Interview Assignment



Objectives of Assignment:

• Practice and improve interviewing techniques such as using oral and visual cues, and keeping an interview on track

• Perfect listening skills

• Develop clear, focused questions

• Practice note taking and summarizing the content of an interactive

• Gain information about your profession from a practitioner in your field

• Understand how companies and government agencies in your field are involved with issues related to the environment.

Due Date: Wednesday, October 6 (hard copy at beginning of class and electronic copy in )

Grading: 10% of course grade. Grading criteria will include:

• Quality of the introduction

• Quality of questions

• Quality of reflection/conclusion

• Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Guidelines:

The interview will be with a professional engineer, no one on campus. I recommend someone who is at least five years out of school (people who are more junior in a company can’t really give you the big picture). Please no family members!!

Spend time before you go to the interview finding out about the company/agency. This can be helpful to you in developing your questions and writing your introduction.

Proofread: Polish the writing before submission (editorial courtesy – if you have a non-native speaker or someone that uses odd phrases, fix the English a little so it sounds professional. You don’t have to write what he or she said word for word.)

Pages: 4-7 typed pages (single space, one blank line after each interviewee answer)

Required Question:

• What is the impact of oral and written communication on your work and your progress in your profession?

Suggested Questions:

• You may want to begin with career questions about the interviewee’s job title, duties, responsibilities, typical day

• Ask for advice about your degree program

• You may ask technical questions, if interested, that relate to your major

• Ask for personal advice, if appropriate (courses, internships, coops)

• You may want to end with questions about the future, e.g., the company or industry in five years

• Ask a couple of environmental questions, e.g., does the company have environmental policies? Do they have a recycling program? Is the industry governed by any government environmental regulations? Does the interviewee’s job deal with environmental issues? What are the environmental concerns within that industry?

Format:

• 1-inch margins, 12 pt font

• Provide a specific title for the interview summary

• The introduction will “set the stage” by explaining the Who? Why? Where? When? What? Purpose?

• Use a Question/Answer format for the body of the interview (perhaps use last names)

• End with a reflection/conclusion in your own words

• Number pages

Example Format:

Specific Title

Introduction (single spaced)

Anagnos (Q): Please tell me your exact job title and provide a general description of your job duties.

Jones (A): I am Vice President of Construction for Northern California [note: XYZ Engineering has offices in five states] and I …..

Anagnos (Q): What is the most challenging project you have been involved in?

Jones (A):

Anagnos (Q): What is the best way to communicate construction concerns to management?

Jones (A):

Anagnos (Q):

Jones (A):

Conclusion (single spaced)

Hints

In your introduction explain the Who? Why? Where? When? What? Purpose? Tell your reader who the interviewee is and a little about his or her company. What is the purpose of the interview? Why did you select this person? How did you meet him or her? Where did you conduct the interview, and how long did it take? You don’t have to provide the information in this order, but try to be complete as you “set the stage.”

In the conclusion, sum up the main points of the interview and reflect on what you learned.

Resources

Conducting an Information Interview Modules (n.d.) Retrieved February 13, 2007 from the Rogue Communication web site: .

Career Center.sjsu.edu (2007). Job and Internship Guide, SJSU Career Center, San Jose, CA.

Markel, M. (2007). Technical communication (8th edition). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Pages 114-117 (general interviews)

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