How To Use Audio Recordings Effectively For Workplace Interviews
One of the less pleasant matters you may need to deal with if you own or run a business is a complaint about inappropriate behaviour or conduct, and should the matter be deemed extremely serious, you may need to consult with your commercial lawyers. One element of their advice will be that you conduct a workplace investigation including interviewing the person making the claim, the person against whom the claim has been made, and any relevant witnesses.
In the past these kinds of interviews would have included someone taking copious notes, and whilst notetaking is still recommended, modern technology now allows workplace interviews to be recorded on audio equipment. Using audio equipment to record workplace interviews has several advantages over traditional written notetaking. These advantages include:
Seriousness Of The Matter Is Clear To All Interviewees: The fact that an employee knows that what they say when being interviewed is being recorded word for word tells them that this matter is being taken seriously by their employers. Perhaps the fact that police interviews are recorded drives home for them that any statements they make can be replayed and assessed in full.
Audios Will Provide A 100% Accurate Record Of Statements: Unlike notetaking, where the notetakers may miss a phrase or interpret what is being said, an audio recording will completely and accurately reflect every word that an interviewee says. It can also give listeners to the recording insights into the emotional state of the person from the volume, tone, and inflections of their voice.
Interviewers Can Focus On Their Questions: Many interviews are done one-to-one and thus the interviewer often doubled as both the person asking the questions and the person writing down the answers. With audio recordings, whilst the interviewer may make occasional motes they do not need to create a word for word transcript and thus can focus on their questions and more importantly follow up questions to the answers given.
Greater Detail And Clarification: Another benefit of recorded interviews is that the interviewers can more readily press the interviewee for clarification of their answers. This often allows information to be divulged as the interviewer probes deeper into what the interviewee is saying.
5 Tips To Make Workplace Interviews More Effective
- Get Consent From All Interviewees: When you interview someone you must get their permission for it to be recorded. Under no circumstances should you record an interview surreptitiously.
- Have A Backup Plan: If a participant declines permission to audio record the interview, you need to have another means on standby, presumably a notetaker. Also, if you are audio recording and there is a technical problem, have a spare recording device on standby.
- Use Technology: You do not need a recording studio to record interviews. You could simply use your mobile phone if need be. Otherwise, most laptops can record audio. You could also conduct the interview remotely using Zoom or Skype and record it.
- Make The Rights Of Participants Clear: Before the interview advise participants of their rights. Also explain the interview process, how long you expect it to take, what the next steps are, and allow them to ask questions about the interview process before starting the recording.
- Stay Focused: As you are not writing down every answer given, there is a risk that as the interviewee is speaking your mind could drift. Stay vigilant at all times especially when they are answering the most salient questions regarding the complaint.
