What's a good way to learn how to interview better?

October 15, 2020 6:55 AM

If you wanted to help someone learn how to interview better, what tools/classes/coachings/etc. would you recommend? Bonus points for stuff that's really structured and well thought through.
posted by sirion to Work & Money (4 answers total)

Do you mean as job interviews or something like press interviews? Do you mean as the interviewer or the interviewee?
posted by NotLost at 7:04 AM on October 15, 2020 [1 favorite]

Askamanager gets recommended here a lot, but I genuinely found her free interview prep guide very helpful. (Assuming you are asking about interviewing for jobs!)
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:49 AM on October 15, 2020

More broadly: my sister and I are both very anxious people who don't naturally do well speaking in front of others. But in high school I took a speech and debate class that managed to REALLY break down my barriers there, and based off my experience, my sister was (reluctantly) convinced to take a public speaking class in college that did the same thing for her.

Neither of those things is specifically interview prep, but they had an enormous impact on our ability to interview, more that I ever would have thought. I really think any structured public speaking practice will help almost anyone with interviewing. It just takes away so much of the fear.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:52 AM on October 15, 2020 [3 favorites]

I agree with showbiz_liz, as I've had similar benefits from church lector training. Not the same, but very helpful.

I always recommend the book Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed. It was super helpful to me, as was remembering during interviews that I am at the same time interviewing them.
posted by jgirl at 9:25 AM on October 15, 2020