity: Each question should have a clear objective and contribute to the overall narrative or goal of the interview.

Follow-Up Questions

• Depth and Detail: Prepare to ask follow-up questions that delve deeper into topics uncovered during the interview. For instance, “You mentioned a turning point in your career. Could you tell me more about that?”
• Responsive Inquiries: Base your follow-up questions on the interviewee’s responses to encourage a more natural and engaging conversation.
• Clarification: Use follow-up questions to clarify or expand upon interesting points, ensuring you fully understand the interviewee’s perspective.

Ethical Sensitivity

• Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of personal or sensitive topics. If the conversation veers into potentially uncomfortable territory, be prepared to steer it back respectfully.
• Informed Consent: Ensure the interviewee knows they can decline to answer any question.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of cultural differences that might affect how questions are perceived and adjust your approach accordingly.

By thoughtfully formulating your interview questions, you can create a conducive environment for a rich and informative dialogue. This preparation helps in capturing the depth and nuances of the interviewee’s experiences and perspectives, making your interview essay more engaging and insightful.

Preparing for Different Interview Formats

Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations are fundamental in conducting interviews, especially when the information is intended for publication in an essay. Respecting the interviewee’s rights and maintaining integrity throughout the process is essential.

• Informed Consent: Clearly inform the interviewee about the purpose of the interview, how the information will be used, and where it will be published.
• Written Agreement: Ideally, obtain written consent, especially if the interview will be recorded or sensitive topics will be discussed. This helps to avoid any misunderstandings about the use of the interviewee’s information.
• Recording Consent: Explicitly ask for written permission to record the interview, whether audio or video. Explain how the recording will be used and stored.
• Withdrawal Option: Ensure the interviewee knows they have the right to withdraw consent at any point, even after the completed interview.
• Confidential Information: Agree in advance on what information is off the record or confidential. Respect these boundaries in your essay.
• Anonymity Option: Offer the option of anonymity, mainly if sensitive topics are discussed or if requested by the interviewee.
• Data Protection: Follow data protection laws and regulations, especially when handling personal information or using the interview publicly.
• Faithful Representation: Commit to accurately representing the interviewee’s words and sentiments in your essay. Avoid taking statements out of context or altering their meaning.
• Review by Interviewee: Consider allowing the interviewee to review the sections where their quotes or information are used. This can ensure accuracy and build trust.
• Transparency in Editing: Be transparent about any edits made to the interviewee’s responses for clarity or brevity. Ensure that these edits do not distort the meaning.

Adhering to these ethical considerations not only ensures the integrity of the interview process but also builds trust and respect between the interviewer and the interviewee. This approach leads to more honest and open conversations, ultimately enriching the quality of the interview essay.

Conducting the Interview

The success of an interview essay largely hinges on how effectively the interview itself is conducted. This stage requires a blend of interpersonal skills, strategic questioning, and attentive listening.

Strategies for Asking Questions

• Start Broad, Then Narrow Down: Before moving to more specific topics, begin with general questions.
• Encourage Storytelling: Ask questions inviting interviewees to share experiences or anecdotes.
• Avoid Leading Questions: Frame questions neutrally to elicit unbiased responses.
• Be Adaptive: Be prepared to deviate from your prepared questions based on the conversation flow.

Techniques for Active Listening and Follow-Up Questions

• Show Engagement: Nodding and affirmative responses indicate active listening.
• Clarify and Confirm: Ask follow-up questions for clarification or to delve deeper into a topic.
• Paraphrase Responses: Occasionally restate critical points to ensure understanding.
• Avoid Interruptions: Let the interviewee complete their thoughts before asking new questions.

Note-Taking and Recording Methods

• Choose Your Method: Decide between taking handwritten interview notes, typing, or audio recording.
• Be Discreet: Ensure your note-taking doesn’t disrupt the interview flow.
• Audio Recording: If recording, check equipment beforehand and obtain consent.
• Key Points: Focus on capturing the essence of responses rather than verbatim notes.

Conducting the interview with these considerations in mind ensures a productive and respectful dialogue. This approach not only garners detailed and thoughtful responses but also builds a rapport that can add depth and authenticity to your interview essay.

Organizing Interview Information

After conducting the interview, the next critical step is to organize the gathered information effectively. This process involves transcribing the conversation, identifying key themes, and selecting impactful quotes and anecdotes.

Transcribing the Interview

• Accuracy: Transcribe the interview as accurately as possible, preserving the interviewee’s words and expressions.
• Format: Decide whether to transcribe verbatim or to paraphrase for clarity and brevity.
• Tools: If available, utilize transcription software or services to expedite the process.
• Review: Go through the transcription multiple times to ensure completeness and accuracy.

Identifying Key Themes and Insights

• Read Thoroughly: Read the transcription several times to fully understand the content.
• Highlight Key Points: Mark significant statements, insights, and recurring themes.
• Categorize Information: Group similar ideas together to form coherent sections or themes.
• Relevance to Essay Goals: Align themes and insights with the purpose and objectives of your essay.

Selecting Quotes and Anecdotes for Inclusion

• Impactful Quotes: Choose quotes that effectively convey the interviewee’s perspective or personality.
• Narrative Value: Select anecdotes that add depth or provide illustrative examples relevant to the topic.
• Balance: Ensure a good mix of quotes and anecdotes throughout the essay for variety and interest.
• Context: Provide sufficient background information for each quote or anecdote to make sense to the reader.

When you begin writing the essay, organizing the interview information methodically allows for a clearer and more structured approach. This process ensures that the interview’s most significant and relevant parts are highlighted, providing a solid foundation for the essay’s narrative.

How to Write an Interview Essay

Writing the interview essay involves several key steps, from choosing the right format to blending narrative and analysis. Your preparation and organization come together in this stage to create a compelling and informative piece.

Choose Your Essay Format

The format of your interview essay is pivotal in determining how your content is structured and conveyed to the reader. Here’s an expanded look at the three primary formats:

Narrative Format

• Storytelling Approach: This format weaves the interviewee’s experiences and perspectives into a narrative, engaging the reader emotionally and intellectually.
• Chronological Flow: Often, the narrative follows a chronological order, but it can also be structured around a central event or a pivotal moment in the interviewee’s life.
• Descriptive and Engaging: Rich in descriptive details, this format allows the writer to explore the interviewee’s emotions, settings, and background, offering a deep dive into their personal journey.
• Ideal Use: Best suited for essays that aim to provide an in-depth look at an individual’s life, experiences, or viewpoints, such as personal profiles or biographical pieces.

Question-and-Answer Format

• Direct Dialogue: This format closely mimics the actual conversation, presenting the questions and answers as they occurred. It maintains the interview’s original tone and flow.
• Clarity and Authenticity: The question-and-answer structure is straightforward, allowing readers to clearly see the interviewer’s inquiries and the interviewee’s responses.
• Minimal Narration: The writer’s voice is typically less prominent, with the focus being on the interviewee’s responses.
• Ideal Use: This format works well for interviews with technical or highly specialized content or when the interviewee’s words carry significant weight and authority.

Thematic Format

• Theme-Centered: Rather than following the chronological order of the interview or a strict Q&A format, this approach organizes the essay around key themes or topics that emerge from the interview.
• Depth of Analysis: It allows for an in-depth exploration of each theme, providing a comprehensive view of the subject matter.
• Non-Linear Structure: The writer can rearrange the content to focus on the most relevant or compelling themes, regardless of their order in the original interview.
• Ideal Use: Particularly effective for complex topics that benefit from a nuanced exploration, such as academic research, exploratory journalism, or issues with multiple viewpoints.

Outline the Essay

Creating a well-structured outline is a crucial step in writing your interview essay. It helps to organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of information. Here’s a more detailed approach to outlining the three main parts of the essay:

Introduction

• Introducing the Interviewee: Begin by presenting your interviewee. Include their name, relevant professional titles or roles, and why they are a significant figure for your essay topic .
• Background Information: Provide essential background information about the interviewee. This might include their professional achievements, personal history, or unique experiences relevant to the interview topic.
• Purpose of the Interview: Clarify the purpose of the interview. Explain what prompted the interview and what you aim to explore or uncover through it.
• Thesis Statement : End the introduction with a thesis statement or a primary question the interview will address. This gives the reader a clear idea of what to expect from the essay.
• Organizing by Themes or Topics: Divide the body into sections, each focusing on different aspects or themes that emerged from the interview. In a thematic or narrative format, these sections might cover various topics or stories. In a Q&A format, they might be organized around specific questions and answers.
• Supporting Details: For each section, include supporting details from the interview, such as direct quotes, anecdotes, or specific insights provided by the interviewee.
• Analysis and Interpretation: Add your analysis or interpretation of the interviewee’s responses. Discuss how their insights contribute to the overall topic or your understanding of the subject matter.
• Transitions: Ensure each section flows smoothly into the next. Use transitional phrases to maintain a coherent narrative or argument throughout the essay.
• Summarizing Key Points: Recap the main themes or insights discussed in the essay. This summary should reflect back on the thesis statement or primary question posed in the introduction.
• Reflecting on Insights Gained: Reflect on what you learned from the interview. Discuss how the interviewee’s perspectives have contributed to a deeper understanding of the topic.
• Broader Implications: If applicable, comment on the broader implications of the interview. This might include how the insights gained relate to larger societal, cultural, or professional issues.
• Closing Thoughts: Conclude with final thoughts or a closing statement that leaves the reader with something to ponder or consider further.

A well-crafted outline not only helps in organizing the essay effectively but also ensures that all key elements from the interview are highlighted and woven into a cohesive narrative or argument.

Blend Narrative and Analysis

Blending narrative and analysis in an interview essay is an art. It involves weaving the interviewee’s personal stories with your own interpretative insights, creating an informative and engaging piece. Here’s a deeper look into how to achieve this balance:

Personal Voice

• Storytelling: Integrate the interviewee’s personal stories and experiences as a fundamental part of the essay. Use direct quotes and vivid descriptions to bring these stories to life.
• First-Person Perspective: Consider using the first person, especially in a narrative format, to create a more intimate and personal tone. Share your own reflections or reactions to the interviewee’s stories where appropriate.
• Character Depth: Portray the interviewee as a full-fledged character. Include details about their personality, emotions, and background to make them relatable and real to the reader.
• Relatability: Aim to connect the interviewee’s experiences to universal themes or broader human experiences. This approach helps the reader to empathize with and understand the interviewee on a deeper level.

Analytical Insights

• Interpretative Lens: Provide your own analysis or interpretation of what the interviewee says. This could involve drawing connections to broader themes, offering critique, or providing context that the interviewee might not have explicitly stated.
• Balanced Viewpoint: While offering your perspectives, ensure they complement and do not overshadow the interviewee’s voice. The analysis should enrich the reader’s understanding rather than detract from the original narrative.
• Supporting Research: Use additional research or references to support your analysis. This can lend credibility to your interpretations and provide a more rounded view of the topic.
• Critical Thinking: Apply critical thinking to analyze the interviewee’s responses. Question underlying assumptions, identify biases, and explore the implications of their viewpoints.
• Seamless Transitions: Craft transitions that seamlessly blend narrative and analysis. Use transitional phrases or questions that naturally lead from a story to an analytical point or vice versa.
• Pacing: Balance the pacing between narrative and analysis. Avoid long sections of uninterrupted analysis that might detach the reader from the personal aspect of the essay.
• Coherence: Ensure that the analysis is always relevant to the preceding narrative. Each analytical point should clearly relate to the story or quote that it follows.
• Reflective Conclusion: In the conclusion of each section or the essay as a whole, reflect back on the analysis and narrative, summarizing how they interconnect and what they collectively reveal about the interviewee or the topic.

Blending narrative and analysis effectively requires a thoughtful approach where both elements complement each other, creating a rich, multi-dimensional view of the interview subject. This approach not only makes the essay more engaging but also deepens the reader’s understanding of the topic.

Incorporate Direct Quotes and Paraphrase

In an interview essay, effectively using direct quotes and paraphrasing is key to maintaining the authenticity of the interviewee’s voice while ensuring the essay’s clarity and conciseness. Here’s a more detailed look at how to approach this:

Direct Quotes

• Impactful Statements: Utilize direct quotes for particularly powerful, insightful, or unique statements. These quotes should capture the essence of the interviewee’s perspective or personality.
• Preserving Voice: When using direct quotes, it’s crucial to preserve the interviewee’s original speech patterns and expressions. This helps in maintaining the authenticity of their voice.
• Contextualization: Provide context for each quote to ensure the reader understands its relevance. Briefly introduce the scenario or question that led to the quoted response.
• Emphasis on Key Points: Use direct quotes to emphasize points critical to your essay’s thesis or main argument. These quotes can serve as evidence or examples to support your narrative.

Paraphrasing

• Simplifying Complex Responses: When the interviewee provides complex or lengthy answers, paraphrasing can make these ideas more accessible to the reader. It allows you to condense and clarify the original response.
• Maintaining Original Meaning: While paraphrasing, be careful to accurately convey the interviewee’s intended message. The goal is to simplify the language, not to alter the meaning.
• Integration with Your Analysis: Paraphrased content can be smoothly integrated with your own analysis or commentary, creating a cohesive narrative flow.
• Avoiding Misrepresentation: Regularly compare your paraphrased sentences with the original statements to ensure that you’re not misrepresenting the interviewee’s views.

Attribution

• Crediting the Interviewee: Always attribute both quotes and paraphrased ideas to the interviewee. This can be done in the narrative (e.g., “As Jane Doe noted…”) or through citations, depending on the format of your essay.
• Clear Distinction: Make it clear to the reader what is a direct quote and what is paraphrased material. This distinction is crucial for transparency and credibility.
• Consistency in Attribution: Apply a consistent style for attributing quotes and ideas throughout your essay. This consistency aids in readability and helps maintain the flow of the essay.

Incorporating direct quotes and paraphrasing effectively enhances the authenticity of your interview essay and makes it more engaging and accessible to the reader. This balance between the interviewee’s voice and your narrative is key to creating a compelling and credible essay.

Provide Context and Background Information

In an interview essay, contextualizing the content is crucial for readers to fully grasp the significance of the interviewee’s responses. Detailed background information enriches the narrative, making it more informative and engaging. Here’s an expanded look at how to integrate this context:

Set the Scene

• Introduction of Setting: Begin by describing the setting of the interview, if it’s relevant to the content or mood of the conversation. For example, if the interview was conducted in a significant location, mention it.
• Timeframe: Mention the period during which the interview took place, especially if it’s relevant to the discussion or if the conversation references current events.
• Initial Interaction: Briefly describe the initial interaction with the interviewee to give the reader a sense of the interview’s tone and the relationship between you and the interviewee.

Relevant Details

• Interviewee’s Background: Provide an overview of the interviewee’s professional and personal background, focusing on aspects relevant to the essay’s topic. This might include their career trajectory, significant achievements, or personal experiences that shape their perspective.
• Context for Responses: When the interviewee references specific projects, events, or experiences, offer additional information to help the reader understand the relevance and significance of these references.
• Visual Aids: If applicable, use visual aids like photographs or diagrams to provide a richer background and enhance the reader’s understanding, particularly in digital formats.

Linking to Broader Themes

• Connecting to Larger Issues: Draw connections between the interviewee’s experiences or viewpoints and broader societal, historical, or cultural themes. This helps to situate the interview in a larger context.
• Reflecting Current Events: If the interview touches on current events or trends, provide a brief overview to give readers a clearer understanding of the interviewee’s responses in the current landscape.
• Universal Themes: Highlight any universal themes or experiences discussed in the interview. This can make the essay more relatable and compelling to a broader audience.

By providing rich context and background information, you set the stage for the interviewee’s responses and enrich the reader’s understanding of the overall narrative. This additional information layer helps create a more immersive and informative reading experience.

Writing the essay is a process of weaving together the voices of the interviewer and interviewee to create an engaging and insightful narrative. In this phase, you bring to life the interviewee’s experiences and perspectives contextualized within a well-structured and coherent essay.

Styling and Formatting

In the styling and formatting phase of an interview essay, attention to detail is crucial. This step ensures that the essay reads well and meets the necessary academic or publication standards.

Adhering to Academic or Publication Style Guides

• Choose Appropriate Style Guide: Determine which style guide is relevant for your context (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
• Consistency: Apply the chosen style guide consistently throughout the essay.
• Formatting Rules: Pay attention to specific formatting rules such as margins, font size, and headings.

Balancing Narrative Flow with Factual Accuracy

• Narrative Structure: Maintain a compelling narrative flow that engages the reader.
• Factual Integrity: Ensure all factual statements are accurate and verifiable.
• Tone and Voice: Balance the essay’s tone between academic rigor and storytelling.

Citing Sources and Interview Material

• Citations for Interview Material: Follow the specific format for citing interviews as per the chosen style guide.
• Secondary Sources: Properly cite all secondary sources and supplemental materials used for background information or analysis.
• In-Text Citations: Include in-text citations where necessary, particularly when quoting or paraphrasing the interviewee.
• Reference List or Bibliography: Compile a complete list of references or bibliography at the end of the essay.

