INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT . Fin" rel="nofollow">ind someone with whom to start the networkin" rel="nofollow">ing process. Ask your parents, guardians, roommates, professors, advisors, peer groups if they know of anyone workin" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">in your career field of in" rel="nofollow">interest. You can also use the SPEA Alumni Contacts (now moved to Lin" rel="nofollow">inkedIn) Search tab to search for alumni that you might contact. You may not in" rel="nofollow">interview a close relative (mother, father, sister, brother). This assignment is to help you learn how to contact and in" rel="nofollow">interact with people you do not know, so in" rel="nofollow">interviews with a close relative or friend will not be accepted. 2. Contact that person by phone or email: Explain" rel="nofollow">in your reason for callin" rel="nofollow">ing and your SPEA affiliation Examples: Hello. This is from Indiana University. I spoke with (person who referred you) about careers in" rel="nofollow">in and he/she spoke very highly of you. I’m callin" rel="nofollow">ing to fin" rel="nofollow">ind out if you might have a few min" rel="nofollow">inutes to speak with me. When would be a convenient time to contact you? OR… Dear Ms. Jones: My name is from Indiana University and I am doin" rel="nofollow">ing some research for a career development class. I’m doin" rel="nofollow">ing some research in" rel="nofollow">in the area of and I was hopin" rel="nofollow">ing you would have 30-40 min" rel="nofollow">inutes to speak with me sometime. If you are available to talk with me about your career, please let me know what day and time would be best for you in" rel="nofollow">in the next week or two for either a phone conversation or to meet in" rel="nofollow">in person. (or whatever you are able to arrange). Thank you very much and I lookin" rel="nofollow">ing forward to talkin" rel="nofollow">ing with you. Sin" rel="nofollow">incerely, Jane NFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS 1. Please in" rel="nofollow">include the followin" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">information on the first page of your assignment. (5 poin" rel="nofollow">ints) a. My professional’s name is b. His/her title is c. He/she works for d. He/she was referred by 3. List or put in" rel="nofollow">in paragraph form, this person’s career path (what educational and career choices did they make to get to where they are today). (5 poin" rel="nofollow">ints) 4. Type a 2-3 page summary of your meetin" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">in question/answer format. Choose between five – eight (5-8) questions from the list below (and next page) to ask your professional and in" rel="nofollow">include their answers in" rel="nofollow">in your paper. You may also come up with your own questions. Be sure to ask questions that make sense dependin" rel="nofollow">ing on the flow of the conversation. For example, if the person is talkin" rel="nofollow">ing about the long hours they spend in" rel="nofollow">in the office, you do not want to follow up that question with, “how do you keep on top of the trends and changes in" rel="nofollow">in your field?” Be smart about which questions you ask durin" rel="nofollow">ing the conversation. Don’t ask a question simply because you chose it and really want to ask the question. Listen carefully to your professional before askin" rel="nofollow">ing the next question (70 poin" rel="nofollow">ints total). You are to ask the professional at least 5 questions, and you probably do not want to ask more than 8. Remember to keep the “in" rel="nofollow">interview” conversational so be flexible in" rel="nofollow">in the questions you ask and the order in" rel="nofollow">in which you ask them. You may choose questions from the followin" rel="nofollow">ing list, or questions that you have created yourself based on the flow of the conversation. Here are some possible topics you may want to cover durin" rel="nofollow">ing your conversation. LIST OF POSSIBLE QUESTIONS, DIVIDED INTO CATEGORIES: A. Occupational Environment ▪ How would you describe the environment in" rel="nofollow">in which you work? ▪ How does your position relate to the mission of the organization? ▪ Describe a typical day at work (e.g., your routin" rel="nofollow">ine or duties you perform on a regular basis). ▪ How much flexibility are you allowed on your job in" rel="nofollow">in terms of dress, hours, vacation, etc.? ▪ Are you made aware of supervisory expectations? Do these expectations seem realistic to you? Are you allowed any in" rel="nofollow">input in" rel="nofollow">in determin" rel="nofollow">inin" rel="nofollow">ing your goals? ▪ How in" rel="nofollow">independent can you be on this job? ▪ What portion of your job in" rel="nofollow">involves in" rel="nofollow">interactin" rel="nofollow">ing with others such as co-workers or the public? ▪ How much “outside” or overtime work is required on your job (e.g., weekends, nights, etc.)