Throughout the semester you have learned a number of intercultural communication concepts. Many of these concepts will be important as you enter into your future careers after graduation. This assignment gives you the opportunity to explore application of this content through an informational interview with someone in the profession you are seeking. Please note there are several steps to this paper:
- Select a career / job you are seeking after graduation. This is NOT where you currently work but rather another location and position. (*If you are not sure what you want to do, now is your chance to look into a position you might be interested in)
- Compile your list of informational interview questions for the Week 7 Discussion Post and analyze the comments from your classmates to update these as needed. See below for more information on the questions you are asking.
- Find an individual you can interview who has the career you are seeking or works for the company you wish to work for. *Please note that this cannot be a relative of yours or a current colleague.
- Set up a time with this person and conduct the informational interview (this can be on the phone, on zoom, in person, etc.). You will need to take notes to use to write the paper.
- Write the Career Paper using what you learned from the interview and what you have learned from class. See separate rubric for questions to answer.
Two required informational interview questions:
- How have you used intercultural communication in your position? Can you give me an example? (*Define intercultural communication for the person if necessary)
- What types of communication messages do you use throughout the day at your job? How does this impact your day?
Informational Interview Questions (*Choose 5 from this list):
- How did you first enter this job/career?
- How would you spend your time during a typical work day?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of this field?
- What part(s) of your job is most rewarding and why?
- What part(s) of your job is most challenging and why?
- What do you like most about your job? Least?
- What types of communication do you rely on the most in your position?
- What is your company culture like?
- Was your major in college relevant to your role? How or why not?
- What type of flexibility do you have in your position?
- What are the most important steps someone needs to take to prepare themselves for a role like you have?
- What kids of decisions do you make in your role?
- Are you able to maintain a work/life balance in your field? Why or why not?
- What has surprised you the most about your position? Why?
- What advice would you offer someone who wants to enter the field you are in?
- Is your position one that you work alone, or with a team? Can you tell me about this experience?
- How does the company use technology for internal communication?
- What types of professional development opportunities are offered to employees?
You choose three questions on your own (not from the list), but the cannot be about salary, pay, or benefits.
There are 10 questions in total you use for the interview minimum, but you can use more.
- 2 required questions
- 5 questions from the list provided
- 3 questions you wrote
- More can be used if you wish
For the paper itself, you will answer a number of questions posed to you and use the answers to the questions you asked during the informational interview to help you with the answers. This is a paper, and can be written in the first person, but in APA format, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, Times New Roman 12 point font, and page numbers used. It should be a minimum of 3 full pages, plus a title page, and a list of all the questions you asked during the informational interview. It can exceed the page limit without penalty.