Informational Interview

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain Assignment 2

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Assignment 2: Informational Interview Weight: 15% Due: Sunday, Midnight of Week 5 INTRODUCTION To gain a real-world perspective on hiring, onboarding, and performance management, for this assignment you will do a short interview with an HR professional - or with a manager - at your workplace. You will ask a total of five questions and keep a record of the responses. Then you will write a report of 2 to 4 pages, summarizing the answers you received and reflecting on the impact the interview had on you. INSTRUCTIONS Approach your HR department - or your manager - to arrange a short informational interview with a mid- level or senior professional in your workplace (half an hour or less). If you cannot make this happen in the timeframe required, you may instead interview a business professional whom you know outside of your current workplace. Questions for the Interview: You will prepare for the interview by selecting three of the questions provided below and creating two questions of your own. Your overall set of five questions should relate to at least two of the following HR topic areas: hiring, onboarding, and performance review. Select three of the below questions:

1. What 2 or 3 key competencies do you seek in job candidates? Why are these competencies at the top of your list?

2. When would you hire externally and when would you promote internally to fill gaps in your team?

3. How useful are references to you in assessing job candidates?

4. How do you onboard new members of your team or department?

5. What performance review process does your organization use? How effective is it?

Create two questions of your own, for a total of five questions.

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class. JWMI 521 Assignment 2 (1236) Page 2 of 4

Outline for your Report Write a paper of 2 to 4 pages that provides a report on your informational interview. Use the Outline provided below to organize your report into four sections. The prompts in each section are provided to help you cover all the required topics for the assignment.

Introduction o Describe the position and business role of your interviewee o Explain your relationship with him or her

Questions

o For each question, briefly summarize the interviewee’s response Note: Do NOT write out the interviewee’s exact words

Reflection

o Comment on any answers that surprised you and explain why o What did you learn from this interview that you can apply in your own work?

Conclusion

o Sum up your learning from the interview on at least two of the following HR topic areas: hiring, onboarding, and performance review

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

• Uses a double-spaced, professional font (Times New Roman or Arial), 10-12 font size, with one- inch margins on all sides

• Includes a Cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, professor’s name, and the course title and date

• Headings are used to identify the four sections of the report

• Paragraphs are separated by a single space

• The assignment is written in a formal manner, with correct spelling and grammar

• References are included and provide appropriate information that enables the reader to locate the original source

• Citations and references must follow the formatting instructions found in the JWMI Writing Standards Guide. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Note: The Cover and References pages are not included in the required page length.

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class. JWMI 521 Assignment 2 (1236) Page 3 of 4

RUBRIC - Assignment 2: Informational Interview

CRITERIA Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

1. Introduction describes the interviewee’s position and business role and explains their business relationship to student. Weight: 10%

Introduction provides an excellent description of the interviewee’s position and business role and their business relationship to student.

Introduction provides a clear, informative description of the interviewee’s position and business role and their business relationship to student.

Satisfactorily develops or provides a job description. Selects and ranks five competencies for each position.

Introduction partially describes the interviewee’s position and business role and their business relationship to student.

Introduction does not describe the interviewee’s position and business role or it does not explain their business relationship to student.

2. For each of the 5 questions, provide a brief summary of the interviewee’s response. Do NOT write out the interviewee’s exact words. Weight: 30%

Provides an excellent summary for all 5 questions. Does not use the interviewee’s exact words.

Provides a clear, detailed summary for all 5 questions. Does not use the interviewee’s exact words.

Brief but adequate rationale for all the competency rankings is provided.

Provides a brief summary for at least 4 of the 5 questions. Mostly avoids using the interviewee’s exact words.

Does not provide a brief summary for all 5 questions, or uses the exact words of the interviewee instead of summarizing.

3. Reflect on any answers that surprised you and explain why. Explain what you learned from the interview that you can apply in your own work. Weight: 25%

Excellent reflection on any answers that surprised you, as well as a thoughtful, detailed explanation of what you learned from the interview and how you can apply that learning.

Good reflection on any answers that surprised you, as well as a thoughtful explanation of what you learned from the interview.

Satisfactorily creates two interview questions for each competency and follows the instructions. Questions relate logically to the competencies.

Short or confused reflection on any answers that surprised you. Short or confused explanation of what you learned from the interview.

Minimal or no reflection on any answers that surprised you. Minimal or no explanation of what you learned from the interview.

4. Sum up your learning from the interview on at least 2 of the following HR topic areas: hiring, onboarding, and performance review. Weight: 25%

Excellent, insightful summary of student’s learning on at least two of the HR topic areas listed.

Good, detailed summary of student’s learning on at least two of the HR topic areas listed.

Satisfactorily writes 2 sample answers with content that adequately demonstrates the required competencies.

Partially summed up student’s learning on at least two of the HR topic areas listed.

Did not sum up student’s learning on at least two of the HR topic areas listed.

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class. JWMI 521 Assignment 2 (1236) Page 4 of 4

CRITERIA Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

5. Clarity, Writing Mechanics, Grammar, and Formatting. Weight: 10 %

Minimal minor mechanical errors; student follows formatting instructions.

Few mechanical errors; student follows formatting instructions.

Some mechanical errors; student follows formatting instructions.

Mechanical errors; student does not fully follow formatting instructions.

Mechanical errors; student fails to follow formatting instructions.