? What does this work in" rel="nofollow">involve? How often does this occur? B. Occupational Requirements and Experience ▪ What college courses were most helpful to you in" rel="nofollow">in your preparation for this career? ▪ What types of computer skills or programs are necessary to perform your job? ▪ Is special certification, licensin" rel="nofollow">ing, or an advanced degree necessary to perform your job? ▪ What personal qualities and skills do you see as important for success in" rel="nofollow">in this occupation? ▪ Is travel in" rel="nofollow">involved in" rel="nofollow">in your job? If so, how much and what type? ▪ How much job relocation is expected or needed to advance in" rel="nofollow">in this career? ▪ When you’re hirin" rel="nofollow">ing someone for your team, what do you look for? What skills and experience do you consider most valuable? ▪ I have often been told that my core strengths as a professional are on projects that in" rel="nofollow">involve _____ skills. If that is the case, what roles do you thin" rel="nofollow">ink I’d be best suited for in" rel="nofollow">in your filed? Informational Interview Assignment - (List of questions contin" rel="nofollow">inued) C. Benefits and Frustrations ▪ What are the major rewards of your job? What is your favorite part of your job? ▪ What are the major frustrations you encounter on your job? How do you deal with these frustrations? ▪ What frin" rel="nofollow">inge benefits are offered on your job? Are you offered professional development opportunities such as advanced train" rel="nofollow">inin" rel="nofollow">ing or semin" rel="nofollow">inars? ▪ What is the salary range for entry-level positions in" rel="nofollow">in this occupation? What do the salary trends look like for the future? Do you thin" rel="nofollow">ink job opportunities are in" rel="nofollow">increasin" rel="nofollow">ing or decreasin" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">in this field? D. Networkin" rel="nofollow">ing/ “Gettin" rel="nofollow">ing Your Foot in" rel="nofollow">in the Door” ▪ Based on my research, it seems like most professionals start off as a [position] – is this consistent with what you’ve seen? ▪ Do you know of any professional associations that I would benefit from join" rel="nofollow">inin" rel="nofollow">ing at this stage of my education? ▪ Is there anyone in" rel="nofollow">in the Bloomin" rel="nofollow">ington area that would be a good contact for in" rel="nofollow">internships or job opportunities? ▪ Can you offer any advice/suggestions for how best to break in" rel="nofollow">into/prepare myself for this career field? ▪ Do you know of organizations in" rel="nofollow">in this field that offer job shadowin" rel="nofollow">ing or mentorin" rel="nofollow">ing opportunities? Write out your answers to the followin" rel="nofollow">ing questions to in" rel="nofollow">include at the end of the formal Question/Answer Section Be sure to answer the followin" rel="nofollow">ing three questions: (15 poin" rel="nofollow">ints) 1. Explain" rel="nofollow">in whether you are still considerin" rel="nofollow">ing this career or a similar one and how this experience helped you in" rel="nofollow">in your process of explorin" rel="nofollow">ing careers and majors. 2. From this in" rel="nofollow">interview, what skills have you identified that you need to gain" rel="nofollow">in or improve on to be successful in" rel="nofollow">in this field? 3. Describe any challenges you faced and strategies you used when approachin" rel="nofollow">ing an unknown professional. Include a copy of the thank you note or email you have sent to your professional after your in" rel="nofollow">interview. If you e-mailed your thank you note please DO NOT copy your professor on this Thank You Note. (50 poin" rel="nofollow">ints)