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Hallway lets you customize how your AI interviewer conducts conversations. These settings are configured in your project’s Guide tab.

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Interview Guide Overview

Your interview guide controls everything about how the AI conducts interviews:
SettingDescription
Opening ScriptHow the AI greets respondents and introduces the interview
System InstructionsThe AI’s personality, approach, and conversation rules
Probing InstructionsHow the AI asks follow-up questions to dig deeper
Closing ScriptHow the AI wraps up and thanks respondents
Time LimitMaximum interview duration in minutes

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Generating Your Guide

When you create a project with learning objectives, Hallway can automatically generate an interview guide:
1

Add Learning Objectives

In your project settings, add 1-5 specific questions or topics you want to explore. The more specific, the better.
2

Click Generate Interview Guide

Go to the Guide tab and click Generate Interview Guide. The AI will create a complete guide based on your objectives.
3

Review the Guide

Preview each section of the generated guide. The AI creates contextually relevant scripts and instructions.
Well-defined learning objectives lead to better interview guides. Instead of “understand user needs,” try “identify the top 3 pain points users experience when onboarding.”

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Editing Your Guide

After generating, you can customize any part of the guide:
  1. Click Edit Guide on the Guide tab
  2. Modify any section (opening script, instructions, etc.)
  3. Click Save Changes to apply your edits

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Opening Script

The opening script is the first thing respondents hear. A good opening:
  • Welcomes the respondent by name (if provided)
  • Explains what the conversation is about
  • Sets expectations for duration
  • Makes the respondent feel comfortable
Example: 
Hi there! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me today.
I'm going to ask you some questions about your experience with [topic].
There are no right or wrong answers—I'm just interested in hearing your
honest thoughts. This should take about 10 minutes. Ready to get started?

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System Instructions

System instructions define the AI’s personality and behavior. Consider:
  • Tone - Friendly and conversational? Professional and formal?
  • Depth - Should the AI dig deep or stay surface-level?
  • Focus - Which topics are most important to explore?

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Probing Instructions

Probing instructions tell the AI how to ask follow-up questions:
  • When to ask “Can you tell me more about that?”
  • How to handle short or vague answers
  • Which topics deserve deeper exploration

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Closing Script

The closing script wraps up the interview gracefully:
  • Thank the respondent for their time
  • Summarize that their input is valuable
  • Let them know they can close the tab

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Time Limit Settings

Set how long interviews can last:
DurationBest For
5 minutesQuick feedback, simple questions
10 minutesStandard interviews (recommended)
15 minutesIn-depth exploration
20+ minutesComplex research topics
Respondents see a countdown timer and receive warnings as time runs out. They can always end early by clicking “End Interview.”

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Time Limit Tips

  • Shorter is often better - Respondent attention drops after 10-15 minutes
  • Match complexity - More learning objectives may need more time
  • Consider your audience - Busy professionals may prefer shorter interviews

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Regenerating Your Guide

If you want a fresh start:
  1. Click Regenerate on the Guide tab
  2. Confirm that you want to replace the current guide
  3. The AI generates a new guide from your learning objectives
Regenerating replaces your entire guide, including any manual edits. Consider copying your customizations before regenerating.

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Project Activation

After you’re happy with your guide:
  1. Click Activate Project
  2. Confirm activation in the dialog
  3. Your project status changes to “Active”
  4. The Share Interview button becomes available
You can still edit your guide after activation. Changes apply to new interviews only—completed sessions use the guide that was active when they started.

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Common Customizations

Update system instructions to encourage casual language, use of the respondent’s name, and natural transitions between topics.
Add explicit instructions like “Spend at least 2-3 minutes exploring [specific topic]” to ensure coverage of key areas.
Add instructions for approaching difficult subjects with empathy, giving respondents permission to skip questions they’re uncomfortable with.
Add probing instructions like “When respondents mention a problem, ask for a specific recent example.”

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Next Steps