Assessment interviews are fundamentally relationships between the assessor and the interviewee. Much of the time, the interviewee views the assessor as an adversary. This results in a relationship in which the interviewee is resistant to the assessor’s questions, and may deliberately or unintentionally refrain from fully sharing information. This presentation explores strategies to break down barriers between the assessor and the interviewee, drawing upon lessons from a variety of sources including personal experience, law enforcement, and intelligence/counterintelligence. Attendees will learn a number of concrete techniques for building rapport and creating a cooperative and collaborative relationship with interviewees. Participants will also learn some potential assessment interview pitfalls that risk compromising assessor independence.