Proper styling and formatting enhance the essay’s readability and demonstrate professionalism and respect for academic standards. This phase is essential for lending credibility to your work and ensuring it is taken seriously by your intended audience.

Bottom Line

Final thoughts on the value and impact of interview essays.

• Unique Insight: Interview essays provide a unique window into personal experiences and expert perspectives.
• Storytelling Power: They combine the art of storytelling with factual reporting, making them compelling and informative.
• Cultural Relevance: These essays can contribute to cultural and social discourse by highlighting diverse voices.

Encouragement for Continuous Learning and Improvement

• Skill Development: Embrace each interview as an opportunity to refine your interviewing and writing skills.
• Feedback and Reflection: Seek feedback and reflect on your process for continuous improvement.
• Lifelong Learning: View each interview essay as a step in the journey of lifelong learning and professional growth.

By adhering to these guidelines and embracing the process, you can create interview essays that are informative and engaging but also respectful and ethical, contributing valuable insights to your chosen field or audience.

Read for more insights

• “Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and the Social Sciences” by Irving Seidman. This book provides an in-depth exploration of the interviewing process in qualitative research, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to understand or conduct interviews for essays or academic research.
• “The SAGE Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft,” edited by Jaber F. Gubrium, James A. Holstein, Amir B. Marvasti, and Karyn D. McKinney. This handbook is a comprehensive resource that delves into various aspects of interview research, including techniques, challenges, and ethical considerations.
• “Doing Interviews” by Steinar Kvale and Svend Brinkmann. Part of the ‘Qualitative Research Kit,’ this book offers a practical guide to conducting interviews, presenting the theoretical background and practical aspects of interviewing.
• “Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data” by Herbert J. Rubin and Irene S. Rubin. This book emphasizes the art of listening in interviews. It offers practical advice for conducting qualitative interviews, making it a useful resource for anyone interested in using interviews as a data source.
• “Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes” by Robert M. Emerson, Rachel I. Fretz, and Linda L. Shaw. While primarily focused on ethnographic research, this book provides valuable insights into effectively documenting and writing about interviews and observations, which can be highly relevant for crafting interview essays.

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How to Write an Interview Essay

Last Updated: March 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Diane Stubbs . Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 462,808 times.

An interview essay is designed to give the reader a general impression of the interview subject and to present their thoughts on a select group of topics. It also offers the opportunity to develop deeper insights by analyzing the interviewee's responses within a larger context. Interview essays are a common school assignment, and provide useful skills for those interested in journalism, or just being good writers in general. There are several formats that fit into the category, but a good interview essay of whatever type can make the reader feel as though they were asking the questions.

Interviewing for an Essay

• If your essay is to be a factual piece, you'll want to interview someone who has expertise in the subject matter you'll be addressing. If your paper is about a science topic, you'll want to interview a scientist in that field. If your paper is about a period of history, you'll want to interview either a historian or someone who's lived through that period of history.
• If you plan to make your essay an opinion piece, you'll likely want to interview someone who has a strong opinion about the topic covered in your essay. Ideally, you want someone who can express opinions articulately, and who also has credentials in the area you plan to write about.
• If your piece will have a narrow perspective, you'll need to interview only one or two people. If your piece will present a general consensus, you'll need to interview more people, probably with varying expertise and credentials.

• When available, read works about and works written by your subject, both in print and online. At the same time, research the topic associated with your subject. The more you know about both, the more intelligent questions you can ask.
• Look for previous interviews your subject has given, as well. These will give you an idea of what questions the person has been asked before, so you can decide on appropriate subjects for your own questions, including questions that no one else has asked.
• Questions that require "yes" or "no" answers are good for gathering specific factual information; open-ended "how," "why," and "tell me about" questions are great for gathering additional background material not found in your research.
• Draw up a list of the questions you are prepared to ask. Have more questions ready than you will likely use, so that you can make adjustments as the interview takes place. (For instance, your subject may begin focusing on what you thought was a side topic, but turns out to be the key part of your interview.) Rank your questions in order of importance to make sure you ask your best ones, or list them all in the order you'd ask them and color-code the most important ones.

• Choose a quiet place with few distractions for your interview site. A library, restaurant, or campus location if you're doing this for a college writing class would be suitable.
• You may want to get the interviewee's consent to use their comments in your essay in writing, as well as permission to record those comments during the interview. By law, if you are recording an interview conducted over the phone, you must obtain written permission. [4] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• It's helpful to have a backup interviewee in case the person you plan to interview can't make it.
• Be on time at the place you've agreed to meet for the interview.

• Using a recording device (with permission) is almost always advisable, as it permits you to save your note-taking for jotting down your insights on contexts, themes, how your subject approaches the questions, his/her comfort level, and so on.
• Be patient and respectful as you ask your questions and wait for responses. Give the interviewee time to reflect, and you will likely be rewarded with more insightful answers. A few deeper responses are usually better than many superficial ones.
• Immediately after the interview, write down your thoughts and impressions about the interview and interviewee. They may help you shape the essay.
• Always end the interview by thanking the person.

Writing the Essay

• Narrative format. This form allows paraphrasing of some information the interviewee says, along with direct quotes for the material you most want to emphasize. This is the most likely format for a class assignment, and offers the most opportunity to add context and analysis.
• Conversational format. This is a looser format than the formal writing style required for most essays. You can address the reader directly and use both first and second person. This format can be suitable for anything from class assignments to magazine articles.
• Question-and-answer format. This form presents your questions to the interviewee, followed by the interviewee's responses. (That is, the text looks something like this: (Your Name): How long have you been in the circus? (Interviewee's Name): About 35 years.) These are always direct quotes, although you may insert explanatory material in parentheses and substitutions, such as a person's name in place of a personal pronoun, in brackets. This format is best suited for essays with only a single interviewee or a closely related group, such as spouses or the core cast of a TV show.
• Informative format. This format usually interweaves the interview with research you've done on the subject, incorporating some of that research in the text to provide background and give it a little more color.

• Read over your interview notes and listen to any audio / video recordings you have. Utilizing both whenever available will allow you to thoroughly consider both the highlights of the interview and the most significant themes to emerge from it. These, in turn, will inform your outline of what information your essay will cover and how it will appear. [9] X Research source
• One possible outline could be an introduction that starts with an anecdote about the interviewee and then presents your thesis statement, several key points that support the main focus, and a conclusion that summarizes the information presented. Traditional school essays often utilize a five paragraph format (introduction, three supporting paragraphs, conclusion), and this can often work with interview essays as well.

• If, however, the purpose of your essay is to use your interviewee's comments to support a position or examine a larger theme, your thesis will probably be a statement of that position or theme, with the interview / interviewee placed within that context. For instance: "John Doe's mixed feelings of pride and betrayal reflect those shared by many Vietnam veterans still with us."
• Regardless of essay format, make your thesis clear and concise, and be sure that the remainder of your essay refers back to it. See How to Write a Thesis Statement for more advice.

• Interviews can sometimes produce a good deal of repetitive answers (even with high-quality questions), so you may need to trim repetitions and unnecessary elements from the body of your essay. Make sure that whatever material you do keep remains true to both the spirit of the interview and the overarching focus of your essay. [10] X Research source
• A handout from the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina (available at http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/oral-history/ ) provides a wealth of valuable materials on interview essays. It includes, for instance, examples of how to utilize the same interview materials in a transcription (question-and-answer format), a presentation of individual experiences (quotations and paraphrases), and the placing of the interview / interviewee in a larger context (paraphrasing and quotations with ample explanation).

• Reading over the essay yourself is a good start, but it is always wise to have another set of eyes look it over as well. Another reader is likely to catch errors, repetitions, and unclear sections that you have glossed over. [12] X Research source
• Go back to your original interview notes, recordings, and transcripts, and make sure that your essay continues to reflect the actual interview. Layers of editing and revising can sometimes cause the essay to drift away from the original source and intent. You may even want to let the interviewee read it over to ensure that it captures their voice. [13] X Research source

• Any materials you used for research, information about the interviewee, or context for the essay itself should be referenced in the approved citation format for your essay.
• Make sure one more time that any direct quotations from your source are placed in quotation marks, and any paraphrasing is done without quotation marks. Don't put words in your subject's mouth, and respect the words that do emerge from it.

What Are The Dos And Don’ts Of a Journalistic Interview?

Expert Q&A

• After the interview, send the interviewee a written thank-you note expressing your appreciation for their time. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If the person you're interviewing is busy or elderly, you may want to plan for more than one interview session. Observe the interviewee for signs of impatience or fatigue. Conduct multiple, shorter sessions if necessary. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• If you plan to interview someone over the telephone, permission to record the conversation is required by law. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/oral-history/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/interview-paper
• ↑ http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2007/maine_students/tip_sheets/FIRST-PERSON%20ESSAYS%20TIP%20SHEET.pdf
• ↑ http://www.brighthubeducation.com/help-with-writing/97515-how-to-write-an-interview-essay/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/proofreading_suggestions.html

About This Article

To write an essay from an interview, you’ll first have to decide on the format the essay will take, as this will determine the structure and what you write. The most common form is the narrative format, in which you use direct quotes and paraphrase your subject to add context and detail, or you can write in a more conversational tone, or even in a directly transcribed question-and-answer form. Once you decide on format, plan an outline by forming a central thesis, which will be the central statement your essay is making. Add onto the outline by drafting supporting evidence directly from the interview and from other sources, like books, newspaper articles, other essays, anything else to support your point. Write and finish the essay by combining information from the interview and other sources with your own explanations and words. To learn about how to conduct the interview to get enough information to write about and how to finish the writing process, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write an Interview Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Apr 29, 2024 | 0 comments

Apr 29, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

Are you curious about transforming an interview into a captivating essay? You’re exactly where you need to be.

This blog post will help you learn how to write an interview essay that engages your readers and highlights the interviewee’s unique insights.

An interview essay is a form of writing that captures a person’s views and experiences on a specific topic through an interview. This type of essay stands out because it emphasizes the interviewee’s quotes and anecdotes  alongside your interpretation and analysis.

The aim is to offer a deeper comprehension of the individual and the subject matter, creating an emotional resonance with your audience.

Penning an interview essay is rewarding and enjoyable, yet it demands preparation and certain skills. We’ll navigate you through every step of crafting a successful interview essay, from selecting the ideal interviewee and questions to conducting the interview and writing the essay. Along with tips and examples, this guide will equip you to produce an interview essay that dazzles your readers and showcases your writing prowess .

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What is an interview paper?

An interview paper is a type of essay writing where the writer conducts an interview with a subject and then writes an essay based on the question and answer format. The interview paper is typically written in an essay format, including direct quotes from the interviewee and paraphrasing their responses. The key points from the interview are summarized to present the interview findings effectively.

What is an Essay Based on an Interview?

An essay based on an interview is a piece of writing structured around an interview’s question-and-answer format. The interview process involves creating an interview with a subject and then using their responses to form the basis of the essay or paper. When you write your essay, you will use the information from the interview to support your thesis or main argument. By incorporating direct quotes and insights from the interviewee, you can add depth and credibility to your writing.

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How to prepare for and how to write an interview essay

Before you can craft an interview essay , preparing for the interview itself is crucial. This starts with selecting your subject, delving deep into research, and organizing the interview details.

Here are strategies to effectively navigate through each phase.

Choosing Your Subject

To begin with, you should contact your interviewees to set a place and time to meet. Remember to get permission (written consent) to record their answers.

Initiating the process requires deciding on your interviewee —someone who brings relevant knowledge, experience, or viewpoints to the theme you’re aiming to delve into.

If your essay revolves around a career, choose an individual with noteworthy credentials or success. Also, gauge the potential subject’s  availability, accessibility, and eagerness to participate in the dialogue.

Finding the right candidate might necessitate contacting multiple prospects before securing one who consents to the interview.

Be sure to also review our article on How to Avoid Plagiarism in Essay Writing to learn proper citation techniques and ensure your work is completely original.

Researching Your Subject

Subsequently, research both your subject and the interview topic. This groundwork lays the foundation for formulating insightful questions  and fostering a connection and authenticity with your subject.

Leverage diverse information sources, including books, articles, websites, social media, and personal recommendations. It’s also wise to review any previous interviews or publications featuring your subject. The more informed you are, the more poised you’ll be for the interview.

Setting Up the Interview

The culmination of preparation involves coordinating the interview logistics. Reach out well in advance to secure your subject’s consent and availability. Clarify the interview’s purpose, format, and expected duration while openly inquiring about any preferences or concerns they might have.

Decide together on the interview mode and venue —in-person, over the phone, via video, or email. Furthermore, confirm the interview date and time and issue a reminder a day beforehand. Ensure you have the necessary materials, such as a recorder, notebook, pen, or camera.

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Guideline for Conducting an Interview

Once you’ve prepared for the interview, it’s time to meet your interviewee. This phase is critical , impacting the quality and quantity of information you’ll gather for your essay.

Below are some strategies for an effective interview.

Creating a Comfortable Environment

First, please ensure the interview setting is  comfortable : select a quiet , private , and well-lit location to minimize distractions and interruptions. A warm greeting, a clear introduction of yourself and the interview’s purpose, and gratitude for your time and participation set a positive tone. If you plan to  record the conversation, please ask for their permission first.

Building rapport and trust is crucial. Achieve this through eye contact , smiling , nodding , and positive body language. Remember to avoid judgment, criticism, or argumentation, and always respect their views and emotions.

Asking the Right Questions

I would say that having a list of well-thought-out questions is essential, but please stay flexible and responsive to the conversation’s flow. Begin with simple , general questions to ease your subject into the discussion, then progress to more specific and thought-provoking ones. Use open-ended questions to encourage detailed expressions of their thoughts and feelings, and steer clear of leading , biased , or offensive queries.

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications or further details on intriguing or vague responses.

Don’t begin writing your reflective essay until you’ve reviewed our easy-to-follow guide on How to Write a Reflective Essay for useful tips on structure, content and creating thoughtful self-analysis.

Example questions to ask an interview subject

• What inspired you to get into this field/industry?
• What does a typical day/week look like in your job?
• What would you say are the biggest challenges of your work?
• What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
• What skills or qualifications are most important to be successful in your role?
• How has your job/industry changed throughout your career?
• Where do you see your field/industry heading in the next 5-10 years?
• What advice would you give to someone entering this career today?
• What is one thing you wish you had known in your career?
• Is there anything else you think would be interesting for readers to know about your work/experience?

Recording the Interview

For accurate future reference, ensure the interview is recorded . Whether you use a recorder, a notebook, or both, be prepared. If opting for a recorder, check its functionality beforehand and place it adequately to capture clear audio. Importantly, please secure consent before recording, and let your subject know they can request to stop it anytime.

When taking notes, focus on capturing the essence—key points, quotes, and stories—rather than transcribing verbatim. Employ shorthand or abbreviations to optimize time and space, and review your notes soon after to fill in any gaps.

Writing the Interview Essay

Once you’ve completed the interview, it’s time to transform the raw material of the conversation into a refined and captivating essay . This phase involves converting your notes and the interviewee’s insights into a compelling narrative that engages your readers.

Below are key strategies for crafting an effective interview essay .

Organizing Your Notes and Transcripts

You can start by organizing your notes and transcripts . This crucial step helps you pinpoint essential themes, ideas, and quotes to feature in your essay. I suggest you use highlighting, categorizing, or outlining methods to streamline this process.

It’s also vital to meticulously review your materials for errors, inconsistencies, or missing information. If you need to, please don’t hesitate to contact your interviewee for clarification. you need to

Constructing a Narrative Using Interview Questions

Your next task is to weave a narrative that brings the interviewee’s story and viewpoint to life. Deciding on your essay’s format and structure—narrative, question-answer, or thematic—is paramount.

You can begin with a compelling introduction that sets the scene, introducing the interviewee and the interview’s objectives. This is followed by a clear thesis statement that encapsulates your essay’s central premise. The body paragraphs should then intertwine the interviewee’s responses, quotes, and stories with your analysis and commentary.

Employ transitions, headings, and subheadings to ensure a seamless and logical progression throughout the essay. Conclude by summarizing the main insights and underscoring the interview’s value.

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Revising and Polishing

The final step entails revising and refining your interview essay . Rigorously proofread your work to eliminate spelling, grammar, punctuation, or formatting mistakes. Also, scrutinize your essay for logical, factual, or stylistic flaws to ensure clarity, conciseness, and consistency.

Seek feedback from peers, instructors, or professional editors and integrate their insights to enhance your work. Remember to cite your sources accurately , adhering to the appropriate citation format, be it MLA, APA, or Chicago. Through diligent revision and polishing, your interview essay will meet the highest standards of excellence and precision.

