Interviews are structured conversations in which one person, the interviewer, asks questions to another person, the interviewee, to gather information, insights, or opinions. This process is commonly used in various contexts, such as job recruitment, research studies, media coverage, and academic evaluations, among others.
In a job setting, interviews help employers assess a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and fit for a role. In qualitative research, interviews serve to explore participants’ experiences, beliefs, and motivations in-depth. Interviews can be conducted in various formats, including one-on-one, panel, face-to-face, telephone, or video calls, and may involve different levels of formality, ranging from casual discussions to formal assessments.
Effective interviewing requires good communication skills, active listening, and the ability to ask pertinent questions that encourage detailed responses. The outcome of an interview can inform decisions, provide insights, and contribute to the understanding of a subject matter.