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6 Informational Interview Assignment
This assignment provides a realistic experience in conducting a moderately scheduled,
informational interview that builds upon the basic principles and skills studied in the first units
of the course and is a natural follow-up to the skills building interview. The goal for interviewers
information gathering.
This assignment emphasizes basic interviewing principles and skills including developing
flexible, moderate schedules of questions, asking primary and probing questions, using
appropriate listening methods, phrasing questions and answers, and employing nonverbal
communication skillfully. Interviewers should start their preparation by developing an interview
challenging interviewing situations. When possible, consider pairing up interviewees with
interviewers who share the same or similar career interests so interviewers will have some
understanding of how to ask and answer questions. Send all interviewers out of the room at the
beginning of each class period and bring them in one at a time for interviews. This prevents
interviewers from “borrowing” topics and questions from interviewers who precede them.
Instructions for interviewers:
1. Prepare an interview guide of potentially relevant and interesting major topics and
subtopics that focus on career preparation, career plans, interview experiences, work
2. Prepare a moderately scheduled interview from your guide that contains primary and
3. You may bring your schedule of questions to the interview, but you must exhibit
4. Make your opening and closing brief but adequate. Involve the interviewee in each to
avoid a monologue.
6. Your interview will be _______ minutes long.
1. Come to class when you will serve as an interviewee prepared to answer questions
about your career goals and preparation, experiences related to your career plans,
2. Answer all questions as they are asked. For instance, give a yes or no or select an option
3. Answer questions honestly, but you may tactfully refuse to answer any question that is
irrelevant to the assignment.
5. Each interview will be worth ______ points.
Instructions for observers:
2. The Information Interview Critique Forms your instructor will provide list the criteria
essential for evaluating each interviewee.
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Information Interview Critique: Interviewer Form A
Name ___________________________
Opening 1 2 3 4 5 x _____ = _____
Body
Primary Questions 1 2 3 4 5 x _____ = _____
Probing questions 1 2 3 4 5 x_____ = _____
Total points_________
Comments
Grading scale: 0 no credit, 1 poor, 2 below average, 3 average, 4 above average, 5 excellent
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Informational Interview Critique: Interviewer Form B
Name ______________________________
Opening: greeting, rapport building, orientation,
opening techniques, involves the interviewee _____
Use of questions: primary questions, probing questions,
avoidance of common question pitfalls _____
Communication skills: verbal, nonverbal, listening approaches _____
Total grade __________
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Informational Interview Critique: Interviewee Form A
Name _______________________
Opening 1 2 3 4 5 x _____=_____
Body
Total Points ___________
Comments
Grading scale: 0 no credit, 1 poor, 2 below average, 3 average, 4 above average 5 excellent
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Informational Interview Critique: Interviewee Form B
Name ___________________
Opening: active participation _____
Communication skills: verbal, nonverbal, listening _____
Total grade ________