Key Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Narrative Essay Based on an Interview

• Do plan your essay structure before conducting the interview. Develop a list of important questions that will help make your essay compelling. Tailor your questions to the purpose of your essay.
• Write in the first or third-person point of view, depending on whether you want to be part of the narrative. Presenting the interview in narrative format allows you to engage readers by bringing them through the interview as it takes place.
• Cite any supplemental materials from the interview using an approved citation format. You should also cite direct quotes from the interview whenever they are included in your essay.
• Seek written permission from the interviewee to use any information from the interview for your essay. Request to record the interview if possible, but take thorough notes immediately after the interview concludes while impressions are fresh.
• You can do basic research on the topic/person you plan to interview so you can ask follow-up questions.
• Interview in a quiet, undisturbed space where you can speak freely without interruptions.
• Do transcribe or summarize your original interview notes as part of your writing process. Having the full details will help make your essay clear and concise.
• Do reference background information about the interviewee/interview context for readers throughout the essay.
• Don’t rely solely on direct quotes from the interview in the body of your essay. Please use quotes carefully and instead focus on explaining the thoughts and impressions you got from your talk with care. The essay refers back to but is not a comprehensive retelling of the interview.
• Don’t make claims or repeat information given to you without a citation if it did not come directly from the interview.
• Don’t lose sight of the purpose of your essay – the interview content should serve the goal/topic, not be an end in itself.
• Don’t use first-person pronouns if writing in third-person format or vice versa, as this can confuse readers.
• Don’t forget to proofread your work carefully to ensure any details that could identify participants are kept confidential if needed.

Interview Essay Writing Examples

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Writing an interview essay can be fun and rewarding, allowing you to share someone’s story and perspective with your readers. Nevertheless, it involves a degree of planning, skills, and creativity . In this guide, we’ve outlined four essential steps for crafting an engaging interview essay: preparing for the interview, conducting the interview, writing the interview essay, and revising and polishing the essay.

Also, we’ve given you practical tips and examples to help you on this journey. By adhering to this guide, you can produce an interview essay that will impress your audience and highlight your writing prowess.

With the knowledge of how to write an interview essay, why not take the plunge? Seek out an individual with an intriguing story or opinion and inquire if they’re open to being interviewed. Afterward, apply the steps and advice detailed in this guide and create your own interview essay.

You’ll be amazed at the wealth of knowledge and creativity a simple conversation can unleash. Happy writing!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to start an essay about an interview.

To write an interview paper , start by introducing the interviewee and providing context for the interview. Consider outlining the key points you want to cover and what you hope to achieve with the essay.

What is the format of interview writing?

The interview writing format typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs discussing the interview content, and a conclusion summarizing the main points. Include quotes or anecdotes from the interview to support your analysis.

How do I write about an interview?

When writing about an interview , focus on highlighting the most relevant information that emerged during the conversation. Use a mix of first and second person to engage readers and convey your insights.

How do you summarize an interview in an essay?

To summarize an interview in an essay, revisit the key points discussed during the interview and emphasize the main takeaways. Ensure your summary captures the essence of the interviewee’s perspective and any significant insights shared.

With a student-centered approach, I create engaging and informative blog posts that tackle relevant topics for students. My content aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

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How to Write an Interview Essay

Post Published On: 26 March, 2018

Within an interview essay, you can present somebody’s thoughts on a certain topic, and this essay type also offers you an opportunity to consider somebody’s ideas in a more general context or analyze them.Interview essays are crucial for those who study journalism or just want to improve writing skills. There are several types of interview essays, but all of them are aimed to create an impression that readers talked to somebody personally.

Now let’s consider interview essays in more detail, so you’ll be able to write a good essay , following simple step-by-step instructions.

• Define the purpose of your paper

The purpose of your essay affects the interviewed person, it determines the chosen method and some features of essay writing.

• If your assignment is about some scientific phenomenon, you’ll interview a scientist. If it’s about some period in history, you’ll interview a historian or a person who participated in these events or lived during these times.
• If your essay is aimed to provide a certain opinion, you’ll want to interview an authoritative person who has a strong opinion and expresses it impressively.
• If your essay is devoted to public opinion, you’ll have to interview many people. On contrary, if it represents a particular view of a random person, you will choose only one person to interview.
• Research the subject of an interview and prepare your questions

To write a good essay , you have to conduct a good interview. In turn, a good interview is impossible without a proper understanding of the subject and preparation. Study your subject, its history,and most important issues. You have to collect enough information to write a list of interesting and relevant questions.

• Read sources devoted to your subject and any available printed materials. The more you know about it, the more interesting and specific questions you can ask.
• Look up some existing interviews about this subject, This will allow you to determine what questions are the most important, as well as figure out what unique questions you can ask and what questions may be too banal.
• Some questions may be answered with either “yes” or “no”. Such questions are good to clarify some crucial and specific details. On the other hand, open questions which imply a detailed answer can help you gather additional data.
• Draft a list of questions that will serve as a blueprint for your interview. We suggest preparing more questions so you’ll be able to select the most appropriate ones during the interview. You don’t know what an interviewed person will be focused on – it may be a topic that you considered a side subject. Sort your questions by importance or in the order that you plan to ask them. Highlight the most important questions.
• Arrange the interview

First of all, you have to contact your interviewee to define a place and time to meet. Don’t forget to get a necessary permission for recording answers or making photos. Always explain who you are and why you’re interested in interviewing this particular person.

• Find a quiet place. It may be a restaurant, a library, or a quiet location, for example, in some park.
• The interviewee must express his or her consent regarding the use of the recorded material. According to the law, you have to get a written permission to record an interview.
• If the person you wanted to interview can’t meet with you or is just not interested in the interview, you must have your plan B that implies another person familiar with the subject.
• Once you’ve arranged the interview, make sure to get there on time.
• Conduct the interview

Even if you record the interview on a phone or a voice recorder, take notes. It will help you remember some points that appear to be especially interesting or important.

• Use a recording device that will help you clarify the context of some noted phrases during the writing process.
• Be respectful and wait for your interviewee’s responses with patience. The interviewed person must have time to think and figure out answers. Create a relaxed environment for the conversation. Remember that it’s better to get a few accurate and meaningful responses than many answers given in a hurry.
• Right after you’ve finished interviewing someone, jot down your fresh impressions and thoughts. You will need these notes while writing an essay.
• At the end of the interview, thank your interviewee.
• Determine the format of your essay

Usually, if you get an essay assigned, you will be given instructions on the essay format. Talk to your instructor to clarify all the necessary details, such as the expected questions or answers, the use of paraphrasing, the context, and the format of quotes. Generally, there are three most common interview types:

• It’s an informal format which allows you to use the first and the second person. It fits a wide range of essays, including magazine articles and college assignments.
• Narrative interview essays are formal, and it’s the most common type of college assignments. Some answers may be paraphrased. This format also allows you to provide background information.
• Question – answer. Essays of this type consist only of direct quotes. It looks like a list of questions and answers written in a form of a dialogue. However, you can add some comments in parentheses. This format fits essays that include only one interviewee or a group of closely related people, such as a cast ofa movie or spouses.
• Draw up an outline

Your outline may vary depending on the essay type. However, it must include an introduction that describes your subject and the purpose of the interview.

• Listen to your recordings and read your notes. You have to consider both the most substantial parts of the interview and themes that you marked as important while talking to a person. This information will help you define what you’re going to write and in what order you should place questions and answers.
• Your outline may be a basis for the introduction. Start it with an anecdote or interesting fact about the interviewee. After that, familiarize your readers with main points and write your thesis statement. You have to support your thesis with several facts, and summarize the presented material in the conclusion. Most of thecollege essays imply a five-paragraph structure (introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion), and you can use this structure for your interview essay as well.
• Evolve your thesis statement

If your essay is aimed to only introduce your readers to a person, the thesis statement may be a concise summary of his or her background, qualifications, and achievements.

If the interview is used in your essay to support a certain position or provide an opinion on some broad issue, the thesis statement may formulate this position, mentioning the interviewee in the context of the considered issue.

No matter what format you choose, remember that your thesis statement must be clear and coherent. Make sure that other parts of the essay refer to your thesis statement.

• Complete your essay

The body of the essay must be tied to your thesis statement and cover the interview in details.

• Interviews often contain many repetitive phrases, even if you prepare good questions. You have to polish your essay and remove all unnecessary elements. You have to keep only information that corresponds to the idea of your essay and focuses on the subject.
• You can find many useful materials on interview essays on the internet. Visit websites of prestigious universities and read articles. For example, University of North Carolina Writing Center website contains many tips on how to get rid of similar phrases, and how to use transcriptions. You will also learn how to consider the interview in a global context by using paraphrasing. You can also find some detailed instructions on how to transfer personal experience.
• Proofread your writings

Never forget to revise and proofread your work, regardless of its type.

• Obviously, you must read your essay a few times. But you also have to find somebody else who will look it over. Sometimes you may miss something in your own work, so others will help you by providing a new perspective.
• Return to your notes that you’ve taken right after the interview and look whether your essay still represents the actual interview. While editing, you may change your essay considerably, so make sure that the initial intention remained the same. If you can, meet the interviewee and let him or her read your essay to understand whether it reflects their opinion correctly.
• Specify your sources

Usually, you don’t need to include the specific citation of the entire interview, but you must cite any additional materials used to collect data. We also suggest referring contextual information according to the required citation format.

Remember that all direct quotations must be written in quotation marks, while paraphrasing shouldn’t include them.

Finally, the last and the most important rule is that you shouldn’t present your own thoughts as someone else’s words. Respect interviewee’s opinion, and you’ll write a perfect interview essay !

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Make 13 Your Lucky Interview Number

By  Saundra Loffredo

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It’s been tough to concentrate on your grad school work because you’ve been waiting to hear about that job you applied for a few weeks ago. You finally heard back from the organization and are lucky enough to get an interview for that position. It’s a good opportunity and you want to do a great job on the interview. It doesn’t matter whether you have two days or two weeks before your interview. Start your planning and preparation now with these 13 steps.

Get the details. Be sure to ask enough questions about the interview when you get the invitation. Find out the names and titles of people who will be interviewing you. Ask if it will be a series of individual interviews or a panel interview. Find out how much time to block out on your calendar for the interview(s). Ask where you should enter the building (perhaps the main front entrance or possibly the back entrance by the parking lot), whom to ask for when you arrive and where to park your car if you’re driving.

Research the organization. It is essential that you know enough about the organization to explain what they do and to talk about how you could fit into its mission. Dig into your network and find out who might know someone who works at the organization. Ask him or her about the organization’s culture, the comradery in the lab, dress code, growth opportunities and other things you may want to know. Be sure to research compensation using Glassdoor or other online tools.

Practice your answers. Some interview questions are common ones. Do online research to find both common interview questions and questions that are asked in specific situations, such as postdoc interviews. The goal in rehearsing is not to memorize a set of answers to common interview questions but to practice listening carefully and responding extemporaneously to such questions. Practice answering potential interview questions with a friend who can help guide you if your answers are weak, your eye contact is poor or your body language is not speaking positively for you.

Prepare questions to ask. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, your answer should be yes. Asking questions about the organization gives you the opportunity to show you are engaged and inquisitive. Create a list of 15 to 20 questions and bring that list with you to the interview. Some of those questions will probably be answered as part of your initial discussion. Ask the questions that remain unanswered and any that come up during the interview. Be sure to ask about the next steps in the selection process.

Plan your route. Be confident about your route and destination. Even if you will walk to the interview, you should be confident in how to get to there. Be able to pick out the building when traveling by it. Drive the route ahead of time if you’re not familiar with the areas you need to cover. If you need to use public parking, identify the best parking lot and a backup lot in case you need it.

Get your clothes ready. Your knowledge of the industry and research about the organization should clue you in on their overall dress code. My suggestion is to err on the conservative side. Not all employers embrace nose jewelry, large neck tattoos or purple hair. Tone down your appearance if needed and show your professional side.

Collect your materials. Put together a portfolio, pens and copies of your résumé or CV on good paper, a list of references, interview location, names of whom you are meeting, and your list of question to ask. You may have to pay for parking, so have your credit card or enough cash with you.

Arrive early. Checking in for your interview about 10 minutes early is good form. More than 10 minutes may leave them uncomfortable because you’re waiting so long in their reception area. Thirty minutes is too early and could make the interviewer feel pressured. Arriving right on time may be considered late by some people. Be sure to figure in a time cushion when planning your travel route. Then add some extra time so that you won’t be unduly held up by bad weather, traffic jams or other unforeseen events.

Every minute counts. Be professional and on your game from the moment you enter the organization’s physical space. That means you shouldn’t cut someone off for the last parking spot, spit your gum on the pavement or get annoyed when the receptionist says the interviews are running 30 minutes behind schedule. You never know who is watching you or who will be asked for their feedback about your interactions. After you check in for your interview, sit where directed and keep yourself occupied. Check out the company literature if some is available. Review your CV or your list of questions to ask. Take some deep breaths and believe that you are a strong candidate.

Take notes. Be sure to take notes about important job roles, challenges you’ll face and skills the organization is seeking. You can use this information during your interviews and in your follow-up communications.

Make connections. You should already have some basic information about the position and the organization. You can use that information when answering questions. For example, if the interviewer asks about your computer skills and you know that Excel is an important skill they want, be prepared to discuss your experience creating macros, pivot tables and data-rich custom dashboards.

Say thank you. A thank-you letter is a great way to stand out from the crowd during the interview process. Write a strong letter that incorporates what you learned about the job and how your background fits the opportunity. For example, the interviewer may have said the organization needs someone who is self-directed with excellent time-management skills. Your letter could explain how writing your thesis honed your skills in these areas. Create a different thank-you note for each interviewer. Customize each letter based on the job requirements and the content of your interview. Send your notes out as soon as possible -- and no later than 48 hours after the interview.

Follow up. Asking about the organization’s next steps in the selection process helps you decide on the optimum timing for following up with them. If the interviewer tells you that the organization expects to make a decision within a few days, you know that your window to send thank-you letters is very short. If so, consider your thank-you note as your initial follow-up tool. If the organization’s selection time frame is longer, or you don’t hear from them after sending a thank-you note, allow one to two weeks before you contact someone to ask about the status of the position.

Job interviews will remain an evaluation tool for job seekers for many years to come. This list of preparation steps can serve as your guide during grad school, after graduation and throughout your career.

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How To Write an Interview Essay

The aim of an interview is that through using people rather than books or articles, the writer can obtain a first-person viewpoint on a subject. The interview can be related to experiences in their life or may be related to a field in which they are an expert. Clearly these types of essays require a different form of planning and research. Typically, this includes the following steps:

• Determine the subject on which the person is to be interviewed.
• Identify the target interviewees, contact them, and ask for consent.
• Personal details (name, occupation, or credentials where appropriate, age if relevant, location if relevant)
• Primary question: The main focus of the work and some short main topic questions
• Notes on exploring the respondent’s answers – i.e., reminder questions for the writer such as “why do you feel that way?”, “Can you explain that in more detail?”, “Why do you think some people disagree with you?”
• Analyse the information / answers given by your interviewee.

Once you have followed these stages, you can draft / outline your interview essay in a more standard format:

• Break up the responses into key themes or points that you will make.
• Identify any other sources that you will use in your essay.
• Give an approximate word count to each section.

Note that using closed questions requiring “yes/no” answers are effective for gathering factual information, however, more detailed responses can be achieved with open-ended questions starting, “how”, “why”, “talk to me about…” and similar. Using these questions also encourages you to ask more for more detail that will expand your essay and source information.

Analysing your interviews

When analysing your interview(s), the approach will depend on the focus of your interview. For example, if you have undertaken 2/3 interviews for considering an experience, you may wish to follow the narrative route. However, if you have undertaken only one interview on a specific topic in which your interviewee is an expert, you may look at content analysis. In both cases, however you should, as you look through the interview notes or transcriptions if you have these and ask yourself:

• What reasons/ points/ perspectives did the interviewees give in support or opposition to the main topic
• Are they positive or negative?
• How does their responses compare to existing views?
• How interesting or important are the responses given?
• What is your own perspective of the views/reasons/responses given?

Once you have written down your initial analysis in order to structure your interview essay in a logical format you should then list the points/reasons given in the following way:

• least to most important
• positive first, then negative
• negative, then positive
• those you disagree with, those you agree with
• those which are pretty typical, those which are unusual.

Writing your Interview Essay

Introduction.

Your introduction should commence with an indication of the key question asked. This can either be in the form of a comment from the interviewee or a description of the situation that led to the development of your main question.

In addition, you should clearly state the type of interview undertaken (survey, narrative etc.) so that the reader has a context for your work. The introduction should then provide an overview of the responses given, along with your own perspectives and thoughts on these (your thesis statement) before introducing the body of the essay through linking. For example, “having stated X, the work will now provide a more detailed overview of some of the key comments and their implications in relation to XX”.

The body text should follow the order of your points indicated above. Use only one paragraph per point structured by indicating the point made, why you agree/disagree and any other relevant subpoints made by the interviewee in regard to the first points.

The paragraph should conclude with a link to the next theme which leads to the next paragraph and demonstrates cohesion of thought and logical flow of reporting the interview analysis. Note: you can include quotations from the interview, but do not rely on these, they should only be used to reinforce a point of view, and where possible avoid the inclusion of slang or swearing unless it is vital to the point you are making.

