Why should you interview people?
Interviewing allows you to get the main points of people’s success in a couple of minutes and makes people give you their time when they normally would not.
It also allows you to ask important questions, which increases your influence, communication skills and ability to understand and listen. Therefore, think of interviewing as your initial steps to entrepreneurship, influencer status, niche discovery, and beyond.
🦾 Benefits
- Boost confidence and communication skills.
- Expand knowledge and network.
- Establish trust and influence.
- Develop problem-solving through research.
✉️ Who to Contact?
Start by practicing around 50 interviews with your pals and family. Once you're feeling confident, you should be set to reach out to key players in your field.
This can include group calls where everyone watches a video and provide their constructive criticism or it can be taking actual interviews and asking questions using the ones mentioned in my template.
Either way, what's most important is to start!
📝 Preparation and Approach
1) Before you dive in, research the guest thoroughly.
2) When you ask for an interview, show off your past work. This is how they know your question style, production quality and more. It increases trust and their chances of accepting your invitation
3) Reminder and punctuality are crucial. Remind the person 2 hrs earlier about the interview and try to be there 15 min earlier.
4) Utilize platforms like “Stream Yard” for scheduling and conducting interviews.
Example template 1
Subject: Invitation for Interview: Your Insights Needed!
Dear [Recipient's Name],
I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am [mention your role or purpose briefly, e.g., a writer, a researcher, etc.]. I have been following your work with great interest, and I am impressed by [mention specific aspects of their work that resonate with you, e.g., their expertise, achievements, insights, etc.].
I am currently working on [briefly explain the project or topic you're working on, e.g., a project related to [topic] or an article about [specific subject]], and I believe that your insights and experiences would be invaluable to me and my audience.
I would be honored to invite you for a 30-minute conversation where I would love to delve into topics such as:
- Your journey and experiences in [relevant field or industry].
- Key lessons you've learned throughout your career/life.
- Any impactful advice or wisdom passed down to you, particularly from your parents or mentors.
- Your message or advice for our audience, based on your experiences and expertise.
The conversation would be informal yet insightful, and I assure you that your time will be respected.I believe that your perspective and insights will provide valuable takeaways for our audience. The interview will be conducted via [mention the preferred platform or method, e.g., Zoom, Skype, phone call, etc.], at a time that is convenient for you.
Please let me know if you would be available for the interview, and if so, your preferred date and time. I will do my best to accommodate your schedule.
Thank you for considering my invitation, and I look forward to the opportunity to learn from you.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Example template 2 (taken from Rehan Allahwala)
“My name is Rehan Allahwala, I work to eradicate poverty from Pakistan. I believe that your knowledge can help me achieve my goal.
I would like to do a 30-min conversation with you in which I will ask you the following questions:
- Share with us your life story
- What you have learned in your life
- What advice did your parents gave you that you remember or followed
- What message would you like to give to your audience
👕 Presentation "Dressing"
Dress appropriately for professionalism. Go for plain clothing with a tie adorned with floral patterns, avoiding checked shirts. If you wear a hijab, select nice colors or ones featuring floral designs to enhance your appearance and convey a interesting vibe.
Opt for visually appealing thumbnails and maintain engagement during interviews by ensure active listening through gestures and eye contact.
✨ Long-Term Benefits
Conducting a significant number of interviews will unearth personal strengths and help you discover your interests.
Once you are able to choose your niche, you would be able to focus on specialized subjects and this will accelerate progress towards your goals.
👋 Conclusion
Start by practicing interviewing with ten individuals, implementing the techniques mentioned above.
By following these steps, mastering the art of interviewing becomes more than just a skill—it becomes a transformative journey towards personal and professional growth.
To assist you in taking this leap, I've established a WhatsApp group committed to the mission of self-improvement. I strongly recommend joining, as it's free and guaranteed to enhance your confidence, communication, listening, and other crucial skills that develop through practice!
Credits
I would like to give special credit to Rehan Allahwala for introducing me to the concept of 'interviewing' and inspiring me to delve deeper into its potential. After watching his insightful video, I was inspired to share my thoughts in this blog post. Thank you, for igniting this journey of discovery and growth.