1. Introducing Interviewing COMM 3420 Chapter 1

2. Overview An introduction to interviewing The essential elements of interviews Relational communication

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYG6tAMWFIo

4. Introduction What is an interview? –How are they like social conversations? –How are they like intimate relationships? –How are they like public presentations?

5. Introduction HOW ARE THEY NOT LIKE –social conversations? –intimate relationships? –public presentations?

6. Elements of the Interview Interactional Process Parties Purpose Questions

7. The Essential Elements of the Interview INTERACTIONAL An interview is interactional exchanging, or sharing of –Roles –Responsibilities –Feelings –Beliefs –Motives –Information

8. The Essential Elements of the Interview INTERACTIONAL Roles may switch from moment to moment. It takes two to make an interview a success.

9. The Essential Elements of the Interview INTERVIEWING IS A PROCESS An interview is a complex, ever-changing process. No interview occurs in a vacuum –Affected by you –Affected by the interviewer –Affected by the context –Affected by the time –Affected by the circumstances –AFFECTED BY PERCEPTIONS

10. What do you see?

11. Perception is affected by… –Verbal and nonverbal messages –Levels of disclosure –Listening skills –Expectations and assumptions –STRESS

12. Process Once initiated, the interview is an ongoing process. You cannot “not” communicate….

13. PARTIES A dyadic process involves two parties. –But I was interviewed by several people… –If more than two parties are involved, a small group interaction may be occurring, but not an interview.

14. PURPOSE All interviews have a degree of structure. Because the purpose of the interview is predetermined, an interview is a conversation and much more. –Planned opening –Selected topics –Prepared questions –Gather specific information –Planned closing

15. QUESTIONS All interviews involve questions and answers. Questions play multiple roles in interviews. –Obtain information –Check message accuracy –Verify impressions and assumptions –Provoke feeling or thought

16. The Interview Defined An interview is an interactional communication process between two parties, at least one of whom has a predetermined and serious purpose, that involves the asking and the answering of questions.

17. A Relational Form of Communication The concept of relationship is inherent in the definition of “interviewing” –Both parties are interested in relationship Each interview contributes to a relational history –Dependent on previous interactions –Stereotypes –Each time parties communicate they redefine their identities. –Interactions create expectations, reinforce old ones, create new rules/norms of interaction

18. A Relational Form of Communication The relational aspect makes interviews difficult because –No prior history –No knowledge of the rules –We don’t know how to coordinate the conversation.

19. A Relational Form of Communication The five dimensions that determine the nature of our relationships in the interview process: –Similarity –Inclusion/Involvement –Affection –Control –Trust