How do I write questions for a short volunteer or community interview?

Decide what the piece needs to help readers understand, then make each question serve that purpose. For a short profile, you might want to learn what the person does, what they have noticed, and what they would like others to know. You do not need a long list of background questions.

Use a conversational order: begin with an easy question about the role, ask for a concrete example, then invite a reflection or suggestion. Open questions give the person room to answer in their own words. For instance, “What does a typical shift involve?” invites a description, unlike “Do you enjoy your shift?”

Before you begin, briefly explain the article’s purpose and intended use. Ask about personal history or circumstances only if they are genuinely relevant, and make those questions optional.

For a short interview, prepare about five main questions and a few optional follow-ups. That is a planning choice, not a rule: the right number depends on the time available and how detailed the answers are. Skip questions if the conversation already covers them.

Here is a copyable outline. Replace the bracketed placeholders with details that fit your project.

1. Opening and purpose: “Thanks for speaking with me. I’m preparing a short piece about [community activity] for [publication or audience]. I’ll ask about your volunteer role and what you’ve noticed. Is there anything you’d like me to explain before we start?”
2. Role: “What do you do as a volunteer with [group or activity]?”
3. Concrete example: “Could you describe a recent moment that gives readers a sense of what the work is like?”
4. Community perspective: “What do you think people sometimes misunderstand about [activity or issue]?”
5. Reflection: “What has the experience helped you notice or learn?”
6. Closing: “Is there anything relevant you’d like to add that I haven’t asked about?”

If time is limited, use questions 2, 3, and 6. Asking for an example can give you a more vivid answer than asking several abstract questions.

Listen for something specific in the answer, then ask the person to explain it rather than suggesting what they should think. Neutral follow-ups include “What happened next?”, “What did you mean by [their phrase]?”, and “Could you give an example?” Ask one at a time and leave room for the person to pause or decline.

Avoid questions that assume a feeling or motive. Instead of “That must have been rewarding, right?”, try “How did you feel about that experience, if you’d like to share?” If a detail is not needed for the article, move on. The goal is to understand the answer, not steer it toward a more dramatic quote.

Offer a low-pressure prompt connected to what they just said: “Would you be comfortable saying a little more about that?” or “Can you think of an example you’re happy to share?” If they still give a short answer, accept it and continue. A brief reply or a choice not to discuss something does not need to be treated as a problem.

At the end, check that you understood important details: “I heard you say [brief neutral summary]. Have I got that right?” This gives the interviewee a chance to correct your understanding. Keep the summary factual and do not add an interpretation they did not express.

Use this quick review:

1. Can I state the purpose of the interview in one sentence?
2. Does every main question help with that purpose?
3. Are the questions open-ended, plain, and limited to one topic at a time?
4. Have I removed personal questions that are not needed and made sensitive details optional?
5. Do I have neutral follow-ups for examples or clarification?
6. Have I planned an opening, a final invitation to add something, and a way to check key details?

A useful outline is a guide, not a script. Follow the person’s answer when it adds relevant detail, skip what has already been covered, and do not press for information they do not want to share.