Assume you are employed as a counselor at your local high school. You need to conduct a 30-minute interview with a student who has suddenly had a dramatic decline in her grades. Prior to conducting any interview, it is extremely important to plan its structure, the type of information you hope to acquire, the timing and sequencing of the interview, and the types of questions you might want to ask. To prepare for the interview, analyze the structure of the interview and present a summary including the following reasons for your choices:
- Purpose of your interview
- Discuss the topics you plan to cover and the sequence in which you will cover them
- Questions you will use to obtain the information
- Opening techniques to build rapport with the volunteer
- Types and examples of questions you want to avoid