Part 10 in the ACN Article Series “Interview Insights”
By Past President Elaine Shein
In the movie “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” there is a scene when Albus Dumbledore is trying to convince professor Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts in a teaching position.
When it seems the stubborn Slughorn won’t do it, Dumbledore asks if he can use the loo — returning later with a knitting magazine in hand that he asks if he can borrow.
During the less than two minutes Dumbledore was away, Slughorn and Harry Potter have a conversation that influences Slughorn to change his mind and he agrees to go to Hogwarts just as his guests leave the house.
Mission accomplished, just as Dumbledore expected.
Whenever I see that movie scene, it reminds me of important advice I once heard from a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist at an interviewing skills workshop: Even if you think you’re at the end of doing an interview at someone’s place, always ask if you can use the restroom before you leave.
Even if you don’t really need to use it.
Why?
Because those few minutes when you’re away can be valuable.
You have a moment to think about the overall interview and maybe realize you have a last question or two you forgot to ask or would like to pursue further.
You might have a chance to get a glimpse of someone’s home or business and there might be something in the bathroom — or you see on the walls or on hallway tables on the way there — that might trigger an interesting question or conversation (ex. knick knacks, photos, something of sentimental value, or books/magazines). For example, there might be a pile of hunting magazines. A grandchild’s miniature John Deere tractor. An old black and white photo of a group of ancestors. A collection of livestock show ribbons. Past and present aerial photos of the farm or ranch. An inspirational saying scrawled on a sticky note that someone stuck in the corner of the bathroom mirror.
You might see something that shows the importance of family/values/sense of humor of your source, and maybe even show you the person or family from a different perspective.
When you return from the restroom, you might have a chance to change the tone of the interview. Perhaps the person had refused to answer a question or was uncomfortable with a line of questions. You both may have relaxed a bit more during your absence and there’s another chance to ask the questions a different way that will be more successful.
And finally, the person you’re interviewing might have also had a chance to think and might, upon your return, mention something new or relevant to your conversation.
Often this is the perfect time to say, “Before I leave your place, was there anything else you wanted to add … or something you think we might have missed in our conversation?”
When the last of your questions have rolled out, and your interviewee can’t think of anything more to add, then you both will be satisfied that the interview is really over for the day.
And yes, there was once where a farmer handed me a magazine to take home at the end of the visit.
This week’s challenge: Think of times you’ve done interviews in the past and took a short break at the end. Did you ever think of a last question after that or saw something on the way to the bathroom that triggered a new line of questioning?
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Shein is DTN Associate Managing Editor in Omaha, Nebraska. She has formerly worked for Capital Press in Oregon, The Western Producer and Regina Leader-Post in Saskatchewan, Canada, and Gemini News Service in London, England.
Elaine Shein can be reached at [email protected]