Informational Interview page 1

BUAD 2000,Spring 2015

Information Interview Requirements59Points

Due 4/24/15, by 11:59 p.m. in BlackboardAssignment Drop Box

Late submissions are not accepted

This document is broken down into two parts:pages 1-4 are the description of the assignment, requirements and grading, format and examples, and then beginning on p. 4 you will find “Helpful Tips for Scheduling and Completing the Information Interview Assignment.”

  1. Description of the Assignment

Information interviewing is a great opportunity for you to interview someone in a career in which you are interested. An information interview accomplishes many goals. You:

  1. gather information about a particular career, an industry, and the realities of full-time employment.
  2. create a contact to begin networking with someone in a field in which you are interested.
  3. obtain helpful advice from an experienced professional, who could help you in the future.
  1. Assignment Requirements
  1. Identify an organization and person with whom you would like to speak regarding a career of personal interest. Family members or faculty (unless you intend to become a college professor) should not be interviewed for this assignment. See Amy for questions about this requirement.
  2. Conduct an informational interview, preferably at the interviewee’s place of employment.
  3. Complete Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Information Interview Assignment in a thoughtful,double-spaced, grammatically and mechanically correct reflection on the interview experience and any revelations you have as a result of your research.(Please note that typing the interviewee’s responses to your questions is not acceptable. You need to reflect on the experience, not reiterate what your interviewee stated.)
  4. Submit the Microsoft Word-processed Information Interview Assignment (Parts 1 {Reflection}, 2 {Information Interview Questions} and 3 {Thank-you Correspondence}) in the Drop Box in Blackboard by Friday, 4/24/15by 11:59 p.m.

As your assignment is read, it will be graded. You may view your points in the GradeCenter tool. Comments for your assignment may be found when the assignment has been graded

  1. Grading 59 Points Available

Full credit will be awarded to students who complete the three parts of the Information Interview assignment completely, thoughtfully, and clearly. Provided these parameters are met, points will be awarded thusly:

Informational Interview page 1

Part 1- Reflection / 24 points (points vary for each thoughtful response)
Part 2- Information Interview Questions / 10 points (one point for each question asked)
Part 3-Thank-you Correspondence / 15 points (for including the text of the thank-you correspondence sent to the interviewee)
10 points (for attention to grammar, mechanics, spelling)
  1. Information Interview Assignment Format

(Download this portion of the document and insert your responses following the questions. You are to follow the below formatexactly. Remember, this is to be Microsoft Word double spaced, grammatically and mechanically correct reflection.)

Part 1-Reflection-24 pointsCompose thoughtful responses to the following questions/statements. This is not a summary of your interview, rather a reflection on the impact of the interview on your career decision making process.

1. Interviewee Name, Position Title, Name of Company/Organization3 point

Insert the name, position title and company/organization your interviewee represents.

2. Describe whether you believe your values, interests, personal qualities and skills would be consistent with the career you chose to explore in your information interview. Use examples from your interview to support your answer.6 points

This response should address each of the four components of self-assessment we have discussed in class (values, interests, personal qualities and skills or VIPS). A response that simply notes, “Yes, I believe this career is consistent with my VIPS,” is not acceptable. Provide detail as to why this career may or may not be consistent with your VIPS. An especially effective response will draw an example or two from the interview itself to make the point more clear.

3. Express how will this experience impact your tentative career choice?6 points

Describe how this information interview will impact the way your explore careers from this point on. Some of the following questions may help to guide your response: Will you conduct more information interviews? Will you begin to explore other careers if the interview revealed that, perhaps, your interests lie in other areas? Will you consider gaining experience so you can “try the career on?”

4. If you were to conduct another information interview, what type of position would you choose and why?3 points

Identify what kind of professional you would like to interview next. Will it be the same type of position or different? What’s your rationale for your decision?

5.What feedback did the employer have on your resume? (6 points)

Compose constructive feedback the person you interviewed has on your resume. Indicate steps you will take to improve it.

6. Other thoughts?

Offer any other information you believe noteworthy.

Part 2-Information Interview Questions-10 pointsPlease type the 10 questions you asked your information interviewee. A list of sample questions from which to draw begins on p. 5. (Do not include their responses).

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Part 3 Thank-you Correspondence-15 pointsInclude the text of the thank-you correspondence you sent to your information interviewee (if you emailed or sent a word-processed document to your interviewee, copy/paste the text after the reflection in your document). Similarly, if you sent a hand-written note, re-type the text and include it in the reflection document.

Information Interview Assignment Example

Part 1-Reflection-24 points

1. Interviewee Name, Position Title, Name of Company/Organization3points

Robert Smith, Financial Advisor, Investments for Life

2. Describe whether you believe your values, interests, personal qualities and skills would be consistent with the career you chose to explore in your information interview. Use examples from your interview to support your answer. 6 points

My values, interests, personal qualities and skills seem to match this career closely. Mr. Smith and I both value financial stability and helping others. By advising people and assisting them with their retirement goals, a financial advisor helps clients and him or her live comfortably. My interest in analyzing stocks has prompted my desire to spend time reviewing the market, which has in turn enhanced my skills in evaluating and assessing risk. Additionally, my personal qualities of being outgoing and able to communicate easily with others fall in line nicely with the role of a financial advisor. In fact, in the interview, Mr. Smith said my personality appeared to be one that would allow me to build and foster client relationships, a critical component of being a financial advisor.

3. Express how this experience will impact your tentative career choice.6 points

Because of this experience, I am even more excited to pursue a career in financial advising. I plan to shadow a financial advisor over the semester break in my home town. I am hopeful I can secure an internship with a firm by my junior year. Then, I will know if I should continue on this path or consider other options. Exploring other careers in finance by using the career exploration resources will be useful as well.

