Why This Matters
The difference between a forgettable interview and a compelling one often comes down to avoiding preventable errors. You're being tested not just on knowing what makes a good interview, but on understanding why certain behaviors derail conversations and how to recognize these patterns before they happen. The mistakes covered here reveal core principles of interpersonal communication, journalistic ethics, and active listening—concepts that appear repeatedly in both practical assessments and analytical questions.
Think of interview mistakes as falling into distinct categories: preparation failures, communication breakdowns, power imbalances, and ethical lapses. Each mistake illuminates a broader principle about what interviews are designed to accomplish. Don't just memorize a list of "don'ts"—understand what each mistake reveals about the interviewer-subject relationship and how it undermines your goal of eliciting authentic, substantive responses.
Preparation Failures
The interview begins long before you sit down with your subject. Inadequate preparation signals disrespect and limits your ability to ask meaningful questions.
Lack of Preparation and Research
- Background research is non-negotiable—understanding your subject's expertise, past statements, and public positions prevents redundant or tone-deaf questions
- Purpose alignment means crafting questions that serve your interview's specific goals, not generic queries you could ask anyone
- Topic fluency allows you to recognize significant statements and pursue unexpected angles when they arise
Arriving Late or Unprepared
- Logistical planning includes building in buffer time, testing equipment beforehand, and having backup recording methods ready
- Early arrival establishes professionalism and gives you time to assess the environment and adjust your approach
- Material readiness—bringing printed questions, charged devices, and release forms—prevents scrambling that undermines your credibility
Compare: Lack of research vs. arriving unprepared—both signal disrespect for the subject's time, but research failures limit content quality while logistical failures undermine professional trust. If asked about preparation's role in interview success, address both dimensions.
Active Listening Breakdowns
The interviewer's primary job is to receive information, not transmit it. Every listening failure shifts focus away from the subject and toward the interviewer.
Failing to Listen Actively and Interrupting
- Full attention means eliminating distractions—silencing phones, maintaining focus, and resisting the urge to plan your next question while they're speaking
- Interruption avoidance respects the subject's thought process and often yields the most revealing material in those extra seconds of reflection
- Verbal affirmations like "I see" or "go on" signal engagement without derailing their train of thought
Talking Too Much Instead of Letting the Interviewee Speak
- The 80/20 rule suggests subjects should speak roughly 80% of the time—your job is to prompt, not perform
- Concise questions create space for expansive answers; long-winded setups often confuse subjects or telegraph your expected answer
- Personal anecdotes rarely serve the interview's purpose and can make subjects feel their story matters less than yours
Not Following Up on Important Points
- Real-time note-taking flags statements worth revisiting—don't trust yourself to remember significant moments
- Clarifying questions transform vague statements into quotable specifics ("Can you give me an example of that?")
- Circling back demonstrates genuine interest and often yields the interview's most substantive material
Compare: Interrupting vs. talking too much—both center the interviewer inappropriately, but interrupting cuts off potentially valuable content while over-talking prevents it from emerging. The underlying principle is the same: the subject is the story.
Question Design Errors
How you frame questions determines what answers you'll receive. Poor question construction limits responses before the subject even opens their mouth.
Asking Closed-Ended Questions
- Open-ended framing ("Tell me about..." "How did you...") invites narrative and reflection rather than confirmation
- Yes/no questions waste interview time and force you to ask follow-ups that could have been avoided
- Elaboration prompts ("What was that like?" "Why do you think that happened?") unlock emotional and analytical depth
Showing Bias or Injecting Personal Opinions
- Leading questions contaminate responses by signaling your expected or preferred answer
- Neutrality preservation allows subjects to express views you might disagree with—your opinion isn't the story
- Self-awareness about your own assumptions prevents unconscious bias from shaping your question framing
Compare: Closed-ended questions vs. leading questions—both constrain the subject's response, but closed questions limit scope while leading questions influence content. One is a technique error; the other raises ethical concerns about manipulation.
Relationship and Rapport Failures
Interviews depend on trust. Without rapport, subjects give guarded, surface-level responses that lack authenticity and depth.
