Quick Start: Your First Interview in 5 Minutes

Get Started in 5 Minutes

Welcome! Let's get you from zero to ready for your first interview in just a few minutes. This guide focuses on the essentials—you can explore advanced features later.

Step 1: Create Your Account (1 minute)

If you haven't already, sign up for InterviewCue:

  1. Click "Sign Up" in the top navigation
  2. Enter your email and choose a password
  3. Confirm your email address (check your inbox)
  4. You're in!

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of registration page]

Already have an account? Just log in and skip to Step 2.

Step 2: Install as an App (Optional, 2 minutes)

Highly recommended! Installing InterviewCue as an app gives you:

  • Native app experience
  • Faster performance
  • Screen stays awake during interviews
  • Home screen icon for quick access

On iPhone/iPad:

  1. Open InterviewCue in Safari
  2. Tap the Share button (box with arrow)
  3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
  4. Tap "Add"

On Android:

  1. Open InterviewCue in Chrome
  2. Tap the menu (⋮)
  3. Tap "Install app" or "Add to Home Screen"

On Desktop (Chrome/Edge):

  1. Look for the install icon (⊕) in the address bar
  2. Click it and confirm installation

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshots showing PWA installation on different platforms]

Want to skip this for now? No problem! The web version works great too. You can always install later from our PWA Installation Guide.

Step 3: Create Your First Interview (30 seconds)

Time to create your first interview!

  1. From your dashboard, click the "New Interview" button
  2. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "John Smith - Marketing Strategies")
  3. (Optional) Select a Show if this interview is part of a podcast series
  4. Click "Create"

Naming tip: Include the guest's name and topic so you can find it easily later.

About Shows: Shows are optional organizational features for podcast series. If you're just getting started, you can skip this and create shows later when you're ready. Learn more in Managing Shows.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of creating a new interview]

Step 4: Add Questions (2 minutes)

Now add the questions you want to ask. Don't overthink it—you can edit these later!

  1. Click "Add Question"
  2. Type your question
  3. (Optional) Add background notes in the field below
  4. Click "Save"
  5. Repeat for each question

How many questions? Start with 5-8 for a 30-minute interview. You can always add more.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of adding questions]

Quick Tips:

  • Background notes are private—only you see them during the interview
  • Use background notes for pronunciation guides, research points, or follow-up reminders
  • Drag and drop questions to reorder them
  • Don't worry about perfection—natural conversation matters more!

Step 5: Explore Live Mode (1 minute)

Let's peek at Live Mode where you'll conduct your interview:

  1. Click "Go Live" or "Start Live Mode"
  2. Look around:
    • All your questions are visible in a scrollable text view
    • The timer shows elapsed time
    • Event buttons let you capture moments (1-5 keys)
    • Click any question to navigate directly to it
  3. Try scrolling through your questions
  4. Click "Exit Practice" or close the tab when you're done exploring

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Live Mode with scrollable text view]

Don't worry! Nothing is saved when you're just exploring. When you're ready to record, you'll start the interview officially.

What's different from before? If you used InterviewCue earlier, you'll notice the entire interview is visible as scrollable text instead of showing one question at a time. This makes it easier to follow natural conversation flow!

Step 6: Try Capturing an Event (30 seconds)

While in Live Mode, try pressing the 3 key on your keyboard. A dialog appears to capture a "Highlight" event!

This is the magic of InterviewCue: one-key hotkeys that let you capture moments without looking away from your guest.

  • 1 - Audio Issue
  • 2 - Follow-up
  • 3 - Highlight
  • 4 - Chapter Marker
  • 5 - Custom Note

Type something, press Enter, and it's timestamped automatically.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of event capture dialog]

Pro tip: During real interviews, these hotkeys let you stay present with your guest while capturing everything you need.

Step 7: View the Timeline (30 seconds)

Exit Live Mode and click "Post-Production" or "Timeline".

Here you'll see everything in chronological order:

  • Questions you navigated to
  • Events you captured
  • Precise timestamps

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of post-production timeline]

This is where you'll review your interview and export chapter markers, show notes, and edit sheets.

🎉 Congratulations!

You've just learned the basics of InterviewCue:

✅ Created an interview
✅ Added questions
✅ Explored Live Mode
✅ Tried capturing events
✅ Viewed the timeline

You're ready to conduct real interviews!

What's Next?

Essential Reading:

Explore More Features:

Get Inspired:

Need Help?

Happy interviewing! 🎙️