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Interview and Interrogation Training: Goal of an Interview

This week’s International Association of Interviewers interview and interrogation training tip provided by Wicklander-Zulawski, has Dave Thompson, CFI, discussing the importance of identifying the goal of an interview or interrogation.

Often, when you ask somebody, “What’s your goal when you walk in there to talk to a subject?”, they’ll respond by saying things like “Well, my goal is to get an admission,” or, “My goal is to get a confession.”

Challenge yourself to think about it differently. Our goal for every conversation we have should be to get the truth–and to get reliable information. It’s very possible that the truth is that they did it. It’s also possible that the truth is they didn’t do it, and maybe your evidence was circumstantial. Maybe your evidence was wrong.

It’s also possible that they did it, but there’s a reasonable explanation for why they did. Our goal should not be to get a confession. Our goal should not be to try to make a decision on what we think should happen to that subject. Our goal should be to use the interview as part of the thorough investigative process.

- Digital Partner -

The more reliable information that you can add into your investigation, the easier it is for decision-makers to make a decision, and the more ethical (and more legal) that decision is going to be. If our goal is in the spirit of justice, we want to make sure we have enough information to fulfill that goal.

Every loss prevention investigator should continuously strive to enhance their investigative interviewing skills as part of an ongoing commitment to best-in-class interviewing performance. This includes holding ourselves to an elite standard of interview and interrogation training that is ethical, moral and legal while demanding excellence in the pursuit of the truth. The International Association of Interviewers (IAI) and Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) provide interview and interrogation training programs and additional guidance to investigators when dealing with dishonest employees, employee theft, sexual harassment, policy violations, building rapport, pre-employment interviewing, lying, denials and obtaining a statement.

By focusing on the latest information and research from experts in the field as well as academia, legal and psychological resources, these video tips provide interview and interrogation training techniques that can enhance the skill sets of professionals with backgrounds in law enforcement, loss prevention, security, asset protection, human resources, auditors or anyone looking to obtain the truth.

To learn more about interview and interrogation training and how you can further develop your professional skill sets, please visit www.w-z.com or www.certifiedinterviewer.com for additional information.

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