PCC 201 – Life Design Interview and Reflection

PCC 201 – Life Design Interview and Reflection

Overview & Rubric

ASSIGNMENT

Interviewing for information is a proven professional practice that is effective whether you are getting started exploring careers or validating your career plans.  The purpose of this activity is for you to gather insights and knowledge about a particular profession or related opportunity of interest. It’s also an opportunity to connect with a professional and build your network.

You are required to interview someone you do not know or know well, working in a position that interests you, so that the interview expands your network. (Interviewing parents or siblings will not be accepted for this assignment).Use your personal network and resources including LinkedIn and/or Handshake to find contacts.

After you conduct the 20-30 minute interview, via phone or in person, write a brief reflection paper (1-2 pages) using the outline below. You are required to submit your reflection paper through Brightspace.

Introduction / Overview (Who did you talk to and why?)

Briefly describe the job or industry you’re interested in, who you chose to interview, and why. Include a brief overview of the steps you took and how you set up the interview. In this section, include the individual’s name, job title, and employer, and college/university attended. If you have some connection to the individual, i.e. through family, friends, school, or you met at an SNHU event, include that information.

Summary and Highlights (What did you learn?)

Include a summary of the questions you asked and the interviewee’s responses in your reflection. Summarize and highlight at least 6-8 questions/and the responses that stood out to you. If the individual provided you with follow-up actions or suggestions, include those in this section.

Reactions and Conclusions (How are you going to use this information to help you achieve your professional goals?)

Include your reactions to the interview (the following questions are a guide for you to consider): What did you learn? What insights shared are the most valuable to you? Having done the interview, how do you feel about your options after SNHU? Do you still want to pursue a similar career to that of the individual? What steps can you take after the interview to work toward your professional goal(s)? How has the interview impacted your decision-making process?

Grading

Your Informational Interview reflection will be graded based on the quality, depth of thought, and completeness of the required sections. The rubric below will be used to grade your journal:

PCC 201 Life Design Interview Rubric	Points Possible
CONTENT / Reflection      90 points for the quality, depth of thought, and completeness of each of the required sections	90
____ Introduction / Overview (20) ____ Summary and Highlights (35) ____ Reactions and Conclusions (35)
Grammar & spelling 5 points possible for accuracy and quality of each (0 = needs much improvement; 5 = excellent): Grammar:                                                0    1    2    3    4    5 Spelling:                                                   0    1    2    3    4    5	10
TOTAL	100

Sample Questions:

• What do you think are the most important skills/qualifications for someone in this job?
• What do you enjoy most about your job?
• How does your work relate to experiences and classes you had in college?
• What is the most challenging thing(s) about your job?
• How did you get started in this field/job? Was yours a typical career path?
• What courses would you recommend to help me be more competitive for this work?
• What experiences have you found are most useful in this job? What do you recommend I do to gain these experiences?
• What other skills/experiences do managers look for when hiring that are not typically included in the job description?
• What abilities and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field?
• Can you recommend journals, magazines, or professional associations which would be helpful for my professional development?
• Describe the organizational culture of the company? (Another way to describe how a company solves problems and overcomes challenges)
• What does diversity mean to the company and how do they foster that?
• How would you identify 2-3 indicators that the company has an inclusive culture?
• What is the best advice you’ve received regarding your career path?
• What haven’t I asked you that I should know?
  • THANK them at the end of the conversation.

Send a thank you note ASAP!!

This is expected professional etiquette and something you should always do for ALL interviews. Keep in touch with your contact every 4-6 weeks to check in, especially if you speak to a referral they gave you, and/or want to work for their company in the future. Refer to the Thank You Letter resources provided in Brightspace.

PCC 201 Professional Communication & Career Planning – Interviewing for Information

Contact Name:            ________________________________________________________________________

Company, Title:            ________________________________________________________________________

Date Contacted:            ________________________________________________________________________

Meeting Date:             ________________________________________________________________________

Questions Asked:            ________________________________________________________________________

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Conversation Notes:            ________________________________________________________________________

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