What is a LifeBook Memoirs Interviewer?

A LifeBook Memoirs Interviewer works with individuals to help them capture and document their life stories. The interviewer conducts in-depth conversations to gather personal experiences, memories, and reflections, which are then compiled into a written memoir or autobiography.

Who are the typical clients for a LifeBook Memoirs Interviewer?

Clients range from individuals who want to document their life experiences for family and future generations to those who wish to publish their memoirs for a wider audience. Many clients are older individuals looking to preserve their personal histories, but anyone with a story to tell may seek out these services.

What is the outcome of the interview process?

The outcome is a professionally written and edited memoir, which can be published as a personal book. The interviewer’s role is to ensure that the client’s life story is accurately and authentically captured in a well-organized and engaging narrative.

How does this role contribute to preserving personal histories?

LifeBook Memoirs Interviewers play a crucial role in documenting personal histories and life experiences that may otherwise be forgotten. By capturing these stories, they help individuals preserve their legacies for family members, future generations, or the public.

Where can I learn more about becoming a LifeBook Memoirs Interviewer?

For more information, you can visit the official LifeBook website, look into memoir writing services, or seek out opportunities on job boards related to writing, interviewing, and storytelling. Additionally, there are online courses and resources on how to become an effective interviewer and memoir writer.

Freelance Interviewer job

Job details

Job type

Part-time
Freelance

Location

Eastbourne

Full job description:

LifeBook Memoirs Ltd – Interviewer Role Overview

LifeBook Memoirs Ltd offers a unique opportunity to become a part-time interviewer, playing a critical role in capturing the extraordinary life stories of individuals. This position is more than just a job; it’s a chance to help create a meaningful family legacy through the creation of a personal autobiography. The interviewer helps to document a person’s life journey, fostering a relationship with the author through a series of intimate, structured conversations. These interviews form the basis of a professionally written memoir, beautifully bound into a 200-page hardback book.

Role Outline: Interviewer for LifeBook Memoirs

As an interviewer, you will work closely with the author—usually in the comfort of their own home—throughout 12 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, spread across five to six months. These interviews will be digitally recorded and provided to a skilled ghostwriter, who will craft the content into a captivating narrative. Supported by an experienced LifeBook Memoirs team, which includes editors, project managers, proofreaders, and typesetters, you will help ensure the author’s life story is beautifully captured in their own voice.

This is a special position that demands not only technical skills but also a genuine interest in people’s lives and histories. By developing a rapport with the author, you will help them share the defining moments of their life. Confidentiality is paramount in this role, as these stories are often deeply personal, shared in trust, and recorded to preserve the memories for future generations.

Key Details:

Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Project Reference: No. 1960
Commitment: 5–6 months (12 sessions)
Start Date: October 2024
Job Type: Part-time, contract-based

Responsibilities of the LifeBook Memoirs Interviewer

In this role, you will be responsible for guiding the author through their storytelling journey. Your primary duties will include:

Conducting 12 Interviews: Each session will last 90 minutes. The interviews will follow a structured approach to ensure all key aspects of the author's life are covered. You will need to encourage the author to share their memories, anecdotes, and life experiences in chronological order, ensuring that no significant details are left out.
Preparation and Follow-Up Work: Outside of the interviews, you will spend additional time preparing for each session, which includes familiarizing yourself with the author's previous recordings and planning how to steer the next conversation. After the interviews, you will be responsible for uploading the audio files to LifeBook Memoirs’ online system and scanning any amendments the author makes to the written drafts.
Technical Proficiency: You will use a digital recording device and a scanner, adhering to the company’s technical guidelines. These skills are essential to ensure the interviews are accurately recorded and the materials are properly uploaded to the database.
Collaboration with the Project Team: You will work closely with the project manager and other team members, following their instructions to ensure the smooth progress of the project. Timely communication and adherence to schedules are crucial, as you will be working as part of a virtual team.
Maintaining Confidentiality: Given the personal nature of the stories you will be capturing, discretion and professionalism are critical. You must respect the privacy of the author and ensure that the material shared remains confidential at all times.
Adapting to Author Feedback: Throughout the process, the author will have the opportunity to review and amend the drafts of their autobiography. You will be responsible for scanning these amendments and uploading them for the ghostwriter’s attention.
Committing to Training: Before starting, you will complete an online training program designed to equip you with the necessary skills, both technical and interpersonal, to succeed in the role. This training will cover how to use the equipment, as well as strategies for conducting effective and empathetic interviews.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following qualities:

Strong Communication Skills: As an interviewer, you must have excellent verbal communication skills. The ability to actively listen and guide a conversation is essential to ensure all key aspects of the author’s life are documented in a coherent and meaningful way.
Empathy and Patience: You will be working with individuals who may be sharing deeply personal stories. Some may find it challenging to recount certain experiences, while others may require time and encouragement to remember details. Patience, understanding, and an empathetic approach are key to building trust and ensuring a productive interview.
Organizational Skills: Managing 12 sessions, uploading recordings, and tracking the progress of the project requires a strong sense of organization. You must be able to handle multiple tasks efficiently and keep to the project timeline.
Technological Proficiency: You should be comfortable using basic technology, including digital recorders and scanners. LifeBook Memoirs will provide training, but a certain level of comfort with technology is necessary.
Open-Mindedness: The stories you will be hearing are as diverse as the people telling them. You must be open-minded and non-judgmental, able to accept and respect different life experiences and perspectives.
Interest in People’s Stories and Social History: A curiosity about people’s lives, whether they’ve lived through remarkable events or quiet, everyday moments, is crucial for this role. Every life has value and meaning, and your enthusiasm for capturing these stories will greatly enhance the quality of the interviews.
Proximity to Author’s Location: To ensure minimal travel time, you should live within 10 miles or 30 minutes of the author’s home. This allows for more flexible scheduling and ensures that both you and the author can commit to regular meetings over the next five to six months.

Benefits of the Role

While this is a paid position, the role offers many rewards beyond financial compensation. As a LifeBook Memoirs interviewer, you will experience the following benefits:

Personal Fulfillment: You will be directly involved in creating a lasting family legacy. The sense of accomplishment that comes from helping someone document their life story is significant. You will take pride in knowing that you have helped preserve a person's memories for generations to come.
Meeting Extraordinary Individuals: Through this role, you will have the opportunity to meet fascinating people with incredible stories. From ordinary lives to those shaped by extraordinary circumstances, every person you interview will have a unique and valuable story.
Comprehensive Training and Support: LifeBook Memoirs offers extensive training to ensure you are well-prepared for the role. You will also have ongoing support from a dedicated project manager and the rest of the team, who will guide you through the process and offer assistance whenever needed.
Flexible, Part-Time Schedule: The position allows for flexibility in scheduling the interviews, making it an ideal part-time role for someone looking to balance work with other commitments.

Application Requirements

You must be able to commit to the full five to six months required to complete the project, including 12 interviews and associated tasks.
You will need satisfactory references and an assessment of your criminal record as part of the application process.

If this role excites you and you’re interested in learning more about becoming a LifeBook Memoirs interviewer, we encourage you to get in touch. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something extraordinary—helping to create personal autobiographies and preserve priceless family stories for future generations.

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Freelance Interviewer job

Freelance Interviewer job