Week 5: Interviewing

I learned a number of useful facts about interviews this week.

When one hears the term "interview", an employment interview is usually the thing that instantly springs to mind. This was precisely the case for me when I began this week's studies. I was somewhat bewildered to find that the term "interview" covers many more broad but also specific forms of communication, especially as they relate to business. In addition to employment interviews, there are also orientation interviews, research interviews, appraisal interviews, grievance interviews, problem-solving interviews, and persuasive interviews, just to name a few. I learned that interviews are not simply one person asking questions of another, but specifically are communications that are "planned, dyadic, and interactive" (O'Hair, Friedrich, & Dixon, p. 212).

I found the discussion of anxiety management to be particularly useful. I have had anxiety on both sides of the interview process, even as many times now as I have had to sit in on one. The most important aspects of managing anxiety in an interview setting are being prepared, conducting research prior to the interview, creating a comfortable atmosphere (if you are the interviewer), and to practice techniques for increasing self-confidence.

Many professional interactions qualify as interviews. Therefore, strategic and effective communication in the form of strong interview skills is very important to success in business. Interview skill development is high on my list of priorities.