Personal Interview

What is a Personal Interview?

A personal interview is an interview focused on the person, their stance, and their career. At the center is the human being – their view, experiences, and personality, less a pure specialist topic.

Personal Interview in Detail

In the personal interview, above all the person themselves is of interest: who is this person, what do they stand for, how did they become who they are, what drives them? It puts stance, values, experiences, and personality in the foreground and is thus related to the biographical and the narrative interview, often realized as a portrait. For companies and leaders, it is an important instrument of image and reputation building, because it makes the person behind the role visible and approachable. The challenge for the interviewee: to be personal, open, and authentic without losing control over sensitive or private topics. Good preparation means knowing your own story and message – which values and stages you want to show and where your own limits lie. A successful personal interview combines authenticity with a clear self-positioning and thereby strengthens the personal image.

In practice, the personal interview puts the person behind the role in the foreground – stance, values, experiences, and personality. It is related to the biographical and narrative interview and is often realized as a portrait. For companies and leaders, it is an important instrument of image and reputation building, because it creates closeness and identification. The challenge: to be personal, open, and authentic without losing control over sensitive or private topics. It is proven practice to prepare your own story and message – which values and stages you want to show and where your own limits lie. A successful personal interview combines authenticity with a clear self-positioning and thereby strengthens the personal image.

What is a Personal Interview used for?

The personal interview puts person, stance, and career at the center and makes the human being behind the role approachable. It serves image and reputation building. It becomes effective through authenticity combined with a clear self-positioning and the awareness of your own limits.

Personal Interview – Examples in Practice

A founder gives a portrait interview about her career and her values. A board member talks about his leadership stance and formative experiences. A personality introduces themselves in a personal interview.

Personal Interview: Key Features at a Glance

• Focus: person, stance, career
• Related: biographical and narrative interview
• Benefit: image and reputation building
• Challenge: open and at the same time controlled
• Success: authenticity plus self-positioning

Related Terms

• Biographical Interview
• Narrative Interview
• Expert Interview
• Interview Formats
• Image

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Personal Interview: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a personal interview?

An interview focused on the person, their stance, and their career – at the center is the human being, not a pure specialist topic.

What is a personal interview for?

It makes the person behind a role visible and approachable and serves image and reputation building.

How does it differ from the expert interview?

The expert interview puts expertise in the foreground. The personal interview focuses on the person, their values, experiences, and personality.

How do you prepare for a personal interview?

By knowing your own story and message – which values and stages you want to show and where your personal limits lie.