4. If you were to conduct another information interview, what type of position would you choose and why?3 points

In addition to interviewing other financial advisors, I would also like to interview someone on the corporate side of finance, perhaps an analyst for a medium to large company. This activity will help me determine if I am more inclined toward advising individuals as opposed to internal corporate stakeholders.

5.What feedback did the employer have on your resume? (6 points)

The employer I interviewed said that my resume focused too much on the jobs that I have held and not enough on the skills that I built to help me complete my tasks. He said that I need to be more clear in highlighting my skills that relate to the positions I will be seeking in my Experience and Campus Involvement sections so that employers know what I have to offer. He also cautioned me that my descriptions need to quantified by adding numbers where relevant. I will apply greater effort and working in my transferable skills into my descriptions and adding important figures where I can.

6. Other thoughts?

At my request, Mr. Smith offered the names and contact information of three other individuals who might be able to help in my career search.

Part 2-Information Interview Questions-10 Points

  1. When did you know you wanted to become a financial advisor?
  2. Who were your greatest influences in your career decision?
  3. What type of experience did you have before you became a financial advisor?
  4. How important are grades in college once you begin interviewing?
  5. Describe your career path for me.
  6. What’s an average day like for you?
  7. If you weren’t a financial advisor, what do you think you would be?
  8. As you look back at decisions you’ve made and positions you’ve held, would you do anything differently?
  9. What do you value most about your position?
  10. Would you be willing to offer the names/contact information of two or three other individuals who you believe might also be willing to conduct information interviews with me?

Part 3-Thank-you Correspondence-15 Points DO NOT COPY THIS TEXT! It is included as a guide. If you use it you will not receive points for this portion of your assignment.

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for spending 45 minutes with me to discuss your career as a financial advisor. I know that “time is money,” and the time you spent with me was time you could have been spending with clients. Thus, I value your interest in my career success.

Your comments will be meaningful to me as I continue the career decision-making process. What stands out most in my mind is your suggestion that I seek an internship or two to “try on” different careers and to build marketable skills. I agree with you, that even a chance meeting is an opportunity to learn. So, I will definitely begin networking and pursuing internships.

Thank you again for contributing to my professional development. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,

Sample Student

Helpful Tips for Scheduling and Completing the Information Interview

Tips for Scheduling Your Informational Interview

  1. Contact the employer by phone or email. If someone has referred you to this person, ask him/her for the best method of contacting the individual.
  2. Prepare a script or some key words to help you through the request process. In essence, you are asking someone to give of their very valuable time to meet with you solely for your benefit, so be prepared and polished.
  • Address the Interviewee
  • Introduce yourself
  • Identify the reason for your call
  • Ask if the individual if you may take 30 minutes of his/her time to find out more about his/her career path
  • Inquire as to appropriate times to meet
  • Thank the individual for the opportunity to meet
  • Secure any necessary contact or travel/parking directions

Here’s an example:

Hello Ms. Smith. My name is ______and I am a student in the College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo. My Career Development Lecturer has asked my classmates and I to complete an informational interview with someone in a position similar to one we wish to pursue. Currently, I’m interested in becoming a ______. Would you be willing to spend 30 minutes with me to share your career path and offer any advice that you might have?

  1. Follow up with a confirmation email message
  1. Prepare for your information interview by asking yourself, "What is it I want to know about this occupation to determine if it is a good choice for me?" (Use the Information Interview Questions in the next section). Be sure to take your questions with you as a framework for conducting the interview and taking notes. Show you are prepared by reviewing the questions you ask and adding any other questions of interest.
  2. The information interview should be conducted where the person works, so you see the work environment for yourself.
  3. Dress properly for the information interview. Do not wear jeans, sweats, or sneakers. It is important to be well groomed and have a neat appearance. You will make a good impression in the interviews if you listen carefully, practice good eye contact, sit attentively, do not chew gum, use proper English, and are professional.
  4. Be on time or slightly early for the interviews.
  5. Know the names (including pronunciation) and titles of the person(s) you are to interview. Know some things about the organization. Greet everyone with a smile and firm handshake.
  6. Thank each person interviewed for the time they spent with you with a hand-shake and a smile.

Information Interview Questions

You are required to ask your information interviewee 10 questions. These questions will be listed in Part 2 of your Information Interview Assignment. Check out the Informational Interviewing Tutorial at QuintCareers.com where you may select your questions.

Suggestion: If your interview has progressed nicely and you are comfortable, a nice final question to ask your interviewee is, “Would you be willing to offer the names/contact information of three to five other colleagues who might be willing to participate in another information interview with me?” This will provide different perspectives and build your network!

Thanking your Informational Interviewee

It is critical that you demonstrate your gratitude for the career development assistance the new network contact has given you as soon as possible after the interview. Thus, you should send a thank-you letter, note, or email, preferably within 24 hours. In addition to standard elements (contact information, address, closing etc.) your thank-you should include the following elements,each worth 2 points, with the exception of the item 3, which is worth 7:

  1. Thanks for meeting on the date, time and location (Introductory paragraph)
  2. Reason for the meeting (Body paragraph)
  3. Particular items of interest or areas that were appealing to you. Customize this and make it meaningful by identifying something that was particularly beneficial to you. (Body paragraph)
  4. Any follow up information (Body or Closing paragraph)
  5. Re-statement of your gratitude (Closing paragraph)

As your assignment is read, it will be graded. You may view your points in the Grade Center Tool. Comments for your assignment may be found when the assignment has been graded. Ensure that you observe the Blackboard verification for submission. An assignment that you think was submitted, yet is not in the Grade Center, will not be considered.