Updated: 4 November 2026

User interview script

This prompt writes a 30-minute interview script for your target users, with a warm-up, questions about their last experience with the problem, how they solve it today and what frustrates them, plus a closing question, avoiding leading questions.

text-user-interview-script — chatgpt — 57 words

Write a 30-minute user interview script to learn about [PROBLEM AREA] from [TARGET USERS].

Include a warm-up, questions about their last experience with the problem, how they solve it today, what frustrates them, and a closing question. Avoid leading questions, and add follow-up prompts such as "Can you walk me through that?" Also give a note-taking template.

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Ask about past behaviour, not opinions about your idea. Past behaviour is much more reliable.

Get a better result

What you will get

A 30 minute script with a warm-up, questions about their last experience of the problem, how they handle it today and what frustrates them, follow-up prompts, a closing question and a note-taking template.

Why it works

Users are better at describing what they did than predicting what they would do, so the prompt asks about their last experience and today’s workaround. Banning leading questions keeps the answers honest. The follow-up prompts and note-taking template help you get stories rather than short opinions.

Common mistake

Questions ask if they would use your idea.

Fix: As the tip says, ask about past behaviour. “Tell me about the last time…” beats “Would you…”.

Also watch for

The questions lead the answer. “How frustrating is it when…” assumes frustration. Ask for neutral versions.
The script is too long for 30 minutes. Ask for timings per section and a short list of must-ask questions.

Try a variation: existing customers

Adapt it for current customers: ask about the moment they decided to buy, what they compared, and what they would miss if it was gone.

Still not right? Reply with this

Mark the five must-ask questions, give each a neutral follow-up, and add timings so the script fits in 30 minutes with room for tangents.