The Nature of Interviews

• Interviews are planned. Interviews have a purpose that goes beyond the establishment and development of a relationship. At least one of the parties has a predetermined reason for initiating the interview (for example, to gather information).
• Interviews are goal-driven. Because a goal exists in advance of the interaction, at least one of the participants plans a strategy for initiating, conducting, and concluding the interview.
• Interviews are structured. The primary goal of an interview is almost always defined at the beginning of the meeting, something that’s rarely true of a conversation with a friend. Interview relationships are more formally structured, and clear status differences often exist. One party usually expects to exert more control than the other.
• Interviews are dyadic. Like other forms of interpersonal communication, the interview is dyadic, meaning that it involves two parties. In some instances, a “party” consists of more than one person, as when survey researchers conduct group interviews or when job applicants appear before a panel of interviewers. In such situations, even though a number of individuals are involved, there are only two parties (interviewers and interviewees), each with a role to play.
• Interviews are transactional. Interviews involve two-way communication in which both parties take turns in speaking and listening roles with a heavy dependence on questions and answers. Although most interviews occur face to face, interviews over the phone or via a video conference are also considered transactional discourse. Although the parties take turns in speaking and listening roles, you will recall from Chapter 1 that communicators don’t turn themselves off in the listening role; they provide valuable nonverbal feedback.