Briefing a Second Chair
Launch library · evergreen read
When a second interviewer joins a sitting, clarity beforehand about roles prevents the awkwardness of two people reaching for the same question at once, or worse, leaving an important area uncovered because each assumed the other would raise it. A short conversation beforehand, even a few minutes, usually resolves most of this ambiguity entirely.
A simple division of responsibility, one person leading the main line of questioning while the other watches for openings and takes notes, tends to work better than an unplanned, improvised sharing of the conversation once the subject has already sat down. This division need not be rigid, but having one at all avoids an improvised, uneven sharing of the room.
The briefing should also cover signals: a quiet way for one interviewer to indicate to the other that they have something to add, without interrupting the subject mid-answer or disrupting the flow of the conversation already underway. Agreeing on this signal in advance keeps the second chair useful rather than an unpredictable, disruptive presence.