Your conclusion should bring together all the perspectives given by the interviewee. It is, in effect, a synopsis of the work with your own conclusions included. It is useful to refer back to the main question and your thesis statement to indicate how the interviewee answered (or not) your question and what this means for your future views or action in regard to the topic. A strong conclusion is as vital as a strong introduction and should not introduce any new information but should be a precis of the overall essay.

Key Phrases for an Interview Essay

The main subject under discussion was…”

“The interviewee was very clear when discussing…”

“The interviewee was somewhat vague when asked about…”

“This raised the question of…”

“When asked about x, the interviewee stated/asserted/claimed/maintained/declared, believed/thought/.”

“From the perspectives given by the interviewee it seems that…”

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Interview Essay: Example and Tips

Interviews are not often used to write essays, but do not underestimate the importance of this type of essay. The most classic examples of using the interview essay are related to the profession orientation. Students of middle schools write interview essays about their parent’s professions; high school students interview their role models in the field of their future profession’s interest. Professional interviewers have a chance to meet really important and famous people and talk to them. In this article, we will consider two examples of interview essays for two completely different professions: architect and hair stylist.

• 1 How to conduct an interview for an essay?
• 2 Types of questions in interview essay
• 3 Structural parts of interview essay
• 4 Example of introduction to interview essay
• 5 Example of the main body of interview essay 1 (hair stylist)
• 6 Example of the main body of interview essay 2 (architect)
• 7 Example of conclusion of interview essay

How to conduct an interview for an essay?

The beauty and the complexity of the genre is that when you meet your hero, you never know what the result will be in the interview essay, how the accents will be placed in the conversation. The factor of luck and chance, the nature of the character, of course, play a role, but still the result depends more on the skill of the interviewer, which is honed with experience. The laws of the genre are such that the conversation can turn in any direction. There are several important points, knowing about which in advance, you can avoid many mistakes in working on interview essay.

• Preparation for the interview – 80% success

Most often, the meeting with the hero is connected with some information occasion. To be in the subject, you need to know the information message thoroughly, but this is not enough. Before the meeting, it is necessary to study the biography of the hero, to understand what else can be interesting in him to the reader. All this will make the conversation as interesting as possible, feel free in communication and not get into an embarrassing situation.

• The main thing – topics, not questions

Indicate a few topics and prepare a series of different questions to each of them. If you are still at the very beginning of the journey and are lost when meeting new people, write out the wording of the questions to be internally calm, but the main thing is to identify all the important directions of the conversation so as not to miss anything. Memorize in writing and keep in mind the plan of the conversation. However, do not forget that the interview is a very moving genre, new ideas and questions can arise during the dialogue, which also should not be missed.

• Excitement is the worst enemy of a journalist

It has nothing to do with responsibility, it is psychologically transmitted to the interlocutor and can spoil the meeting. It’s very important to be self-confident. Simply, he is a professional in his business, and you – in yours, so relax and calmly lead the conversation in the direction you need.

• Be fully involved in the process

Concentration is very important: many novice journalists are afraid of forgetting the next question, which can temporarily be distracted from what the hero says. Because of this, many important things can be missed. Listen carefully, any detail in the character’s speech can turn into an interesting topic for discussion, which you did not think about in advance.

• Strive to get an answer to your question

If the hero is distracted or changed the subject, quietly repeat the question again or ask it in another formulation a few minutes later. Do not forget that you have specific goals, you need to get detailed information, and you yourself should delicately guide the conversation in the right direction. Only in this case the interview will be interesting to the reader.

• Do not be afraid to ask “uncomfortable” questions

This does not concern the personal life of the hero and the news from the yellow press, but there are situations when it is necessary to “talk” the character on the topic, which he for various reasons in every possible way tries to avoid, although it is important. In this case, it is worth trying to get a person to talk with auxiliary questions. If you are still afraid to ask something personally, you can always ask the question “from the listener” or “from the reader”.

• Do not be afraid to express your position

The central figure of the interview is your interlocutor, but if you are talking about actual topics and issues of public importance, you can express your point of view by provoking the discussion. Remember that interviews are not just questions and answers, it’s a dialogue. In this format, it will be much more interesting to the public and gets deeper.

Types of questions in interview essay

Questions are divided into open and closed. An open question is a question with an interrogative word, providing for a detailed answer, for example: “What do you usually do in your free time?” A closed question is a question without a question word, which provides a yes or no answer, for example: “Do you have dog?”

The general rule is that it is better to ask open-ended questions than closed ones, since the former encourage the interlocutor to speak, while the latter, on the contrary, allow us to limit ourselves to a monosyllabic answer, which is many times shorter than the journalist’s question. Chip Scanlan in this regard even compares open and closed questions with green and red traffic light signals. When the green lights up, the interview progresses, when the red – the conversation stands still. However, there are cases when closed questions are preferable to open ones:

• First, if the interlocutor leaves a direct answer to lengthy reasoning. Then the journalist has no choice but to ask: “Do I understand correctly that you will not participate in the event?”.
• Secondly, this is communication with an overly talkative interlocutor, when open questions would provoke too long answers.
• And thirdly, closed questions can be an indicator of the competence of the journalist, awareness of the details of what is happening, for example: “You managed to sell your shares for $ 100 million, it is right?”

Open and closed questions can also be direct and indirect. Examples of direct questions were given above. Indirect open questions are questions such as “Tell, please, about…”. Indirect closed questions are issues with the statement that the journalist ascribes to third parties, for example: “Your detractors say that you are an alcoholic. Is it true?”

Structural parts of interview essay

Structural units of the interview essay are usual: introduction, main part, conclusion. Everything is pretty clear with the introduction and conclusion. Building up the main part in the form of an interview might seem different and unusual. Let us consider these parts separately and give examples.

Example of introduction to interview essay

In the introduction, your task is to interest the reader and give him an idea of what he will read next. Here you need to introduce the interlocutor, explain why you have chosen him or her for an interview, what is so special about him. Explaining why the person and his profession is interesting to you, will make the reader curious.

Example : “My future profession will give people joy and beauty. That’s because I decided to become a hairdresser-stylist.

When I master this wonderful profession, I will make people fashionable and beautiful hairstyles that they look good. I will learn how to create complex evening and wedding hairstyles for women and girls. I want to become such a skilled craftsman that I can unmistakably determine what kind of hair suits to a person.

In order to better understand peculiarities of this profession, I decided to talk to the leading hair stylist of the famous beauty salon “Glamour” Mary Stewart.”

Example of the main body of interview essay 1 (hair stylist)

The main body of the interview essay contains the written dialog conducted with the person you’ve chosen. When conducting the interview itself, you have a choice of making notes or recording the talk. Explain your actions to the interlocutor and ask for permission. In any case, pay attention to what the person says and react to his words.

Example : “- Hello, Mary. Take a few minutes of your precious time and tell us about yourself: where do you work for and how long have you been working in this profession?

I am a hair stylist with work experience of more than 5 years.

– Why did you choose this profession?

I like to please people, to cheer up customers through creating images.

– Are you happy with your choice?

Oh yeh! The work is positive. It is always pleasant to hear words of gratitude for the created beauty.

– Was it difficult to master your profession? What kind of education do you need for this?

Personally for me, there was no difficulty. I have finished several special courses. I always attend master classes of specialists of the highest category, I raise qualifications.

– Are there any special qualities and skills required for a person who decided to become an expert in this field?

Yes! The ability to get along with people, see the end result, find words for easy conversation with the client or word-advice.

– What difficulties do you face in your work?

The most difficult thing is to “prove” to the visitor that something should be changed in a different way, that the length of his hair should be different. Here the hairdresser (stylist) already acts more as a psychologist, and not as a hairdresser.

– What is the most interesting in your work?

Everything! From the beginning of the creation of the image to the final result. But it’s especially nice when customers meet on the street and say words of gratitude. This is remembered.

– Does your profession allow you to reveal your creative abilities, express yourself?

To 100%. Especially bright is the talent in contests, where the spirit of competition is hovering. But It rather serves as a creator than a destroyer.

– Has the childhood dream come true about the future profession?

Yes. Since childhood I have been “twirling” my hair to my girlfriends, my mother, dolls. Then I began to do her hair for the holidays. Everyone liked it. Me too. So I became a hairstyle master.

– Does your profession generate a good income?

Yes! And it pleases doubly.

– To whom would you recommend your profession?

Those who can gently hold a pair of scissors in their hands. Brave, creative people who love experiments.

– What would you like to warn those who are going to get the same profession as you?

Do not experiment too much with customers.

– And you can hold a master class and “create” my hair style?

Of course! Sit comfortably in the chair and begin the session of creativity.

– Thank you very much!”

Example of the main body of interview essay 2 (architect)

Use the same scheme for conducting an interview and writing about any other profession. For example, if you want to become an architect.

Example: “- Tell us about yourself: what do you do and for how long?

Hello, my name is Kate, I have been working as an architect for almost 6 years.

I always liked to build, no matter what: houses made of sand, paper. And when I had to choose a profession, I chose architecture.

Of course. After all, the profession must be loved.

It was not easy. I remember how difficult it was at the university to take a session and a diploma, but when I went to work, it became easier to master the profession. Ideally, you need to graduate from a university. But there are also colleges that allow you to master this profession.

– Do you need any special qualities and skills?

There must be a desire to constantly create something new – and the best.

Probably, for me the main difficulty is a lack of time.

To see the result of my work.

Yes, it allows, the architect is basically a creative profession.

My school dream came true. After all, as a child, I dreamed of practicing extreme sports.

– How is your profession useful and important for our country?

My profession has always been important for the country, and now it has become even more in demand, because now there is urbanization, that is, the expansion and development of cities.

– In what do you see the purpose of your profession?

Architecture creates the image of the city, forms the environment of man. Without this, if you only use functionality, our cities will become gray and boring.

I would recommend my profession to people who want to reproduce their dreams in reality.

– Of what would you like to warn those who are going to get the same profession as you do?

People who want to become architects should know that the architect’s path is very complicated and not everyone can reach the end.

– How do you see your profession in the future?

My profession is an architect, in the future I plan to design private houses or cottages, or I’ll try to find something related to design.

– Does the experience and knowledge of your profession help in a personal life not related to work?

Undoubtedly, architecture helps in life, you can find many people with common interests, or without any help to create a project for yourself, you can also design an interior in your house or apartment.”

Example of conclusion of interview essay

When writing a conclusion, summarize the main ideas and repeat them once again in a different way. Point out that the interview with a chosen person has proved you were right and you once again understood who you want to become.

Example: “A good hairdresser can make the most ordinary client so attractive that it will be difficult to recognize. Or maybe a person just wants to renew his appearance, become more modern, change his image. Or the client of the stylist is a “star” who performs on stage and should always surprise the audience with her magnificent hairstyles. And before the stylist-hairdresser there is a difficult task to tell the client the best version of the hairstyle, to simulate it and perform it qualitatively, in no way spoiling the appearance of a person.

I hope that I will become such a stylist that people will always leave my hairdressing salon with a smile and good mood, admiring themselves in the mirror. And, therefore, my work will be adequately rewarded by clients. My choice of profession is this, because I want to have a creative work and create beauty with my own hands. And to make people around more beautiful and self-confident.”

When the work on writing an interview essay is done, carefully edit it. Remember that deciphering an interview is a draft material. Sometimes it is necessary to reformulate the questions and answers to make the interview stylistically literate, to change the parts of the various parts of the conversation, so that the inner logic becomes more vivid. Unlike decoding, this is not a technical one, but a creative work, during which you can create the desired form by making a finished work from the raw text, correctly positioning the accents and emphasizing the key moments of the conversation.

How to Write an Interview Essay

• Assignment Help

There are no boundaries on the topics covered in an interview essay. It’s a type of research report where the author uses people rather than printed or text resources. The trick is to get precise details from first-hand witnesses. The availability of an expert viewpoint is one of the rationales why such essays are required, for example, speaking with a Data Science engineer with a diverse background or an ER nurse. In addition, some college teachers require this work since they want students to think up appropriate questions and conduct preliminary research on the issue.

Interview essay: Definition An interview essay is a reflection piece that tries to transmit information obtained during an interview, such as excerpts from a discussion with a single individual or a group of individuals. It usually involves a subject matter expert who might substantially contribute to the publication. The paper is not a casual discussion but rather a series of questions that will assist readers in gaining a better understanding of the topics presented. A section may reflect the author’s perspective depending on the objective, although other essays merely demand an interview and without any personal perspective. The data collected serves as a source or justification for the thesis statement.

The differences between a research paper and an interview essay Although a research article may entail an interview, they are fundamentally two separate papers:

• The objective of an interview is to extract information, but a research article must give a specific degree of analysis.
• An article works with thesis statements created from numerous sources, but an interview deals with certain specialists.
• It is feasible to compose research papers using books as a resource.
• There is just one source of information in an interview: the person with whom you speak.
• Based on the essay genre, a conversation paper comprises queries, but a research paper follows a rigid framework.

Here’s how to format an interview essay using a layout:

• Consider the subject.

It will create an atmosphere and assist you in locating the appropriate individuals based on a professional field or any other topic.

• Examine the aim of your communication.

Consider your audience if you’re going to interview only one individual. It will assist you in making your inquiries more basic or technical.

• Make a list of points to ask.

So that they don’t repeat themselves, recite them loudly. Being an interviewer, you must remain focused on the same subject. Set a recording device so you may utilise quotes in your reflection essay.

• Maintain the emphasis of your essay.

Include more quotations if you have to produce an impartial essay. Follow the “statement-content-analysis” structure if the extra analysis is necessary.

Interview essay: How to write one Everything begins with a proper framework, which suggests that you must follow a pattern that will lead you through the components you already know about. Several elements must be included irrespective of the interview essay style you use:

• Introduction

Many students are unsure how to begin an interview essay or start with the inquiries. The primary things questioned are generally explained in the introduction. An overview of both you and the interviewee must be included in the introduction. It’s a smart idea to include some data, a positive development, or facts about the Director if you’re writing about corporate leadership.

The section should reflect but should have no final outline. Instead, make short notes for your readers using material from your lecture, explaining what an interviewee said, what was accurate, and which replies were the most significant.

It’s an excellent time to consider what you learned from the interview and if it fulfilled your objectives. It needs to be your reaction to the situation. It should, in most situations, be a paragraph that discusses your thoughts.

The different types of Interview essays

An engaging hook may quickly identify a narrative essay. It’s most appropriate for an essay on a personal interview. To put it another way, you must transform your interview transcript into a compelling tale. You must connect all of the dots and engage your audience. Using an intriguing quote or facts as a hook to catch your audience’s attention is a good idea. Introduce your persona and the setting in which the dialogue occurred. Discuss the significance of the procedure. In the paragraphs that follow, provide proof and evidence. Begin with readily available data and work your way up to the most persuasive arguments. The last paragraph should repeat your argument and the essential point.

• Conversational

The essay transforms your work into a dialogue, similar to what you’d find in a book. You are not obligated to ask the questions on your list. Instead, make it a friendly discussion on the needed topic. To make it more legible, connect the responses to the questions. You’ll include some vital information to help the intended audience understand specific facts. It must become an essay rather than a question-and-answer structure. The format can follow the standard “Introduction – Body – Conclusion” structure, but it may vary based on the objective.

• Q&A Essay

It is a collection of interview essay questions in the traditional approach, in which you jot them down after just a brief introduction and then respond to them. However, there will still be a closing section with a quick analysis where you discuss your impressions and, if applicable, what was overlooked.

Interview Suggestions When you do a solid interview, writing about it becomes a lot easier. These basic suggestions and methods can help you prepare for your meeting and support you when speaking with the person you intend to meet:

• Start with a few decent opening questions to get the conversation going.
• Honour your interviewee and inquire about their professional past.
• To get the words exactly, try an audio recorder.
• To assist the interviewee, understand what’s on your mind, give a quick overview of your issue.
• Allow adequate time to respond; there is no need to hurry.
• If something is missing, use easy follow-up queries to get more details.
• If you’re not sure about something, ask again.
• After all the questions have been answered, appreciate the interviewee.

What to Pay Attention to During an Interview & How to Analyse Data First and foremost, instead of writing, carry an audio recorder since you may not catch everything that the interviewee says or miswrite figures or a technical phrase. If your paper is on healthcare issues, make a list of the terminology, the setting, and the most crucial aspects that drove a healthcare professional to a particular conclusion. Make a list of the things that impressed you in your interview essay. An audiotape may accompany it. The same may be said for a company owner who may respond with a narrative about her achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the proper format of an interview essay.

Like any other academic essay, an interview essay follows the introduction, body, and conclusion format.

What makes an interview essay different from a research essay?

An interview essay analyses a specific conversation reflected in an essay format, while a research essay must follow a set of technical frameworks.

What are the different types of interview essays?

The three different types of interview essays include Conversational, Narrative and Q&A Essays.

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• How to Write a Good Interview Paper
• Complete Guide on How to Write an Interview Paper

Interview Paper: What’s the Point?

• How to write an interview paper

How to start an interview paper

• What to include in the main body
• How to conclude an interview paper
• Interview paper vs. Research paper
• How to analyze interviews

4 Widespread Interview Paper Samples

Narrative essay interview, leadership essay, career interview paper, personal interview.

