Random Interviews! Aaaaaa!

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:22:59 -0500

By Margo 14, Mount Dora, FL
When my mom told me that I had to do Random Interviews, I freaked out. I had no idea how to interview somebody. A million thoughts were going through my head. How would I remember all of the stuff that they told me? Ok, so I write it down? How will I write it all down and still make it legible? There was NO END!!!
My first Random Interview “victim” was our mail man. I had never met him or anything. So I was going up to a complete stranger. (Wasn’t I doing something that Mommy and Daddy always tell us NOT to do? “Never, ever, talk to a stranger.”)
After that experience, I decided I needed to work on my skills by interviewing people that I actually “knew.” During my third Random Interview , I had gotten a digital voice recorder. Phew. That thing was a lifesaver, I could actually be worry free during the interview.
And, as the interview went on, it became more and more easier. The more people you interview, the better you get!

Random Interview Tips:
1.) Don’t worry. Ha. Ha. No, seriously. All you have to do is smile. Cheesy or not. It makes you way more confident than you might think you are. And prettier too.
2.) When you’re writing down what your “victim” is telling you, DON’T write everything word. Just write little tid-bits. You need to make eye contact or they’ll think you’re taking their order! Then, when you look at your notes, you will (hopefully) remember most of the details.
3.) Don’t ask Yes-No questions. You’ll never get a story out of that. You want them to get TALKING. Then, your job will get easier.
4.) Ask follow-up questions. That way you can get deeper into the subject, and later on, a better story
5.) I like to stick to the same three main questions. 1. What is your job or hobby? 2. What do you love about your job or hobby? 3. What is challenging about your job or hobby? Then, if it applies, ask: Did you need any special training or education for this job/hobby?

When I get all queasy before doing a Random Interview, I just remember that I’m just asking three simple questions. That makes me feel so much better. I’m just asking about what they do. And get this: MOST people like to talk about themselves. They are really happy that you’re interested in them and that you’re listening.

P.S Remember to SMILE!

Random Interview. YIKES

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:22:40 -0500

When my Mom told me that I had to interview our mail man, I was like Nooooo Waaaayyy. Why would I go up to a complete stranger and ask him a few questions about his job when my whole life, my parents always said not to talk to strangers? It didn’t make any sense. Mom kept on telling me that I HAD to do this because that is what an editor did. So, reluctantly, I took a shower and washed the morning dread out of my system. When I finished getting out of the “ugh, it’s morning” feeling, I felt “cleaner” and was somewhat ready for the interview, I see my little sister bringing up the mail from outside. “We got the mail already?” I ask with a little hope. No mail man, no interview. Right?
But that ended up not the case. Mom quickly schlepped me to the car and we started looking for the mailman. One block off, she found him. She parked right in front of the mail truck and jumped out of the car. I reluctantly slugged myself out of the car and followed her. She handed me a pad of paper and pen. She went up to Jesse, (our mailman) and told him who we were and what we were doing. I felt like a complete dork. (My brother is probably going to laugh and tell me I’m always a dork when he reads this. Ugh. Brothers.)
So long story short, I smiled (a very cheesy smile, I might add) and asked a few questions. Jesse was very cooperative. He answered questions nicely and with a smile. (He probably knew that I was wwwaaayyy out of my comfort zone.)
So, the moral of the story is: If you are way out of your comfort zone when talking to a someone you don’t know, just smile and start talking. More than likely, the other person will smile back and be glad you asked.

Welcome to my Editorblog!

Random Interviews! Aaaaaa!

Random Interview. YIKES