The Art of Conducting Interviews

"The Art of Conducting Interviews presents a practical guide to mastering skills to elicit truthful and insightful responses in interviews. Yum combines theoretical grounding with a wealth of real-world examples that help readers understand not just what to do, but why it matters. The sections on ethics, legal considerations, and rapport-building are strong, and the importance of those topics is emphasized. The case and experience examples are especially compelling, bringing the work to life and showing how small changes by the interviewer (tone, question phrasing, pacing) can make a big difference. Whether for students in criminal justice, legal studies, or for professionals who regularly conduct interviews, this book is an excellent resource that is rigorous while humane in its approach."
Tim Croisdale, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Division of Criminal Justice, Sacramento State University

"As one of Mr. Yum’s students, I found The Art of Conducting Interviews to be both practical and eye-opening. What stood out most was that the book is not just about theory—it directly connects to the real-world methods Mr. Yum teaches in class. He breaks down the interviewing process in a way that feels approachable, even for someone just beginning to develop these skills. The balance of academic insight with real FBI case experience made the material incredibly engaging and relevant. Reading this book alongside taking his course gave me the sense that I was learning techniques tested and proven at the highest levels of law enforcement, yet applicable in many other professional fields. It also helped me recognize the importance of what not to do in an interview, which was just as valuable as the techniques themselves. For students like me who are preparing to enter careers where communication and fact-finding are essential, this book is an invaluable guide and an inspiring reminder of how powerful effective interviewing can be."
Ana Sigartau, Graduate Student, Division of Criminal Justice, Sacramento State University

"The Art of Conducting Interviews: How to Effectively Obtain Accurate and Meaningful Information is not an academic exercise based on theory. It is written by a former career FBI field agent (Joe Yum) who applied and perfected academic concepts in the real world. Mr. Yum demonstrated the value of his interviewing techniques through observable, objective results. As a former FBI Special Agent, Mr. Yum (now a private investigator, college professor and author) put his own unique stamp on his training—interviewing witnesses, informants and criminal subjects in a way that led to the arrest and conviction of countess criminals; from sophisticated, violent organized crime leaders to corrupt, high-profile public figures. Mr. Yum's tried and true techniques were well-known and respected by his FBI peers and FBI leadership, where he developed a reputation for using innovative approaches to tackle the most sophisticated criminal enterprises. In short, Mr. Yum put his own spin on his pre-FBI career training as a PhD in psychology to hone practical interviewing skills that are the essence of this book.

Through The Art of Conducting Interviews, Mr. Yum, a seasoned interviewer, painstakingly articulates the skill set that was the foundation of his many successes. Based on meticulous self-examination that includes what an interviewer should NOT do, The Art of Conducting Interviews is far more than a simple step-by-step approach to conducting law enforcement interviews. Rather, the book's focus includes a variety of interviews in a range of settings. Mr. Yum's target audience includes any aspiring or working professional who aims to unearth facts and evidence from a wide array of interviewees, including: those who are willing to cooperate but struggling to recall and/or articulate relevant facts and circumstances; interviewees who are frightened or emotionally traumatized; and those who are consciously attempting to deceive and hide facts and evidence from interviewers. The range of readers who will find this information relevant are as wide as the reader's imagination, and include not only law enforcement, but other legal professionals (e.g. attorneys), medical practitioners (e.g. social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists), human resource experts, journalists, media professionals, authors looking to tell an accurate story, and more.

Mr. Yum has 'been there' and has painstakingly taken the opportunity in The Art of Conducting Interviews to examine and articulate the foundations of his success, to the benefit of both working professionals and students who ask themselves how to achieve future professional goals."
Jeffrey Iverson, Retired FBI Special Agent and Author of In the Belly of the Bear: An FBI Journey Behind the New Iron Curtain

"I genuinely loved [this] book. The examples are real and [Yum's] perspective is so well grounded. [...] Not only is [the] book incredibly informative, but it is INTERESTING!! [...] I am not a professional editor or publisher, but I know the subject of [the] book well and can assure you that even today, I’d be a better interviewer as a result of studying [the] book. [...] I sincerely believe this book should be mandatory reading for all new Special Agents."
Michael A. Mason, Retired FBI Executive Assistant Director, Former Senior Vice-President and Chief Security Officer of Verizon, and Author of Working in America: Spectator or Gladiator...You Decide