According to Inc.Com, 4 out of 6 applicants who submit their resumes are invited to the interview stage; just one candidate is selected. An interview paper is an original way to attract the attention of the teacher/admission board/recruiter/public depending on your comunication skills. The website adds such factors as salary & compensation, career growth opportunities, work-life balance, location, and company culture & values are the top things to discuss in the writing of this type. Do you need more interview paper examples to succeed?

Our article covers the most popular types of essay writing for an interview. If you don’t know which questions to ask and how to write an interview essay,  buy papers online from a professional writer.

To know how to write an interview paper with valuable conclusions, it is important to choose the paper’s topic. Sometimes, your instructor does not provide you with it. A theme of interview essay does not look like other topics - the oponent is a human being you are going to interview and the mood of essay can change from paragraph to paragraph. Once you're prepared, conduct research to find a person who will help you to dig deeper via dialog. It should be a professional in the chosen field if you must explore a scientific subject. If you need to prepare an essay writing for interview in the shape of narrative form, it does not matter who you are going to ask. We recommend contacting somebody with a rich background. Watch out! The lack of interesting tidbits to offer may result in rejection from the target person. Your family member will agree to answer your questions anyway; an expert may consider it waste of precious time.

Before you start writing, mind several factors to consider.

• Idea of interview
• Questionnaire 
• Interview essay format (narrative, career, question-answer, etc.)
• A place & date

How to write an interview paper 

If you have got the assignment to write an interview essay, the first thing you need to do is to study a step-by-step writing guide. It is also necessary to understand the entire concept of effective interviewing but not just a process of essay creation. Among the main steps in writing a quality interview paper are:

• Create a list of questions
• Plan your time beforehand
• Do your best to appoint a personal meeting with the person  you would like to interview
• Record the entire meeting
• Analyze your notes and records
• Move to essay writing.

An ordinary interview paper should start with the preparation of the interview itself. Then, the writer can start working on the introductory paragraph in his/her interview essay. To understand the process of starting the interview paper, there are core structural components of the introduction paragraph listed below:

• Purpose of the paper
• Subject research 
• Questions preparation
• Contacting the interviewee
• Preparing for the interview 
• Conducting the interview
• Formatting the paper
• Creating a paper outline
• Writing paper introduction
• Proofreading.

What to include in the main body 

Body paragraphs of the interview paper should provide details on the core interview points. Also, the main body should be devoted to facts, details, and insights making the particular interviewee the authority on your subject. Similar to the basic academic essay, the body part of the interview paper should be related to the key ideas mentioned in the thesis statement. Here is a checklist of the most important main body components:

• Opening sentence with the argument supporting the thesis
• Facts supporting the arguments
• Facts' analysis
• A closing sentence that sums up the key findings

How to conclude an interview paper 

To conclude an interview paper effectively and in the proper format, students should keep in mind several points that should be involved in the conclusion part and things to avoid. Basically, a quality conclusion involves:

• Your response
• A paragraph or two explainings of the points' validity
• Reasons for data validity
• Final thoughts (If gathered viewpoints from the interviews do not match with the author's opinion, he should mention that in conclusion).

Interview paper vs. Research paper 

While students use to think that the term interview is similar to the term research in its meaning, these terms are different despite having much in common. Both essay types aim to investigate, discuss, and analyze the particular problem. At the same time, the core difference in such assignments is in sources used for the aforementioned investigation. While students use credible sources like books and journal articles for studying the particular question in the research paper, they are interviewing people in case they need to write an interview paper. In the research papers, writers mostly analyze different scientific data, compared to the analysis of the gathered answers or a personal story of the interviewed person. 

 How to analyze interviews 

After getting the written responses, writers need to create a summary of the core points that will help them start working on their essays. No matter the type of the interview, getting a successful response, the writer is ready to analyze the gathered data step-by-step: 

• Study the gathered data.
• Assign preliminary data codes to outline and describe the content.
• Outline the particular patterns and themes across the different interview records.
• Review the gathered themes.
• Name themes and analyze them in a concise manner.
• Produce the interview report.

Interview essay format is the primary thing you should think about when getting prepared with the questions to ask. There are two ways to write your paper. You may either describe everything you have learned from interviewee using a narrative style or leave the essay in question-answer format. The teacher specifies things like that in the initial instructions.

In both situations, a writer needs to come up with the powerful, catchy introduction (it is possible to achieve this effect through inserting a strong hook sentence), a well-structured body (3-5 paragraphs), and an impressive conclusion - not more than one page, which makes the reader want to go on discussing the topic. A narrative interview essay example is about rewriting the question-answer paper to obtain a descriptive essay . The style of paper is also very important, it can be APA or MLA format essay . And don't forget to include quotes and add personal feelings.

Are you planning to write about leadership? The best way to make a good paper is to find a successful person like Steve Jobs and ask several great questions. Be prepared that such people do not have much time. Stick to the outline and take copious notes during the conversation (face-to-face meeting is the best way to consult experts; you can use Skype/Viber call, phone dialogue, or online chat). An online chat for an interview usually is the worst option because you cannot be sure that your interviewee is responding to you – it can be someone else.

Organize the received information into a logical one page outline. In our interview essay sample, you could write the following:

• Definition of leadership
• Social leadership vs. Business leadership
• Tests created to identify the level of personal leadership

94% of sales professionals report that the base salary is the most valuable element of their compensation plan.

Isn’t it intriguing? Once you hear an interesting fact or statistics shared by the person you talk to, write it down. Do not forget to format quotes from other famous people in your interview essay!

A career paper is another interview essay example, which aims to reveal the essence of job application process. It takes time to gain valuable life experience. Choose the person wisely. Make a list of nontrivial questions starting from hiring on job, then his/her goals, achievements, motivation, and other things that your readers would like to learn.

It is the best interview essay example: only face-to-face conversation allows receiving the most detailed answer to every question from the list. If the person has certain time limits, arrange the questions according to their priority. The best way to write a personal interview is to leave it in question-answer format (delete unnecessary information and duplicate words).

 Choose three main points covered during the interview. It will be the body of your essay writing for interview. The outline must be based on these three main ideas. To ease the writing process, develop a timeline, reflecting the greatest facts & events that follow your interviewee as he/she grows up. 

• Infant Period
• College/University Period
• Marriage & Family

Do not write your introduction with the early childhood, however. Write several reasons for choosing this particular individual for your essay writing for interview (explain why he/she is interesting to discuss as well as his/her contribution to the topic of your writing). Look through any autobiography essay and get some inspiration.

Now you know how to write an interview paper of several types. Be ready to face serious challenges if your paper is describing a famous or busy businessman. Do you need extra help to solve this problem? Let us make a suggestion: order custom academic articles from the trusted online writing service, and you will obtain the top-quality paper of any subject!

Writing an autobiographical essay can be a real challenge, mostly for those students that are required to create this work for the first time. You may create paper for a class, an application, or just for your enjoyment. Regardless of the paper purpose and its further use, it is critically important...

Categorizing things is important to see the differences and similarities between them. What is a classification essay? That is a good question if you wish to obtain higher grades. The article from writing gurus explains how to write a classification essay, things to cover, topics to choose from, and...

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Interview Essay

Interview essay generator.

Essay writing is different for everyone. Some people choose to go to the library and search for facts on a given subject, while others like to focus on gathering information through personal statements .

During this interview process, interviewers typically ask a series of interview questionnaire  that their readers may want to know about. These details are either recorded or jotted down by the interviewee. With what has been gathered, an individual may then write a complete essay regarding the exchange.

Interview Essay Sample

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Personal Interview Essay Template

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Nursing Interview Essay Template

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Leadership Interview Essay Template

Size: 154 KB

Teacher Interview Essay Template

Size: 150 KB

Job Interview Essay Sample

Narrative Interview

Size: 70 KB

Career Interview Essay

Size: 29 KB

What Is an Interview Essay?

Interview essays are typically based on research gathered from personal testimonies. This could be based on one’s personal experiences or their own input on a given matter. It may be informative essay , descriptive essay , or even persuasive essays , depending on the questions asked by the interviewer.

The content of the essay may include direct quotes from the interview or it may come in a written narrative form. Through this, we are able to gain additional information from a particular perspective.

What to Include in an Interview Essay

For every essay, a thesis statement is needed to help your readers understand the subject being tackled in your work. For an interview short essay , you would need to talk about your interviewee. Any information that will create a credible image for your interviewee will be necessary.

Next, it’s necessary to include the significant ideas that you have acquired from your interview. Ideally, you should pick three of these ideas, elaborate what has been said, and present it in paragraphs. Be sure to emphasize these points in a detailed and concise manner, a lengthy explanation might be too redundant. You may also see sample essay outlines .

Leadership Essay

Size: 24 KB

Nursing Interview Example

Size: 146 KB

Personal Interview

Size: 18 KB

Parent Interview Sample

Size: 15 KB

Guidelines for an Interview Essay

When writing an interview essay, it would be best to create an outline first.

Organize the information you have gathered from your interviewee and structure it in a logical order. This could be from one’s personal information to the most compelling details gathered. Be reminded of the standard parts of an essay and be sure to apply it to your own work.

Even when most, if not all, of your essay’s content is based on what you have gathered from your interviewee, you would still need to create a good starting of essay  and end to your essay.

Additionally, do not forget to put quotation marks around the exact words used by your interviewee. It would also be best to proofread your work and make sure that there is a smooth transition for each thought. You may also like personal essay examples & samples.

How to Conclude an Interview Essay?

You can end your interview essay how ever you wish to do so. It could be about your learning from the interview, a call to action, or a brief summary writing from what has been expressed in the essay.

But keep in mind, this would depend on your purpose for writing the essay. For instance, if you interviewed a biologist to spread awareness about mother nature, then it would be best to conclude your essay with a call to action. Knowing this, it’s important to end your essay well enough for it to be memorable.

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Write an Interview Essay on a local community leader.

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How to Write an Interview Essay?

Oct 30, 2023

An interview doesn’t need a special explanation, as it’s the type of human activity familiar to everyone. However, an interview accompanied by an essay is something much less common, an often unduly feared and mystified combination that usually gives headaches to students, and to just about anyone tasked with such a rare assignment. 

This guide utilizes a structured approach and plenty of examples to demystify the art of crafting a flawless interview paper . Whether you’re a student or simply someone curious about the intricacies of such an assignment, this guide is your key to success.

Students often find themselves seeking assignment help , especially when facing the unique challenge of blending an interview with an essay. The dual demands of conducting a thorough interview and then articulating the findings in a well-structured essay can be daunting. Many turn to academic help services with requests like ‘I need assistance with my interview essay assignment,’ hoping to find guidance in navigating this complex task. While seeking help can be beneficial, especially in understanding the nuances of this form of writing, it’s crucial that students remain actively involved in both the interview and writing process. This active involvement is key to developing essential skills such as effective communication, critical thinking, and analytical writing, which are invaluable in both academic and professional contexts.

What Is an Interview Essay?

It is a composite type of work requiring one to conduct an interview and write an essay based on the information collected. 

From the information collection perspective, it is a rather simple type of essay, as the writer essentially has only one source to rely on – the interview. There is no need to use other sources and make a lengthy bibliography list at the end of the paper.

At the same time, the interview process is not easy. An interviewer has to plan and prepare for the interview: study their subject, make a questionnaire, and then take notes during or transcribe the recorded dialogue after the interview.   

When it comes to crafting an interview paper, two distinct approaches can be employed : 

• The writer can start by selecting an interviewee (the person being interviewed) first, or the latter can already be part of an assignment. Then the writer studies the subject and selects an interesting interview topic based on what they’ve researched and learned about the person.
• Another approach is to select a topic at the first step, perhaps even making a rough plan for the essay. Later, one searches for a relevant person(s) to interview based on the topic. Those can be friends, even family members, but most often someone with an in-depth expertise in the given topic.     

Understanding how to write an interview paper is no less important than collecting the information by conducting the interview. The writing is not a simple retelling of what we’ve heard from the interviewee. Instead, it requires us to align with the chosen theme and pursue a distinct objective . It is a classic essay in the sense of literary style and composition, although it revolves around the subject interviewed and culminates with valuable and pertinent conclusions .

The Guide to Writing an Interview Essay

Interview essay format.

Writing an interview paper is complex work requiring a student to conduct initial fieldwork, i.e., an interview, followed by an analysis of the information collected and leading to the writing process itself. The following table captures all the nuances and reflects the format of this work:

Interview Essay Example

In this real student interview essay example where the writer interviews a prominent astronomer, one can see and analyze each structural element. First, a clear and concise introductory part, which nevertheless provides sufficient background information about the interviewee. The main body is made up of several core questions and verbatim answers to each, starting with the insight into the interviewee’s initial interest in the field, and rounding up with a core message for the future astronomy enthusiasts. The neat and artistic conclusion by the author leaves the reader with a deep philosophical aftertaste.  

How to Start an Interview Essa y

When you have so much information at your disposal collected during the interview, it’s easy to get lost. You want to share it right away and often end up with an abnormally large and hard-to-read introduction. That’s the type of mistake that seasoned writers recommend to avoid at all costs. Here are a few worthy ideas on how to craft a sharp introduction, following the astronomy example provided earlier:

• Introduce the interviewee . Highlight the weight and significance of the person you interviewed by providing the key background information, underlining their passions, and achievements. For example:

“In the quiet hall of the observatory, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Alan Parker, a distinguished astronomer with a passion for unlocking the secrets of outer space.”

• Start with a metaphorical hook . Open your essay with an attention-grabbing statement, or a provoking question about the topic. For example:

“Have you ever gazed at the stars on a clear night outside a city and wondered about the mysteries of the cosmos and the possibility of extraterrestrial life?”

• Give a direct overview. Sometimes, providing an explicit overview of the purpose of the paper is the best way to start. For example:

“In this interview, we peer into the world of Dr. Alan Parker, a dedicated astronomer, and explore his fascination with exoplanets, and the boundless mysteries of the universe.”

• Provide a quote . At times, nothing and no one can make up a better introduction than the interviewees themselves. For example:

“The night sky always fascinated me as a child,” Dr. Alan Parker reflects, “It’s a window to the infinite universe, which never stops igniting my desire for exploration.”  

The key to a good interview paper is a crisp and concise introduction, like in the examples above. The ultimate choice of the exact technique to be used is always yours, and it may change from work to work depending on the topic, your current mood, your talents, and the audience’s expectations. 

How to Summarize an Interview Paper

Summarizing an interview paper is no less important than making a good introduction to it. Your ability to craft a compelling and meaningful summary will define your paper’s value in the eyes of your readers. To make things simple and clear, we’ve made a table listing the main summarizing tactics.  

Writing an interview paper is easier in reality than it may seem on the very first encounter. It does take more time than an ordinary essay due to the interview planning and execution part, but it is also simpler in many other ways. The very same interview part relieves you from the boring study of external sources, which often accompanies an ordinary essay writing process. The best part of the interview though, is that it makes the work interesting and fun – you get the chance to know extraordinary personalities, engage in live conversations with them, and often travel to new locations and learn something interesting on professional, as well as personal levels.

Time is precious don’t waste it!

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Many learners google for the "write my interview paper" option. We often see interviews in the morning newspapers or magazines. The interview always has at least two participants: an interviewer asking questions, and the interviewed, who answers them. This process is necessary to find out another person's view on a particular issue, event, etc. It is also a basis for one of the academic assignments - an interview paper. Before you become aware of how to write an interview essay and start preparing it, we suggest you recall (or find out) a more detailed definition of this writing.

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Definition of an Interview Paper And A Few Words About The Process

An interview essay aims to provide a specific view of an object, event, or phenomenon based on different people's answers. Hence, you need an interview to find these answers. After analyzing the information you have received, you should organize and process it appropriately to ensure they are suitable for your paper. How to describe the process of crafting an interview paper?

• Select the theme of your interview and decide why you need it.
• Create a set of questions to be asked.
• Decide whom you will talk to.
• Do the interview and gather the answers (you can record them not to miss anything important).
• Create a paper outline based on the answers you got.
• Don't forget about structure and chosen format and start writing.

If you are already aware of the peculiarities and requirements for the paper, you are ready to make up an outline!

Mapping Your Future Essay

We think it's unnecessary to repeat the structure parts of any essay here: all students know them. However, not all of them know that it's necessary to start writing your interview paper with an outline. Making a plan is crucial in writing, letting you see the structure and make sure it's logical and concise. If you ignore the outline, you risk losing the key idea. Check how the outline should look:

• Introduction part: Get your audience acquainted with the topic and draw their attention.
• Thesis statement: Write 1-2 sentences giving some details about the interview participant (participants) and the central theme.
• Body part (3 paragraphs): Each paragraph could describe different ideas raised by one person or various viewpoints concerning the same matter expressed by different people.
• Conclusion: Draw a coherent picture of a person you've interviewed, or write your conclusion based on their answers.

When you have decided on what you are going to write in each particular part of your paper, or even before that, there is one more important aspect to consider - you are to choose your interview essay format. There are at least three main ones: narrative, conversational, and Q & A.

