Interviewing template

A way to gather information by asking questions

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Interviewing

Interviewing template FAQs

Template use cases

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Research

LUMA methods

Use this template to gather insights into people's feelings, desires, struggles, and opinions, and record your findings.

Ethnographic interviews can help to build relationships and trust with the people being interviewed, which can be beneficial in the long run, and can give us a better sense of the target audience and help us to make better informed decisions.

The interviewing template helps you:

Uncover unexpected information
Build relationships and trust with people being interviewed
Get a better sense of the target audience
Make informed decisions

How to use the interviewing template

To use Mural’s interviewing template, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Define the goal of your investigation

The first step in any interview process is to have a firm grasp of the goal, as all your questioning will align to this central focus.

Step 2: Make use of our interview tips, edit them, or add your own

The template comes with some suggestions out of the box, but you can also add your own interview tips and ways to aid the process using color-coded sticky notes.

Step 3: Note down any questions to consider asking

Again, the Mural template offers suggestions across three categories — about them; context beyond the product or service; and direct experience beyond the product or service — but you can always edit the options or add your own to the mix.

Step 4: Establish the talking points for your interview

Before you begin, define the talking points you’d like to go over with the interviewee so that you can establish the right context and set clear expectations.

Step 5: Conduct your interview

Now, it’s time to conduct the interview! As you progress through your questions, make use of the sections for ‘about them’ and ‘about your product or service’ to record any notes and reflections on your conversation.

Step 6: Analyze feedback and define key takeaways

Once you’ve conducted your interview and recorded all your notes, organize those notes into themes or groups, and analyze the feedback you’ve received to help build actionable next steps.

Tips for running an interview template session

To run a successful interview, it’s important to:

Establish a clear and concise goal and communicate that to everyone on your team, in order to keep your interviews focused and to the point
Use Mural’s features like tags for sticky notes, color-coding, commenting, and find & filter to organize and analyze your feedback
Gather all your findings and define key takeaways with our team, so that you can use your analysis to directly inform product-focused decision making

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Interviewing template FAQs

What tips can I use to build a rapport with my interviewee?

Building a rapport with an interviewee is an important part of the interview process, as it can help to create a more comfortable environment. To accomplish this, it's essential to be open, friendly, and non-judgmental, and be prepared and organized, as this can help to provide a sense of professionalism and trustworthiness. Show interest in the interviewee and their experiences, and to make sure they feel heard and respected. Creating a conversational atmosphere can help to draw out more meaningful information from the interviewee.

Why should I conduct interviews to learn more about product or service experiences?

Interviews are a valuable tool for gaining a deeper understanding of user experiences and needs. By engaging with users in conversation, researchers can gain insights into the motivations, behaviors, and pain points that drive user behavior. This information can be used to inform the design of products or services, ensuring that they are tailored to meet the needs of the user.

Additionally, interviews can help build empathy with users and help teams understand the context in which their products or services are used, leading to more informed decision-making and better outcomes. Overall, ethnographic interviewing can provide a rich source of data that can help guide product development and improve the user experience.

What is meant by an ethnographic interview?

An ethnographic interview is a research method that involves engaging with participants to gain a deep understanding of their experiences, attitudes, and behaviors related to a particular product or service. Unlike a traditional interview, an ethnographic interview involves open-ended questions and encourages participants to share their personal experiences and stories. It aims to gain insight into how participants interact with the product or service in their daily lives, including their motivations, expectations, and challenges.