One of the best sources for gathering information about whats happening in an occupation or an industry is to talk to people working in the field. This process is called informational or research interviewing. Â An Informational Interview is an interview that you initiate you ask the questions. The purpose is to obtain information, not to get a job.
Below and attached are possible questions to help you in conducting your informational interview. You do not have to use these questions or all of the questions. That is your choice. Remember, you are the one gathering the information. These questions are examples to help get you started. You will interview someone in a field you are interested in. If you are undecided, go ahead and pick something you might be interested in. You can interview a teacher, relative, friend, friend of a friend, and much more. If you are having trouble finding someone to interview, go to a department on your school campus and interview a professor in the field.
Cuyamaca Academic and Career Pathways Programs (Links to an external site.)
Cuyamaca Department Chairs and Coordinators Contacts (Links to an external site.)
You can conduct your interview remotely via Zoom. It is okay to do more than one interview (this is encouraged). Get creative! You have options to complete this assignment:Â
1. Write a one-page reflection, c
reate a Powerpoint presentation or create a video answering these questions:
Describe the Informational Interview Work-Based Learning Activity and industry you chose and explain your reasoning for these choices.
Who did you interview? What is their job title?
What does a day in the life look like? Was it similar to your expectations?
What steps would you need to take to get there from where you are now?
What types of work-experience or internships would be valuable as you are working toward your final goal?
What is the salary range of the job you chose?
What are some aspects of the job that are most appealing to you? What aspects of the job do you think you would find most challenging or unappealing?
What surprised you?
How did you feel going in to the interview? How do you feel about it now?
Did you find this assignment to be valuable? Why or why not?
2. Upload your Informational Interview document to Canvas. (You have the option to upload something different than a paper. For example, you can do a PowerPoint Presentation OR Video OR audio podcast, if you prefer. If you choose to do a video/audio, this must be a video/audio of the interview. Feel free to post a Youtube link in the comment section if you decide to create a video. Get creative in your Informational Interview.
Informational Interview Assignment
ample Interview Assignment (Paper version)