• Narrative. Using direct speech in your interview paper isn't necessary: retell the words via quotes and add your considerations. This format gives you more freedom for analysis and lets you omit redundant or useless information.
• Conversational. It has a less strict format. Here you have several options for addressing the readers (first- or second-person narration).
• Q & A. This one presupposes using exact quotes without retelling them.No changes are allowed. Such a format can be seen in magazines, and it is better to implement it if you have only one interviewee.

Analyze your interview, its topic, and length to find the perfect format for you and craft an 'A-grade paper.

Interview Essay Introduction

Your introduction is supposed to catch readers and notify them about the questions you'll answer by means of interviewing. However, it may be hard for you to state your question and catch the audience in one sentence, especially if the interview topic is complicated enough. The secret of a successful interview essay is the winning topic and the suitable person. Need to get interesting answers? Make sure the person is familiar with the topic. Well, you can ask what's the perfect way to write a paper, so we'll answer: good theme and cool person.

The main goal of an interview paper could be just to present a person to your audience. Therefore, a good thesis statement will include some background facts about the interviewee. A refined thesis statement is always clear and understandable. Now you know how to come up with a catchy introduction, so move to body paragraphs.

Interview Essay: Writing Body Paragraphs

Your essay may look different depending on the chosen format. However, there are several general requirements you'd better follow. So, the body part should contain information obtained through interviews. It means that the matters that you are going to touch on must be considered in advance, as it will provide you with a more effective interview and informative answers. If you are recording the conversation, use all the answers as they are, without any changes. Did you decide to craft a Q&A essay? Check the punctuation carefully and follow the structure requirements. If you chose a narrative format, your task is to apply the skills of analytical and critical thinking skills correctly to successfully use the received answers to support your ideas or to reveal better the participant's personality (or participants).

TTo make the body part of your paper more exciting, analyze the interview thoughtfully. You can also use relevant statistical data to make your essay well-grounded. Moreover, if you have more than one participant, you can compare their answers to get the opinions of both experts and everyman or to confirm or disprove your thesis statement. Sometimes, you'll need to conduct and use an opinion poll to write your essay. In this case, you should indicate the number and the age group of the participants. As you can see, many factors can affect the body part. However, the key rule is to be attentive and try to think ahead - it is the right way to the final part of the interview paper - the conclusions.

How to end an interview essay perfectly

In fact, you have a lot of ways to finish your paper. A proper interview essay conclusion can highlight the following aspects:

• your reaction to given answers;
• the influence of responses on your thoughts;
• the answer to your introductory question based on the interview results;
• changes in general statistics influenced by the responses received;
• the logical end of the narration (if you just told somebody's story).

The Definition of Interview Essay Writing HelpBesides, a conclusion can prove or refute the idea you made at the beginning of your essay. The matter is it should be grounded and coherent. Don't neglect the rereading and proofreading of your interview essay to avoid some common or silly mistakes. We hope that our guidelines were informative, and we wish you luck in dealing with your interview essay!

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Write an A+ Interview Paper Using Our Tips and Examples

06 September, 2021

13 minutes read

Author:  Josh Carlyle

You will quickly find yourself with your back to the wall once your teacher assigns you an interview paper. Studying is often a headache by itself, and now you have to conduct interviews. Worse yet, you probably have no idea how you can do this. Luckily, we will tell you how to write an interview paper step by step in this comprehensive guide. So prepare your favorite drink and learn how to write a top-notch interview paper.

What is an Interview Paper?

An interview paper provides an expert opinion on a specific issue. In essence, it is an interview transcript inserted somewhere between the introduction and conclusion of an academic piece.

How long should it be? It depends on the topic and the length of your interview, but most papers are within the length of 2,000 – 5,000 words. What things should you consider before writing an interview paper in the first place? Let’s check them out below.

General Aspects of Writing an Interview Paper

Academic papers require you to provide arguments based on studies, research pieces, statistics, etc. But an interview paper is different – for this type of essay, you will develop assumptions around an expert’s opinion.

Let’s imagine your essay question reads the following: “Should we ban abortions?” If you write an interview paper, you should ask someone high-powered for their consideration. Let them be an executive director of the American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society.

You would reach them via email or phone or whatever communication channel you prefer and conduct an interview. Afterward, you would put all your findings on paper.

But in practice, writing an interview paper involves many more complexities and challenges, like planning, topic research , drafting, etc.

Let’s speak straight facts: nobody will reschedule their week to meet you because you need to do some homework. You’re one of the millions of students, and the local governor or a famous scientist won’t give you an interview nine times out of ten.

So you would want to target someone less busy, like professors from other faculties of your college or some researchers within your academic environment. Hunting a bigger fish is pointless unless you’re a well-established journalist working for a popular media channel. If you struggle to find someone within your college/university, you can contact people from your circle.

Writing Outline and Structure of an Interview Paper

 As you know, a typical paper consists of three parts:

• Introduction. This part includes background information, the hook, the thesis statement, and the transition.
• Body. It is the longest part of the paper consisting of several paragraphs. It should contain the actual interview.
• Conclusion. The final part summarizes the considerations and insights of your essay.

The question is: ‘where should you put an interview transcript and how do you do this?’

To answer this question, you need to come up with the interview papers format in the first place. There are several of them:

The narrative format implies that you can use either direct or indirect speech when referring to your interviewee. If you choose this path, you can stick to a 5-paragraph essay structure, retell the considerations of your interviewee, and cite their words here and there at your discretion.

You can also choose this format if you contact several people. Check what a narrative interview paper structure looks like when you reach out to several people:

• Introduction.
• Paragraph #1 – the first interviewee’s perspective.
• Paragraph #2 – the second interviewee’s opinion.
• Paragraph #3 – the third interviewee’s thoughts.
• Conclusion.

Alternatively, you can dedicate each paragraph to a particular idea of one person.

“Question and answer” will suit your needs perfectly if you interview one person. It is the simplest format used in online magazines, news reports, and other media. Your interview paper outline will look like this:

• Introduction
• Question #1 – Answer #1
• Question #2 – Answer #2
• Question #3 – Answer #3
• Question #4/5/6/etc. – Answer #4/5/6/etc.
• Interview analysis. You may include your thoughts on the subject matter.

Conversational

Conversational style is informal, and you can use either first-person or second-person narrative and follow a typical 5-paragraph paper structure. But writing interview papers in this lousy style might be perplexing, especially if you deal with this task for the first time.

We advise you to try the Q&A format because it’s the simplest one and takes the least time. Just imagine how much time your paper writing will take if you decide to interview three or five people.

How to Start an Interview Paper?

If you have no idea how to start an interview paper, choose the topic first. Selecting a topic for your interview paper is not a big deal, but you should keep in mind that you may not find appropriate interviewees for it.

Let’s imagine you want to explore whether the government should force people to get vaccines. This topic implies that you need to contact authorities. It might be a local lawyer, governor, or executive director of a local hospital. Well, the chances are these people will politely refuse to give an interview for your homework.

But if you choose to investigate how lockdown impacts intellectual workers, you can contact your friends or family members who work at home. In other words, it’s better to choose topics that reflect the experiences of ordinary people rather than the opinions of untouchable experts.

Asking people for their opinion about well-known facts like the Earth’s shape is a bad idea. You would want to choose high-profile debatable topics you can actually discuss.

Establish the Goal of Your Interview Essay

You have to establish the goal of your essay before researching the topic. For this, ask yourself: “What message should your interview essay deliver?” Sometimes, a topic of your choice might already explain the purpose of your essay.

Conduct Research

Interviewing someone implies that you should ask questions. But you will fail to do so if you know little to nothing about your topic. So read some case studies, news, articles, etc. Once you get the picture of your subject matter, you will come up with dozens of interview questions.

Get to Know Your Interviewee

A good interviewer always refers to the life and experience of their interviewee. If you’re lucky to work with someone you can read about on the Internet, find out as much information about them as possible. If your interviewee publishes any books, articles, or studies, you will better know them as well.

The more you know about the person, the more interview questions you can come up with. You can ask them whether the Internet tells their true story: “Is it true that you, Mr. Interviewee, support flat earthers?”

Draft Your Interview Questions

If you want a person to share their in-depth vision of the topic, you need to ask both open-ended and close-ended (“yes/no”) questions. However, you may struggle to prepare interview questions. Many students get stuck during this stage. To overcome this block, you need to learn some types of interview questions:

• Opinion – What do you think of this topic?
• Behavioral – What would you do in this situation?
• Experience and knowledge – What do you know about the subject?
• Background – How are you connected to the subject? What is your age, occupation, etc?
• Emotional – How do you feel about the subject?
• Sensory – What does the subject taste and feel like?

You can also think of the questions following the interviewee’s “yes” and “no” answers.

Tips for Conducting a Successful Interview

These four tips will help you conduct a productive interview on the first try:

1. Plan Your Meeting

Note that you want to interview a person in a quiet place so that nobody will distract you. This might be some cozy book store or a café. Or, you can arrange an online meeting. Make sure you have at least one hour for the interview.

2. Rehearse a bit

If you will conduct your first-ever interview, you want to practice with your friends/significant other/ family in the first place. This approach will help you identify what stage of your upcoming interview may challenge you the most.

3. Record Your Interview

You will forget about 50% of the information within an hour once you finish the interview. So don’t rely on your memory − bring a recorder instead. Why not take notes? You wouldn’t want to go red while asking your interviewee to repeat what they have just said or wait until you write down their answers.

4. Talk to Your Interviewee for a While Before You Begin

Speaking to someone you don’t know might be uncomfortable. You don’t have to attack them with your interview questions straightaway. Instead, you can exchange some casual phrases or discuss the weather. This will help you relieve stress and get comfortable with each other.

5. Explain Your Interview Protocol

It’s better to explain to your interviewee how you will conduct your interview. Tell them that you will use a recorder and introduce the discussion topic.

Interview Papers Format

In academic writing, you have to explain the purpose of your interview and introduce your interviewee in a specific “scholarly” format. The APA format interview paper has the following requirements:

• Use 12-point Times New Roman.
• Write a title page.
• Use double spacing.
• Introduce your interviewee and provide the background information – explain why this person is suitable for the interview. Mention their name and qualifications.
• Use direct quotes if you cite some facts provided by the interviewee.
• Use block quotes for citations longer than 40 words.

How to Write a Title Page?

The title of your paper must include your name, your institution, department, the course name and number, the teacher’s name, and the assignment date. The rules of writing the title page are the following:

• The title page must be numbered.
• Capitalize all major words in your title and make it bold.
• Place the title of the essay three or four lines down the top of the page.
• There must be one empty line before the student’s name.

Interview Papers Examples

If you’re searching for an interview essay example – check several samples below:

• A narrative interview essay .
• A Q&A interview format paper.
• An interview with a scientist.

Interview Papers Writing Tips

The following writing tips will help you deliver the first-class interview paper:

• Write the introduction at the end. Once you finish your essay, you will likely reconsider some ideas you had before you began. They will help you frame your interview essay with a captivating introduction and conclusion.
• Give yourself a break after finishing your final draft. This will help you look at your paper with a fresh pair of eyes once you start editing.
• Edit one type of error at a time. For example, you can reduce logical errors first and switch to grammatical mistakes afterward.
• Use an active voice. If active voice makes your sentence shorter, use it without hesitation.
• Check for any sample interview paper to decide on the interview questions. Perhaps, some pieces will spark your interest.

Writing Help by Handmadewriting

An interview paper doesn’t seem that intimidating once you learn how to write it step by step. First, you have to choose the subject that allows you to interview ordinary people rather than hard-to-reach ones. Then, you need to research your topic, conduct an interview, and write a paper.

You can get an A+ for this assignment with enough effort and dedication. But a doable task doesn’t necessarily mean that you must do it by yourself. If you have plenty of other assignments to do, you can ask our essay writers to craft an exemplary interview paper for you. For this, you can place an order on our website, and we will do all the dirty work.

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Sep 7, 2022

How to write a thank you email after interview with 25 examples

Don't forget to send a 'thank you' email after your interview. Use one of our 25 sample thank you emails after interview to do it professionally.

Lawrie Jones

Table of contents

The interview's done, and it's time to sit back and relax? Wrong. It's professional and polite to send a short thank you email to your recruiter. If done correctly, it can improve your personal brand and even increase your chances of getting the job or that coveted final interview.

We know that many job seekers struggle with how to say thank you after an interview, so we've created this in-depth article that answers all your questions. You'll learn when to send a thank you email after an interview, what to include (and exclude) and how to shape your response to different circumstances.

In our guide on how to send a thank you email after an interview, we include 25 examples that you can use to shape your emails.

We also introduce you to Flowrite , your personal assistant that can write your emails for you. Check it out in action:

Should I send a thank you email after an interview?

Let's start by answering one of the most common questions job seekers ask: should I send thank you email after the interview? 

The answer is 100% yes, and here's why. 

Competition for jobs is fierce, and even securing an interview is a tough task. For example, UK statistics show an average of more than  500 applications for low-skilled roles , 250 for medium-skilled vacancies, and 56 for high-skilled vacancies.

Think it gets easier when you've got an interview? It doesn't. The average company will interview between 6-10 applicants for each role. Before making an offer, they'll see each candidate 2 or 3 times to identify the person who best suits the role.

In such a competitive market, you must take every opportunity you can to make the best impression. A well-written and engaging post-interview email is a professional courtesy to improve your personal brand. 

It demonstrates to the recruiter that you're passionate and proactive. It shows that you're motivated for the opportunity and inspired to act.

A post-interview email also allows you to clarify details, provide additional information that you promised during the meeting, and even the chance to clear up any misunderstandings that may have occurred.

Even if the recruiter chooses not to take your application forward, a post-interview email will keep you at the forefront of their minds for future opportunities.

It's not a case of whether you should write thank you email after an interview, but when. So, let's answer that question.

When to send thank you email after the interview?

Many jobseekers struggle with how soon to send a thank you email after an interview. Of course, access to smartphones means we can probably bash out a basic thank you in seconds, but that's not the right approach.

The accepted timeframe for sending a thank you email after the interview is 24 hours after the interview. This gives you enough time to reflect on the discussion and provide a considered response.

Why? "Taking the time to craft an informed answer, rather than a rushed one, is always going to benefit you in the long term," says  entrepreneur A.M. Reid . Conversely, a thoughtless email reply is a "disaster in the making," he says, which can lead to anxiety and stress. 

Giving yourself time to reflect is crucial at crafting a professional post-interview email that elicits a positive response.

Email format for thank you email after interview

There are no actual rules on how to format a thank you email after an interview. Still, we suggest you approach it as you would when writing any other professional email. You must start with a  formal email opening ,  introduce yourself professionally , and find words that  strike the right tone  and resonate with the recipient. While you may have made a personal connection with your interviewer(s), you must remain formal. 

The ideal interview thank you email format includes: 

• Targeted subject line
• Appropriate personal greeting
• Appropriate sign-off

Let's look at each of these in greater detail.

1. Thank you email after interview subject line 

The thank-you email after the interview subject line is the first thing your recipient will see pop up in their inbox, so keep it simple.

Remember that you're applying for a job (or professional position or role), so keep your post interview thank you email subject professional even if you know the person you're emailing. The ideal interview thank you email subject line is short, sweet, and to the point.  

Here are a few thank you email interview subject lines you could use: 

• Thank you for the interview
• Thanks for meeting with me
• Great to meet today

Context is critical when deciding on an appropriate thank you for the interview email subject link. If you know the person, you can be a little less formal in the after interview thank you email subject. Check out our examples below to see how we've found the balance between personality and professionalism.

2. What to say in thank you email after interview  

You must include some standard things, but there is flexibility in what to say in the post-interview thank you email. It all depends on context. 

Here's what you must include in every post-interview thank you.

• Thank the interviewer for their time
• Explain why you're a good fit for the role
• Express enthusiasm about the future
• Offer to provide more information and answer any questions
• End the email politely and ask about future steps

Depending on the interview, your personal relationship, and professional context, here are a few things you could include in your email after an interview.

• Provide examples of works, links to previous organizations, etc.
• Answer any questions raised in the interview
• Links to social profiles, including LinkedIn
• Clarify any information and clear up any misunderstandings
• Add additional examples you have forgotten to mention in the interview

Ultimately, the decision on what to say in thank you email after the interview depends on the role, the recruiter, the situation, and the context. It can be nerve-wracking putting pen to paper (or finger to key), but our advice on how to thank someone for an interview is to keep things simple. Don't spend too much time worrying about how to write a thank-you note after an interview. Instead, follow our outline above, and you'll be writing crisp and clear correspondence straight away.

Sample thank you email after interview

We've outlined the fundamental parts of how to write a thank you after an interview; now, let's put it into practice. Here are 25 thank you emails after interview samples you can adapt and use. You shouldn't copy and paste them but use these samples to craft your own thank you letter after an interview. Ready to get started?

