Inside the conversation

Set a direction without deciding the answer in advance.

The opening question shapes the space in which the rest of the interview happens. A very broad invitation can leave the candidate guessing, while a narrow one can hide useful context.

Stay with the answer long enough to understand it.

A prepared question list is useful until it prevents the interviewer from listening. The follow-up is where the conversation can become specific.

Compare interpretations before they harden into conclusions.

Two interviewers can hear the same answer and remember different things. A shared debrief makes those differences visible.

Notice what happens when an interview becomes difficult.

Time pressure can turn listening into waiting for a familiar phrase. Participants examine how that habit affects the next question.