Failing to Establish Rapport
- Small talk isn't wasted time—it calibrates communication styles and puts subjects at ease before substantive questions begin
- Genuine curiosity is perceptible; subjects respond differently when they sense authentic interest versus going-through-the-motions questioning
- Trust-building through active listening creates psychological safety that encourages candor on difficult topics
Poor Body Language and Nonverbal Communication
- Eye contact signals engagement and respect—looking at notes or devices suggests the subject isn't worth your full attention
- Open posture (uncrossed arms, forward lean) conveys receptivity and encourages subjects to continue sharing
- Facial expression awareness prevents unintended signals of judgment, boredom, or disagreement that can shut down candid responses
Compare: Failing to establish rapport vs. poor body language—rapport failures occur at the relationship level while body language errors operate at the moment-to-moment level. Both undermine trust, but rapport is built deliberately while body language often betrays us unconsciously.
Ethical and Professional Lapses
Interviewers carry responsibilities to their subjects, their audience, and the truth. Ethical failures damage credibility and can cause real harm.
Mishandling Sensitive Topics or Controversial Issues
- Empathetic framing acknowledges difficulty without avoiding necessary questions ("I know this is hard to talk about...")
- Comfort monitoring means watching for signs of distress and adjusting pace or approach accordingly
- Preparation for difficulty includes anticipating which topics require extra care and planning your approach in advance
- Cross-referencing statements against credible sources protects both your credibility and your subject's reputation
- Clarification requests ("Just to make sure I have this right...") catch errors before publication
- Accuracy as ethics—publishing unverified claims can harm subjects, mislead audiences, and destroy your professional standing
Not Recording or Taking Notes Properly
- Reliable recording using tested equipment with backup options ensures you capture exact quotes and nuance
- Organized notation highlights key moments for easy retrieval during writing or editing
- Permission protocols—always confirm recording consent explicitly, ideally on the recording itself
Compare: Mishandling sensitive topics vs. neglecting fact verification—both are ethical failures, but sensitivity errors harm the subject directly while verification failures harm the audience and public record. Strong interviewers protect both.
Structural and Logistical Errors
Even skilled conversationalists can undermine their work through poor interview management. Structure serves content—without it, even great material gets lost.
Failing to Manage Time Effectively
- Agenda setting ensures essential topics get covered even if conversation wanders productively
- Time awareness during the interview prevents the panic of realizing you've spent 40 minutes on background and have 5 minutes for key questions
- Question prioritization means knowing which three questions you must ask, regardless of how the conversation unfolds
Not Adapting to Unexpected Situations or Answers
- Flexibility allows you to abandon your script when the subject offers something more valuable than what you planned to ask
- Spontaneous follow-ups often produce the interview's best moments—rigid adherence to prepared questions misses these opportunities
- Comfort with uncertainty distinguishes adequate interviewers from excellent ones
Neglecting to Thank the Interviewee and Provide Follow-Up
- Gratitude expression acknowledges that subjects gave you something valuable—their time, trust, and story
- Sharing commitments (offering to send the final piece) maintain relationships for potential future interviews
- Contact information exchange keeps communication channels open for clarification or follow-up questions
Compare: Poor time management vs. failing to adapt—both involve interview flow, but time management is about coverage while adaptation is about discovery. Master interviewers balance structure with responsiveness.
Quick Reference Table
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| Preparation | Lack of research, arriving late/unprepared |
| Active Listening | Interrupting, talking too much, not following up |
| Question Design | Closed-ended questions, showing bias/leading questions |
| Rapport Building | Failing to establish connection, poor body language |
| Ethics | Mishandling sensitive topics, not verifying facts |
| Logistics | Poor recording/notes, bad time management |
| Professionalism | Not adapting to surprises, neglecting follow-up/thanks |
Self-Check Questions
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Which two mistakes both result in the interviewer inappropriately centering themselves in the conversation? What underlying principle do they share?
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Compare and contrast the ethical implications of mishandling sensitive topics versus neglecting to verify facts. Who is harmed in each case?
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If an interview yields only surface-level responses, which category of mistakes is most likely responsible—preparation failures, listening breakdowns, or rapport failures? Defend your answer.
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A journalist asks: "Don't you think the mayor's policy was a disaster?" Identify the specific mistake, explain why it's problematic, and reframe the question appropriately.
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Rank these three mistakes from most to least recoverable during a single interview: arriving late, failing to establish rapport, asking closed-ended questions. Explain your reasoning.