1. Thank you email after Zoom interview

A direct result of the pandemic is the increase in Zoom interviews. Zoom interviews can be challenging, but they're super-flexible and often fun too. So here's a standard thank you email after Zoom interview:  

2. Thank you email after a video interview

Microsoft Teams, Skype, Google Meet are popular video interview platforms you might use, but what happens if your connection plays up? After an interview, a professional thank you email can be used to tackle any issues head-on, providing reassurance that they won't happen again. So here's how to write a thank you email after a video interview that's gone wrong.

3. Thank you email after the virtual interview

A virtual interview is a popular choice for recruiters in the pandemic. Here's how to create a thank you email after a virtual interview.

4. Thank you email after a phone interview

Phone interviews are often the first stage in the process and (if successful) lead to a further interview in person. The core parts of a good phone interview thank you email are the same, but you'll want to push slightly for an in-person meeting. After a phone interview, you may find yourself writing to the person you spoke to or crafting a thank you email to the recruiter. Regardless of the audience, the approach is the same. Here's our thank you email after phone interview example.

5. The second interview thank you email

The second interview thank you email will likely be more in-depth, detailed, and targeted. Your second interview thank you email subject line can be slightly less formal, as you'll see in this, our next example.

6. Short thank you email after an interview

If you don't have the time, or simply don't want to write a lengthy message, our quick thank you email after the interview template is for you. This short and sweet thank you letter is suitable for all situations. But, of course, you can always add greater detail if you need to.

7. Thank you email after the final interview

The thank-you email after the final interview is likely to be your last chance of making a good impression before a decision is made. You may question the wisdom of sending a thank you email after the final round interview (mainly if a decision has already been made and you haven't been told), but trust us – it's essential. It demonstrates that you're enthusiastic, motivated, and still in the market for a new role. So even if this role isn't for you, a new one could be just around the corner. Here's our final interview thank you email template.

8. Simple thank you email after interview

Our simple interview thank you email demonstrates that more words don't mean greater impact. We've stripped this one back to the basics to provide a streamlined solution. This simple thank you email after the interview is ideal for those with limited time to reply.

9. College interview thank you email

Getting into college is more competitive than ever, and a well-written and conscientious college thank you email could see you grab a space. Colleges are searching for candidates with a rich academic background and broad personal interests, so feel free to add some of yourself to your messages. Here's a captivating college interview thank you email.

10. Internal interview thank you email

In this interview thank you email example, we focus on crafting an appropriate internal interview thank you email. You may know the person who interviewed you, and you'll undoubtedly have an insight into the company. Still, you should avoid being too friendly and focus on the fundamentals of a good post-interview thank you email. Here's how

11. Residency interview thank you email

A pharmacy residency interview thank you email can make a huge difference in securing a prized position. We prioritize your passion and professionalism in this post residency interview thank you email template. We've also provided a clear residency interview thank you email subject to help you stand out for all the right reasons.

12. Teacher interview thank you email

Becoming a teacher is a dream for many of us, and you'd expect teachers to write the best thank you emails, but it's not always the case. In this post teacher interview thank you email, we provide a logical way to express enthusiasm, explain your qualifications, and push for another interview. Here's a thank you email after a teacher interview template.

13. Thank you email after an academic interview sample 

Academic interviews are a chance for you to establish your credentials, share your experience and insights. In this thank you email after an academic interview, we show how you can express appreciation and promote your professional work. Here's our academic interview thank you email template.

14. Thank you email to a recruiter after an interview

Many of us find new jobs through recruitment agencies and consultants, so we should thank them too. This interview thank you letter sample demonstrates how you can thank a recruiter. This polite and professional response will likely keep them on your side and help you find future opportunities.

15. Medical school interview thank you email

Getting into medical school is a magnificent achievement because the entrance process is so competitive. A medical school interview thank you email is a must. In our example for a thank you email after the medical school interview, we establish our interest in the school, express our enthusiasm and explain why we're a great candidate. You can edit and adapt this medical school interview thank you email template to your circumstances and college.

16. Internship interview thank you email

In the working world, an internship can accelerate your career, which is why competition for the best is too fierce. A thank you internship interview email could make the difference between success and failure, so spend time crafting a message that shows insight, commitment, and passion. To help you, we've also included an appropriate internship interview thank you email subject line that you can use.

17. Grad school interview thank you email

Getting into grad school is tough, so make it a little easier with our thank you email after grad school interview template. We've focused on your academic qualifications, passion, and potential. 

18. Thank you email after an interview for administrative assistant

As we explained above, the average administrative assistant position will attract over 500 applications, so getting an interview is an incredible achievement. Our sample thank you email after the interview for an administrative assistant will help you take the next step to a second interview and appointment. In this sample of an administrative assistant thank you email after the interview, we focus on your core skills and determination to succeed.

19. Panel interview thank you email

Writing a thank you email after a panel interview is challenging as you must address multiple people. In this thank you email after a panel interview sample, we demonstrate how to address an email to several recipients and invite a future conversation and correspondence. Check out our panel interview thank you email example.

20. Thank you email after interview with multiple interviewers

Like the email above, when writing a thank you email after an interview with multiple interviewers, you have to address each individually and collectively. Here's an example of a thank you email after an interview to multiple interviewers.

21. First-round interview thank you email 

During the first round of interviews, recruiters search for opportunities to cut down on the numbers. A timely and targeted first interview thank you email will ensure you have a great chance of securing a slot for the second round. We keep things upbeat and positive in this example of a thank you email after the first interview.

22. Law firm interview thank you email sample

Law firms are famously discerning, with limited opportunities open to outsiders. They're also sticklers for detail, so accuracy and clarity are critical. Legal eagles will find our law firm interview thank you email template simple and clear.

23. Thank you email after an informational interview

Informational interviews are designed to get to a person's heart, problem or situation. You'll dig into the details during an informational interview, but you may want to add more afterward. In this thank you email after an informational interview template, we show you how to provide the information you need.

24. Thank you email after a group interview 

Group interviews are an opportunity for you to stand out and make an impression, something our sample thank you note after an interview will help you with.

25. Engineering interview thank you email 

Our example of a  thank you email after an engineering interview tackles the technical and provides a chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge and experience. It's tempting to stick everything in an email. Still, we've prioritized focusing on what's important: getting a second interview. Check out our engineering interview thank you email template below.

Need some more post-interview email inspiration?

We hope you can use one of these sample thank you emails after your interview. We've tried to keep them professional and to the point, as that's what readers want.

The most straightforward approach is to cut, paste and personalize them for your circumstances and situation. However, we recommend that you spend some time writing a thank you note after the job interview and focus on the critical points of your conversations.

A good tip is to jot down some notes straight after your interview. Make sure to include the topics you discussed, any questions you were asked, the information you needed to supply, or questions you wanted to ask (but didn't).

This can provide the background information for your post-interview email inspiration. 

Interview thank you email template by Flowrite

The difference between writing a good and great thank you email after an interview can be as simple as Flowrite. We've provided you with some inspiration with our thank you email after interview template, but to truly create emails that inspire your readers, you need Flowrite.

Flowrite is an AI-powered writing assistant that can help anyone produce effective and error-free post-interview emails. You provide the basic information, and Flowrite transforms it into professional prose that gets results every time.

Writing the perfect interview thank you email

Writing the perfect interview thank you email isn't easy, but it's something you should always strive for.

Instead of rushing in, reflect on the discussion and review your notes before writing. Our interview thank you email templates illustrate how you can approach the task but should be used only as a starting point for you to edit, adapt and personalize to your unique needs. Over time, you'll find that creating compelling emails gets easier.

However, if you don't have the time or simply want to write effective post-interview emails without the mental drain, we suggest you take Flowrite for a spin.

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The Donald Trump I Saw on The Apprentice

For 20 years, i couldn’t say what i watched the former president do on the set of the show that changed everything. now i can..

On Jan. 8, 2004, just more than 20 years ago, the first episode of The Apprentice aired. It was called “Meet the Billionaire,” and 18 million people watched. The episodes that followed climbed to roughly 20 million each week. A staggering 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the first season finale. The series won an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, and the Television Critics Association called it one of the best TV shows of the year, alongside The Sopranos and Arrested Development . The series—alongside its bawdy sibling, The Celebrity Apprentice —appeared on NBC in coveted prime-time slots for more than a decade.

The Apprentice was an instant success in another way too. It elevated Donald J. Trump from sleazy New York tabloid hustler to respectable household name. In the show, he appeared to demonstrate impeccable business instincts and unparalleled wealth, even though his businesses had barely survived multiple bankruptcies and faced yet another when he was cast. By carefully misleading viewers about Trump—his wealth, his stature, his character, and his intent—the competition reality show set about an American fraud that would balloon beyond its creators’ wildest imaginations.

I should know. I was one of four producers involved in the first two seasons. During that time, I signed an expansive nondisclosure agreement that promised a fine of $5 million and even jail time if I were to ever divulge what actually happened. It expired this year.

No one involved in The Apprentice —from the production company or the network, to the cast and crew—was involved in a con with malicious intent. It was a TV show , and it was made for entertainment . I still believe that. But we played fast and loose with the facts, particularly regarding Trump, and if you were one of the 28 million who tuned in, chances are you were conned.

As Trump answers for another of his alleged deception schemes in New York and gears up to try to persuade Americans to elect him again, in part thanks to the myth we created, I can finally tell you what making Trump into what he is today looked like from my side. Most days were revealing. Some still haunt me, two decades later.

Nearly everything I ever learned about deception I learned from my friend Apollo Robbins. He’s been called a professional pickpocket, but he’s actually a “perceptions expert.” Apollo has spent his life studying the psychology of how we distort other people’s perceptions of reality and has done so by picking pockets onstage for the entertainment of others. He is a master of deception, a skill that made him, back in the day, the so-called best-kept secret in Las Vegas. After “fanning” his marks with casual, unobtrusive touch designed to make them feel safe or at ease, Apollo determines where the items reside—the wallet inside a breast pocket, the Rolex fastened to a wrist—and he removes these items without detection. He’ll even tell you what he intends to steal before he does it. He does this not to hurt people or bewilder them with a puzzle but to challenge their maps of reality. The results are marvelous. A lot of magic is designed to appeal to people visually, but what he’s trying to affect is your mind, your moods, your perceptions.

As a producer working in unscripted, or “reality,” television, I have the same goal. Like Apollo, I want to entertain, make people joyful, maybe even challenge their ways of thinking. But because I often lack the cinematic power of a movie, with its visual pyrotechnics or rehearsed dialogue, I rely on shaping the perceptions of viewers, manipulating their maps of reality toward something I want them to think or feel.

The presumption is that reality TV is scripted. What actually happens is the illusion of reality by staging situations against an authentic backdrop. The more authentic it is to, say, have a 40-foot wave bearing down on a crab boat in the Bering Sea for Deadliest Catch , the more we can trick you into thinking a malevolent Russian trawler is out there messing with the crabber’s bait. There is a trick to it, and when it works, you feel as if you’re watching a scripted show. Although very few programs are out-and-out fake, there is deception at play in every single reality program. The producers and editors are ostensibly con artists, distracting you with grand notions while we steal from you your precious time.

But the real con that drove The Apprentice is far older than television. The “pig in the poke” comes from an idiom dating to 1555: “I’ll never buy a pig in a poke / There’s many a foul pig in a fair cloak.” It refers to the time-honored scam of selling a suckling pig at market but handing over a bag (the poke) to the purchaser, who never looks inside it. Eventually, he discovers he’s purchased something quite different.

Our show became a 21 st -century version. It’s a long con played out over a decade of watching Trump dominate prime time by shouting orders, appearing to lead, and confidently firing some of the most capable people on television, all before awarding one eligible person a job. Audiences responded to Trump’s arrogance, his perceived abilities and prescience, but mostly his confidence . The centerpiece to any confidence game is precisely that— confidence .

As I walk into my interview for The Apprentice , I inadvertently learn how important it is for every one of us involved to demonstrate confidence above all else.

I sit down with Jay Bienstock, the showrunner, who has one last producer position to fill and needs somebody capable and hardworking. His office is sparse, and the desk is strategically placed directly across from the couch, with a noticeable angle downward from his desk to whomever is seated across from him. (I’m recalling all of the quoted conversations here to the best of my ability; they are not verbatim.)

He is smiling and even laughing throughout the interview, but from the steep angle at which he gazes down on me, there is no mistaking who is in charge. He seems to like what he hears and offers to follow up with my agent. “But I have to check your references before I can hire you,” he says. “You’d be crazy not to,” I reply. He laughs, claps his hands together, and grins. “ THAT’S what I’m talking about,” he says. “That’s the confidence this show needs!”

I sit there, several inches below eyeline, and ponder what just happened. What, I wonder, is so “confident” about suggesting he’d be crazy to not check my references? Then it dawns on me. He thinks I meant “You’d be crazy not to hire me.” The signal to noise begins.

Listen to Bill Pruitt discuss this story on What Next , Slate’s daily news podcast:

Before I leave, I have to ask: Why Trump? Bienstock discovers that we both lived in New York for a time. Knowing what we know about Trump, selling the idea that intelligent people would compete to land a job working for him will be a challenge.

“The idea is to have a new and different billionaire every season—just like there’s a new and different island on Survivor . We reached out to Spielberg, Katzenberg, Geffen, among others,” he says. “Trump is the only one who agreed to sign on.” (Bienstock didn’t respond to a request for comment.)

“We’ll make it work,” Bienstock says confidently. I rise, shake his hand, and leave, and head over to Dutton’s bookstore to pick up a used copy of Trump’s The Art of the Deal . It is filled with takeaways about branding and strategizing but conveniently omits Trump bluffing his way through meetings with contractors, stiffing them when it is convenient to do so, and betraying his most trusted colleagues to get what he wants. (The book’s ghostwriter, Tony Schwartz, has since tried to get the bestseller recategorized in the Library of Congress as a work of fiction.)

Another show of confidence is the budget the series commands. It’s not as expensive as a scripted series, but for a reality show, the price is high. Never have I worked on a series with this level of funding, but the cost is justified. This needs to feel real.

New York City is the perfect—though expensive—backdrop. Trump’s actual offices are, however, less than telegenic. They are cramped, and a lot of the wood furniture is chipped or peeling. None of it is suitable to appear on camera. We need what grifters call the Big Store: a fake but authentic-looking establishment in which the con goes down. Trump Tower, at the time, is mostly condos and some offices situated in the high-rise. The mezzanine comprises vacant and overpriced retail space, all of it unfinished. Trump offers the space to the production—at a premium, naturally—and it is inside this location that we create our own “reception area” with doors leading to a fake, dimly lit, and appropriately ominous-feeling “boardroom.”

Next door, there’s the “suite” where the contestants will live, which is made to look like a trendy loft-style apartment they all share. The lodgings are made up of partitions surrounding tiny, hard bunks upon which the candidates sleep; the illusion comes from elegantly appointed common areas, where most of the interplay will go down.

During a tour of the set, I have my first encounter with Trump. I leave the suite and enter the gear room, the only vacant retail space that will remain unfinished. It is filled with equipment and crew members milling about. In walks a trio of men. In the middle is Trump, in a navy blue suit and scarlet tie. He’s surprisingly tall, and not just because of the hair. He is flanked by two even taller men. Bienstock makes introductions, and I watch as Trump shakes hands with everyone. I’d been told he would never do this, something about fearing unwanted germs. When it is my turn, I decide on the convivial two-hander and place my right hand into his and my left onto his wrist as we shake. His eye contact is limited but thorough. He is sizing me up. He looks like a wolf about to rip my throat out before turning away, offering me my first glimpse at the superstructure—his hairstyle—buttressed atop his head with what must be gallons of Aqua Net.

I watch as Trump saunters around the room, snatches up a fistful of M&Ms from the craft service table set aside for the crew, and shoves them into his mouth. Then he is gone, ushered away toward some important meeting he must attend, as if to say, to one and all present, This is unimportant .

Eventually, it’s time to roll cameras. When Trump is called to perform, we are filming the first scene of the first episode on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, and he is about to deliver the first task. Filming inside this beacon of capitalism and wealth gives the series the legitimacy it needs. A con artist would call staging the scam inside a legitimate institution “playing a man against the wall.”

From the balcony overlooking the famed trading room floor, Trump will set up the entire premise of the show on camera and engage in a little banter with the other participants. This includes introducing his advisers, George Ross, an older, grouchy attorney devoted to Trump’s legal affairs, and Carolyn Kepcher, a perpetual skeptic who runs his hospitality units and one of his golf clubs. (They might be called “the shills,” others in on the con who will act as Trump’s eyes and ears.)

The contestants are there, lined up and zeroed in on by camera operators getting reaction shots to whatever it is Trump says. Although they mostly just stand and wait, they patiently go along with the proceedings. They are not in on the con. They act as “the little blind mice,” who, in fraudster terms, convey a sense of authenticity by reacting to the goings-on, like lab rats caught in a maze.

Nothing is scripted—except for what Trump needs to say. Cue cards are present, but mostly it is Bienstock running up, coaching Trump, tossing out suggestions from the script he has written for the man. The feeling is that while doing a fair job of repeating the necessary words verbatim, Trump also appears to be inadvertently shouting at the contestants. His hands shuttle back and forth as if holding an invisible accordion, a gesture now famous in memes .

