Writing Interview Questions

Questions define what information you gather from participants. Well-written questions generate richer, more actionable insights.

Question Structure

Character Limit

• Maximum 700 characters per question
• You can't type past the limit — a counter shows the remaining characters

Question Types

Open-ended questions:

• Allow detailed responses
• Generate stories and explanations
• Better than yes/no questions

Examples:

• "Tell me about the last time you used our product."
• "What challenges do you face when planning meals for your family?"
• "Walk me through your decision-making process when choosing a project management tool."

Behaviour-focused questions:

• Ask about specific past experiences
• More reliable than opinions
• Reveal actual usage patterns

Examples:

• "Walk me through the last time you abandoned a shopping cart online."
• "Describe a recent situation where you needed customer support."

Problem/challenge questions:

• Uncover pain points
• Identify improvement areas

Examples:

• "What's the biggest challenge you face when trying to [accomplish goal]?"
• "Tell me about a time when the product didn't work the way you expected."

Comparative questions:

• Understand alternatives
• Reveal competitive context

Examples:

• "How does this compare to other tools you've used?"
• "When do you use [our product] vs. [alternative]?"

Common Mistakes

Multiple topics in one question:

• Avoid: "What do you think about our features, pricing, and customer support?"
• Better: Split into three separate questions

Leading questions:

• Avoid: "Don't you think the checkout process is too complicated?"
• Better: "How did you find the checkout process?"

Vague questions:

• Avoid: "Tell me about your thoughts on productivity."
• Better: "Walk me through your task management process from start to finish."

Complex language:

• Avoid jargon and technical terms
• Use clear, simple language
• Make questions easy to understand