University of Illinois at Chicago Professional Training in Marketing Discussion

Question Description

BA 100- FINAL Project: Informational Interview Paper + Presentation

Project Goal: To apply the professional presence skills weve discussed in class and to seek out your own answers and learn about possible careers that may interest you, by engaging in an Informational Interview. The professional you interview may work in any industry/field you are interested in exploring. You will write a 1-2 page (single spaced) Reflection paper and present the class with a 3 minute summary of your take-a-ways of the experience, tying in what you learned in class, and how you plan to apply these things in the future.

Some Resources to get you started :

Take a look at this article with helpful active links! –> Informational Interviewing article.pdf
& Check out this video introduction on Informational Interviewing!

FAQ’s-

1. Who Should I Contact for an Informational Interview? :

? Consider the cool jobs & career roles you’d like to learn more about! Start by asking your family/friends/classmates/professors if they might recommend someone to speak with in those positions.
? Make an appointment to speak with your career coach in the Business Career Center & ask if they can put in you contact with individuals in those job roles you are interested in.
? What are some job positions connected to your major? Are there any individuals on LinkedIn who have worked in or work in that position who are UIC Alumni and may have an email address posted?
? Note: They need not be located in Chicago only, as you can conduct an informational interview over skype or on a phone call.2. What Should I Say When Sending my Emails? :

? Tip: Address your emails formally (Ms.,Mr.,Dr.,Professor, etc) to come off in the most professional way possible – until they invite you to use their first names.
? In the body of your email- start with your “Self Introduction” and share your own interests/aspirations and how it connect to their work.
? Send these from your uic email and make sure that you include a Signature line which professionalizes you (your name, major, UIC College of Business Administration).Example: of a very simple sample email:

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Dear __________

My name is (insert your name here). I am currently a freshman (insert major) student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am exploring my career interests and options, and would love to hear about your career in (______) . May I have 30 minutes of your time for a phone/video call informational interview?

I greatly appreciate your time, and look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely,
(your name)
(Major – expected graduation date) UIC College of Business Administration

3. Then What? :

? Be ready with a plan to schedule a virtual/phone meeting. Remember you are requesting their time- so you will want to be organized.
? Some professionals will be too busy to respond, others might be courteous enough to email you back. If they reply or offer to assist at a future time, be gracious and accept their willingness to connect and plan to connect with them in the future.

BA 100- FINAL Project: Informational Interview Paper + Presentation

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING SAMPLE QUESTIONS

These sample questions are grouped into categories, depending upon the type of interview you want to do. You may have one type of interview in mind, or a combination. These questions represent different levels of inquiry. Develop your questions based on your overall goals and what you are most interested in learning. Make sure you are prepared and show that you have done some research and thinking ahead of time. Always remember to honor the agreed upon length of the interview, unless the interviewee indicates you can go longer.

Below are a few categories of interviews you may draw upon for your Career Conversations, followed by questions within each category.

Person / Position

? Thesequestionszero-inonthespecificexperiencesofthepersonbeinginterviewed.
? Thisapproachprovidesanopportunitytolearnaboutanindividualscareerchoices,preferences,and reactions to different kinds of work.Career Field / Profession
- ? Thesequestionsconcentrateongaininganoverviewofaspecificcareerfieldorprofession.
- ? Thegoalistounderstandjobroles,tasks,andtheexperiences,educationanddevelopmentneeded to be successful

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BA 100- FINAL Project: Informational Interview Paper + Presentation

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING SAMPLE QUESTIONS

PERSON / POSITION Interviewee Information

? What is your background (both academic and experience)?
? How did your background lead you to this position?
? How did you become interested in this type of work and how did you get your present job?
? How long have you worked in this field?
? What is the most challenging/rewarding aspect of your work/career?Job Characteristics

? How would you describe your day-to-day responsibilities?
? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of this job role?
? What is unique about your job as compared with others, which are similar?
? Approximately what percentage of time is spent on each type of job responsibility?
? What kinds of problems and challenges do you face this role?
? What constraints, such as time and funding, make the job more challenging?
? What kinds of decisions do you make?
? Describe some of the toughest situations youve faced in this job.
? To what extent do you interact with customers/clients?
? With which other departments, functional units, or levels of the hierarchy do you regularly interact?
? How much flexibility do you have in determining how you perform your job?
? Can you manage your own workflow, or does the nature of your work dictate the pace?
? Do you work individually or predominantly in groups or teams?
? How are work teams or groups organized?
? What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging? Least satisfying?
? Is multi-tasking a skill that is required for this job?
? What projects have you worked on that have been particularly interesting?Referral/ Suggestions

? Are there other departments or organizations that you would recommend as part of my research?
? Can you suggest others that I might contact? May I use your name?
? Based on my interests, are there professional organizations that you would recommend I join?

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BA 100- FINAL Project: Informational Interview Paper + Presentation

CAREER FIELD / PROFESSION Career Pathing/Occupational Outlook

? What are typical job roles available in this profession? Entry? Mid-Career? Late Career?
? What are typical career paths in this field?
? What experiences, paid or unpaid, would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field?
? What did you do to make yourself marketable?
? What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
? Is the field growing? If so, in what areas? What are the biggest challenges facing this field?
? What trends would likely to affect someone just entering this profession? At mid-career?
? How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future?
? What changes in demand have you seen in the profession?
? Where do you see the growth opportunities for the profession?
? How does this career affect your lifestyle and work/family balance?
? How can I learn more about the field (e.g., journal, publications, professional associations, workshops,seminars, conferences, etc.)?
? What special advice would give a person entering this field? At mid-career? Late career?
? What do you wish you had known about this field or organization before you entered it?Success Factors

? What are the characteristics and competencies of people who are successful in this field?
? What does it take to be successful in this type of career?
? What does it take, in your view, to succeed in this field, department, division, role?
? What type of person is best suited to the work in this area?
? What specific functional or technical knowledge is critical to this work?
? What sacrifices may be necessary to be successful?Education, Training & Skills

? What are the basic prerequisites for jobs in this field?
? What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in this job?
? How did you learn these skills?
? What are the educational requirements for this position or field? Is graduate school recommended orrequired?
? What personal qualities or abilities are important for success (in this field, organization, or position)?
? What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
? What kind of background or training is desirable for this work? Are there certain classes or trainingprograms you would recommend?
? What degree or certification do employers look for?Compensation

? What are the typical salary ranges in this profession? Entry? Mid-level? Senior level?
? Aside from such tangible compensation as money, fringe benefits, travel, etc.- what kinds of satisfactionand reward does this profession yield?

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