Each episode is filmed over three days. For the first episode, the two teams of contestants, divided by gender, take to the streets to carry out the initial task of trying to sell lemonade for the most money. The women pulverize the men.

Having won, the women are invited upstairs for a direct look at Trump’s very own apartment in Trump Tower, a reward designed specifically to introduce viewers to the gaudy but elevated world of Donald Trump at home. The men, who lost, go back to the loft to await their fate at the hands of Trump. He will be sending one of them home.

Inside the now-empty boardroom set, a meeting with the producers is called for the first briefing of Trump before the anticipated firing. With Trump are his cronies, Ross and Kepcher. Trump is “too busy,” so they have each observed both teams in the field and make an assessment of who prevailed and who fell behind.

Now, this is important. The Apprentice is a game show regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. In the 1950s, scandals arose when producers of quiz shows fed answers to likable, ratings-generating contestants while withholding those answers from unlikable but truly knowledgeable players. Any of us involved in The Apprentice swinging the outcome of prize money by telling Trump whom to fire is forbidden.

Considering this, Bienstock wisely chooses to record these off-camera briefings in case the FCC ever rolls up on us. Rather than blurt out who they think should get canned, the two producers of that week’s episode—each following one team—are coached to equitably share with Trump the virtues and deficiencies of each member of the losing team. This renders a balanced depiction of how and why they lost. There are obvious choices of whom to fire, but we want it to be something of a horse race, to sustain the drama and keep people watching.

Satisfied he has what he needs, Trump dismisses the prefiring discussion with the wave of a hand, claiming he has places to be, let’s get on with it, etc. We proceed to set up for what will be our first boardroom.

The producers retreat to the adjacent control room to watch the event unfold. Per the show’s format, the losing team is summoned in anticipation of one of its members being sent home. Leaving their luggage in the reception area, the men walk into the boardroom, where Trump is flanked by Ross and Kepcher, waiting for them solemnly. Trump just frowns from a gigantic red leather chair, his eyeline noticeably well above those sitting across from him.

The men proceed to verbally go after one another like gladiators jousting before the emperor. Trump takes the conversation into potentially dangerous terrain, asking one contestant, who is Jewish, whether he believes in “the genetic pool.” The contestant’s retort is swift and resolute: He tells Trump that he does, in fact, have the genes, “just like you got from your father, Fred Trump, and your mother, Mary Trump.” It pours out of him. It is dramatic. It is good reality TV.

The project manager must then choose two of the men to come back to the boardroom with him while everyone else is dismissed. An off-camera prefiring consultation with Trump takes place (and is recorded), right before the three men are brought back for the eventual firing. We film Trump, Ross, and Kepcher deliberating and giving the pluses and minuses of each, remarking on how risky it was for one of the contestants to stand up for himself the way that he did. Trump turns back and forth to each, listening. His cronies stick to their stories and give added deferential treatment toward Trump, with Ross strategically reminding him, “You’ve been taking risks your entire life.”

Trump summons the three men back into the boardroom for final judging. Trump grills one and says, “I will let you stay.” ( Wow! we think. A benevolent leader. ) When he turns his attention to the other man—the one he asked about genetics—it looks clear. He is doomed. So much so that the man stands when Trump tells him, “It seems unanimous.” Trump then offhandedly tells him to sit down, calling him “a wild card,” echoing Ross’ earlier observation of the boss, Trump.

After this comes an unwieldy moment when, at the behest of Bienstock, Trump fumbles through a given line. “We have an elevator,” he says to the remaining contestant, named David, “that goes up to the suite and an elevator that goes down”—he pauses to recall the exact wording—“to the street. And, David, I’m going to ask you to take the down elevator.”

The men react and awkwardly rise. It is an unsatisfactory conclusion, given all the preceding drama.

From the control room, we all watch as the three men depart the boardroom. A quick huddle takes place between the producers and the executive from NBC. We bolt from the control room out into the boardroom and confer with Trump, telling him we will need him to say something more direct to conclude the moment when David is let go.

“Well, I’d probably just fire him,” Trump says. “Why not just say that?” Bienstock asks. “Fine,” Trump says.

We return to the control room. The three men from the losing team are brought back into the boardroom, and Trump repeats his line about the elevator, then turns to David, who already knows his fate, and adds, “David, you’re fired.”

The line insertion happened in a perilously scripted way, but it is deemed satisfactory. “You’re fired” becomes the expression we will stick with. It works. Trump comes off as decisive and to the point.

Later, Trump will try to trademark “You’re fired.” He is not successful.

Trump’s appearances make up so little of our shooting schedule that whenever he shows up to film, it isn’t just the wild-card on-camera moments we both hope for and are terrified of that put everyone on edge. It is the way he, the star (and half owner) of the show, targets people on the crew with the gaze of a hungry lion.

While leering at a female camera assistant or assessing the physical attributes of a female contestant for whoever is listening, he orders a female camera operator off an elevator on which she is about to film him. “She’s too heavy,” I hear him say.

Another female camera operator, who happens to have blond hair and blue eyes, draws from Trump comparisons to his own Ivanka Trump. “There’s a beautiful woman behind that camera,” he says toward a line of 10 different operators set up in the foyer of Trump Tower one day. “That’s all I want to look at.”

Trump corners a female producer and asks her whom he should fire. She demurs, saying something about how one of the contestants blamed another for their team losing. Trump then raises his hands, cupping them to his chest: “You mean the one with the …?” He doesn’t know the contestant’s name. Trump eventually fires her.

(In response to detailed questions about this and other incidents reported in this article, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump 2024 campaign, wrote, “This is a completely fabricated and bullshit story that was already peddled in 2016.” He said that it is surfacing now because Democrats are “desperate.”)

Trump goes about knocking off every one of the contestants in the boardroom until only two remain. The finalists are Kwame Jackson, a Black broker from Goldman Sachs, and Bill Rancic, a white entrepreneur from Chicago who runs his own cigar business. Trump assigns them each a task devoted to one of his crown-jewel properties. Jackson will oversee a Jessica Simpson benefit concert at Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, while Rancic will oversee a celebrity golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Viewers need to believe that whatever Trump touches turns to gold. These properties that bear his name are supposed to glitter and gleam. All thanks to him.

Reality is another matter altogether. The lights in the casino’s sign are out. Hong Kong investors actually own the place—Trump merely lends his name. The carpet stinks, and the surroundings for Simpson’s concert are ramshackle at best. We shoot around all that.

Both Rancic and Jackson do a round-robin recruitment of former contestants, and Jackson makes the fateful decision to team up with the notorious Omarosa, among others, to help him carry out his final challenge.

With her tenure on the series nearly over, Omarosa launches several simultaneous attacks on her fellow teammates in support of her “brother” Kwame. For the fame-seeking beauty queen, it is a do-or-die play for some much-coveted screen time. As on previous tasks, Ross and Kepcher will observe both events.

Over at Trump National Golf Club, where I am stationed, it is sunny and bright, set against luscious fall colors. I am driven up to the golf club from Manhattan to scout. With me are the other producers, all of whom are men. We meet Trump at one of the homes he keeps for himself on the grounds of the club.

“Melania doesn’t even know about this place,” he says out loud to us, snickering, implying that the home’s function is as his personal lair for his sexual exploits, all of which are unknown to his then-fiancée Melania Knauss.

We are taken around the rest of the club’s property and told what to feature on camera and what to stay away from. The clubhouse is a particularly necessary inclusion, and it is inside these luxurious confines where I have the privilege of meeting the architect. Finding myself alone with him, I make a point of commending him for what I feel is a remarkable building. The place is genuinely spectacular. He thanks me.

“It’s bittersweet,” he tells me. “I’m very proud of this place, but …” He hesitates. “I wasn’t paid what was promised,” he says. I just listen. “Trump pays half upfront,” he says, “but he’ll stiff you for the rest once the project is completed.”

“He stiffed you?”

“If I tried to sue, the legal bills would be more than what I was owed. He knew that. He basically said Take what I’m offering ,” and I see how heavy this is for the man, all these years later. “So, we sent the invoice. He didn’t even pay that,” he says. None of this will be in the show. Not Trump’s suggested infidelities, nor his aversion toward paying those who work for him.

When the tasks are over, we are back in the boardroom, having our conference with Trump about how the two finalists compare—a conversation that I know to be recorded. We huddle around him and set up the last moments of the candidates, Jackson and Rancic.

Trump will make his decision live on camera months later, so what we are about to film is the setup to that reveal. The race between Jackson and Rancic should seem close, and that’s how we’ll edit the footage. Since we don’t know who’ll be chosen, it must appear close, even if it’s not.

We lay out the virtues and deficiencies of each finalist to Trump in a fair and balanced way, but sensing the moment at hand, Kepcher sort of comes out of herself. She expresses how she observed Jackson at the casino overcoming more obstacles than Rancic, particularly with the way he managed the troublesome Omarosa. Jackson, Kepcher maintains, handled the calamity with grace.

“I think Kwame would be a great addition to the organization,” Kepcher says to Trump, who winces while his head bobs around in reaction to what he is hearing and clearly resisting.

“Why didn’t he just fire her?” Trump asks, referring to Omarosa. It’s a reasonable question. Given that this the first time we’ve ever been in this situation, none of this is something we expected.

“That’s not his job,” Bienstock says to Trump. “That’s yours.” Trump’s head continues to bob.

“I don’t think he knew he had the ability to do that,” Kepcher says. Trump winces again.

“Yeah,” he says to no one in particular, “but, I mean, would America buy a n— winning?”

Kepcher’s pale skin goes bright red. I turn my gaze toward Trump. He continues to wince. He is serious, and he is adamant about not hiring Jackson.

Bienstock does a half cough, half laugh, and swiftly changes the topic or throws to Ross for his assessment. What happens next I don’t entirely recall. I am still processing what I have just heard. We all are. Only Bienstock knows well enough to keep the train moving. None of us thinks to walk out the door and never return. I still wish I had. (Bienstock and Kepcher didn’t respond to requests for comment.)

Afterward, we film the final meeting in the boardroom, where Jackson and Rancic are scrutinized by Trump, who, we already know, favors Rancic. Then we wrap production, pack up, and head home. There is no discussion about what Trump said in the boardroom, about how the damning evidence was caught on tape. Nothing happens.

We go home and face the next phase of our assignment, the editing. In stitching the footage together, the swindle we are now involved in ascends to new levels.

Editing in a reality TV show is what script writing is to a narrative series. A lot of effort goes into the storytelling because, basically, in every single unscripted series—whether it’s a daytime talk show, an adventure documentary, or a shiny floor dance-off—there are three versions: There’s what happens, there’s what gets filmed, and there’s what gets cut down into 43 minutes squeezed between commercial breaks. Especially for a competition series, it’s important that the third version represent the first as much as possible. A defeated contestant could show up in the press and cry foul if they’re misrepresented. Best to let people fail of their own accord. That said, we look after our prized possessions in how we edit the series, and some people fare better than others.

We attend to our thesis that only the best and brightest deserve a job working for Donald Trump. Luckily, the winner, Bill Rancic, and his rival, Kwame Jackson, come off as capable and confident throughout the season. If for some reason they had not, we would have conveniently left their shortcomings on the cutting room floor. In actuality, both men did deserve to win.

Without a doubt, the hardest decisions we faced in postproduction were how to edit together sequences involving Trump. We needed him to sound sharp, dignified, and clear on what he was looking for and not as if he was yelling at people. You see him today: When he reads from a teleprompter, he comes off as loud and stoic. Go to one of his rallies and he’s the off-the-cuff rambler rousing his followers into a frenzy. While filming, he struggled to convey even the most basic items. But as he became more comfortable with filming, Trump made raucous comments he found funny or amusing—some of them misogynistic as well as racist. We cut those comments. Go to one of his rallies today and you can hear many of them.

If you listen carefully, especially to that first episode, you will notice clearly altered dialogue from Trump in both the task delivery and the boardroom. Trump was overwhelmed with remembering the contestants’ names, the way they would ride the elevator back upstairs or down to the street, the mechanics of what he needed to convey. Bienstock instigated additional dialogue recording that came late in the edit phase. We set Trump up in the soundproof boardroom set and fed him lines he would read into a microphone with Bienstock on the phone, directing from L.A. And suddenly Trump knows the names of every one of the contestants and says them while the camera cuts to each of their faces. Wow , you think, how does he remember everyone’s name? While on location, he could barely put a sentence together regarding how a task would work. Listen now, and he speaks directly to what needs to happen while the camera conveniently cuts away to the contestants, who are listening and nodding. He sounds articulate and concise through some editing sleight of hand.

Then comes the note from NBC about the fact that after Trump delivers the task assignment to the contestants, he disappears from the episode after the first act and doesn’t show up again until the next-to-last. That’s too long for the (high-priced) star of the show to be absent.

There is a convenient solution. At the top of the second act, right after the task has been assigned but right before the teams embark on their assignment, we insert a sequence with Trump, seated inside his gilded apartment, dispensing a carefully crafted bit of wisdom. He speaks to whatever the theme of each episode is—why someone gets fired or what would lead to a win. The net effect is not only that Trump appears once more in each episode but that he also now seems prophetic in how he just knows the way things will go right or wrong with each individual task. He comes off as all-seeing and all-knowing. We are led to believe that Donald Trump is a natural-born leader.

Through the editorial nudge we provide him, Trump prevails. So much so that NBC asks for more time in the boardroom to appear at the end of all the remaining episodes. (NBC declined to comment for this article.)

When it comes to the long con, the cherry on top is the prologue to the premiere. It’s a five-minute-long soliloquy delivered by Trump at the beginning of the first episode, the one titled “Meet the Billionaire.” Over a rousing score, it features Trump pulling out all the stops, calling New York “ my city” and confessing to crawling out from under “billions of dollars in debt.” There’s Trump in the back of limousines. Trump arriving before throngs of cheering crowds outside Trump Tower. Trump in his very own helicopter as it banks over midtown—the same helicopter with the Trump logo that, just like the airplane, is actually for sale to the highest bidder. The truth is, almost nothing was how we made it seem.

So, we scammed. We swindled. Nobody heard the racist and misogynistic comments or saw the alleged cheating, the bluffing, or his hair taking off in the wind. Those tapes, I’ve come to believe, will never be found.

No one lost their retirement fund or fell on hard times from watching The Apprentice . But Trump rose in stature to the point where he could finally eye a run for the White House, something he had intended to do all the way back in 1998. Along the way, he could now feed his appetite for defrauding the public with various shady practices.

In 2005 thousands of students enrolled in what was called Trump University, hoping to gain insight from the Donald and his “handpicked” professors. Each paid as much as $35,000 to listen to some huckster trade on Trump’s name. In a sworn affidavit, salesman Ronald Schnackenberg testified that Trump University was “fraudulent.” The scam swiftly went from online videoconferencing courses to live events held by high-pressure sales professionals whose only job was to persuade attendees to sign up for the course. The sales were for the course “tuition” and had nothing whatsoever to do with real estate investments. A class action suit was filed against Trump.

That same year, Trump was caught bragging to Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush that he likes to grab married women “by the pussy,” adding, “When you’re a star, they let you do it.” He later tried to recruit porn actor Stormy Daniels for The Apprentice despite her profession and, according to Daniels, had sex with her right after his last son was born. (His alleged attempt to pay off Daniels is, of course, the subject of his recent trial.)

In October 2016—a month before the election—the Access Hollywood tapes were released and written off as “locker room banter.” Trump paid Daniels to keep silent about their alleged affair. He paid $25 million to settle the Trump University lawsuit and make it go away.

He went on to become the first elected president to possess neither public service nor military experience. And although he lost the popular vote, Trump beat out Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College, winning in the Rust Belt by just 80,000 votes.

Trump has been called the “reality TV president,” and not just because of The Apprentice . The Situation Room, where top advisers gathered, became a place for photo-ops, a bigger, better boardroom. Trump swaggered and cajoled, just as he had on the show. Whom would he listen to? Whom would he fire? Stay tuned. Trump even has his own spinoff, called the House of Representatives, where women hurl racist taunts and body-shame one another with impunity. The State of the Union is basically a cage fight. The demands of public office now include blowhard buffoonery.

I reached out to Apollo, the Vegas perceptions expert, to discuss all of this. He reminded me how if a person wants to manipulate the signal, they simply turn up the noise. “In a world that is so uncertain,” he said, “a confidence man comes along and fills in the blanks. The more confident they are, the more we’re inclined to go along with what they suggest.”

A reality TV show gave rise to an avaricious hustler, and a deal was made: Subvert the facts, look past the deficiencies, deceive where necessary, and prevail in the name of television ratings and good, clean fun.

Trump is making another run at the White House and is leading in certain polls. People I know enthusiastically support him and expect he’ll return to office. It’s not just hats, sneakers, a fragrance, or Bibles. Donald Trump is selling his vision of the world, and people are buying it.

Knowing all they know, how could these people still think he’s capable of being president of the United States?

Perhaps they watched our show and were conned by the pig in the poke.