How to prepare people for video interviews.

Tell people what the conversation is for, help them think of real examples, and make the room feel manageable. Don’t hand them a script.

Tell them what it’s for

By Adam Stultz — Marketing & Media Producer

Explain who will watch, what you’ll talk about and where the video may be used. Share topics, not exact questions, so answers stay natural. Ask whether they have concerns or need anything to take part comfortably.

Prepare examples, not answers

Ask people to recall one specific moment: a challenge, a decision, and what changed after. A lived example carries more than a polished claim. Notes help them prepare, as long as they don’t become lines to recite.

Make the room manageable

Leave time to settle in, explain what will happen, and start with an easy question. Let people know they can pause, start an answer again or ask what you mean. Keep the number of people watching to the ones who need to be there.

Ask one clear question at a time

Listen to the whole answer before the next question. The best follow-ups are short: “Can you give me an example?” and “What happened next?” Don’t feed people the answer you hope to hear. Ask them to answer in full sentences, so the answer works without your question.

Send practical details

Location, arrival time, how long it will take, what to wear, who to contact on the day, and how the release and review work. Don’t promise approval rights the project doesn’t include.

Rehearse one question, if it helps

Try one question out loud. Listen for a clear point and one concrete example. The aim is familiarity, not a perfect performance.

Participant prep sheet.

Copy it into your invitation email, or download it as a text file.

Download (.txt)

Participant prep sheet

Before your interview

  • What the video is for, and who will watch it: ______
  • Topics we’ll talk about: ______
  • Think of one specific moment for each topic: what happened, what you decided, what changed.
  • You don’t need to memorize anything. You can pause or start an answer again at any time.

On the day

  • Location and room: ______
  • Arrive at: ______. We’ll need about: ______
  • Wear solid colors you feel good in. Avoid small stripes, logos you don’t want shown, and noisy jewelry.
  • Contact on the day: ______

Permission

  • You’ll sign an appearance release before we record.
  • How the video will be reviewed before it’s used: ______

Where to go next

Adam framing a shot, his face reflected in the camera monitor.
Your turn

Have a story that needs telling?

Tell me what you need the content to accomplish. A conversation doesn’t commit you to anything.

Talk through your project