due in 15 hours

Informational Interview with a Professional

Conduct an informational interview with a professional in a field of interest you have located using the 2 Hour Job Search process. The interview MAY NOT be conducted by email or text. The person you interview cannot be a relative.

The interview should last at least 20 minutes and include 5-8 questions you have about the career field, company, or person’s career path.

Sample Questions

You may use some of the questions below in your interview. You are encouraged to create questions of your own that will help you learn about the career field/company and determine if it is the right fit for you.

A. Occupational Environment ▪ How would you describe the environment in which you work? (How did COVID-19 change that environment for you?) ▪ How does your position relate to the mission of the organization? ▪ Describe a typical day at work (e.g., your routine or duties you perform on a regular basis). (How did that change after COVID-19?) ▪ How much flexibility are you allowed on your job 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 input in determining your goals? ▪ How independent can you be on this job? ▪ What portion of your job involves interacting 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 involve? How often does this occur?

B. Occupational Requirements and Experience ▪ What college courses were most helpful to you in your preparation for this career? ▪ What types of computer skills or programs are necessary to perform your job? ▪ Is special certification, licensing, or an advanced degree necessary to perform your job? ▪ What personal qualities and skills do you see as important for success in this occupation? ▪ Is travel involved in your job? If so, how much and what type? ▪ How much job relocation is expected or needed to advance in this career? ▪ When you’re hiring 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 involve _____ skills. If that is the case, what roles do you think I’d be best suited for in your field?

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 fringe benefits are offered on your job? Are you offered professional development opportunities such as advanced training or seminars? ▪ What is the salary range for entry-level positions in this occupation? What do  the salary trends look like for the future? Do you think job opportunities are increasing or decreasing in this field?

D. Networking/ “Getting Your Foot 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 joining  at this stage of my education? ▪ Is there anyone in the Bloomington area that would be a good contact for internships or job opportunities? ▪ Can you offer any advice/suggestions for how best to break into/prepare myself for this career field? ▪ Do you know of organizations in this field that offer job shadowing or mentoring opportunities?

Submit the Following in Canvas

Part 1: Information about the Interviewee

1. Professional’s Name and Title:  

2. Organization he/she/they work for: 

3. Email and phone number:

4. Method interview was conducted:

5. Explain the process and the resource you used to find this person:

6. Why did you ask this person for an informational interview (what did you hope to learn): 

Part 2: Interview Summary

1. Type a 2-3 page summary of your meeting in question/answer format (5-8 questions – from the list in this assignment or developed on your own).

Example:

Question 1: Do you know of any professional associations that I would benefit from joining  at this stage of my education?

Answer 1: Mr. Doyle said that I should definitely get a SHRM membership. It would be a great way to get some HR certifications before I graduated and that would help me find a job.

Part 3: Reflect

Provide thoughtful answers to each prompt below. Each response should be 1-2 paragraphs.

2. What did you learn in this interview that inform your next steps?

3. From this interview, what skills have you identified that you need to gain or improve on  to be successful in this field?

4. Describe any challenges you faced and strategies you used when approaching an unknown professional.

5. Describe at least 3 action steps you will take to continue your career exploration.

Part 4: Follow-up

1. How do you plan to stay in touch with this person?