When interviewing someone, what should your main focus be?

The main focus during an interview should be the language the interviewee uses. This is because the choice of words, sentence structure, and the overall communication style can provide significant insights into their thoughts, feelings, and truthfulness. Analyzing the language allows the interviewer to detect inconsistencies or notable details in the narrative being presented. Pay attention to the content of what is being said, the specificity of details, and any shifts in language that may suggest changes in comfort or honesty.

While non-verbal cues, physical appearance, and emotional state can offer additional layers of understanding, they are not as directly informative as the verbal communication itself. Non-verbal cues can complement the spoken words but may sometimes be misleading or open to interpretation. Physical appearance is often irrelevant to the information being conveyed, and emotional state can fluctuate during an interview. Thus, focusing primarily on the language used enables the interviewer to extract the most pertinent data for analysis and conclusions.