Interview People to Learn About Occupations
Second only to working in the industry, interviewing people can provide great information when selecting an occupation
Knowing your values, skills, interests, and what you want from a career guides your choice. The Holland Personality Codes and O*NET describe occupations in detail. They also refer you to professional and trade associations for additional information. While all these sources provide you with good information, people working in the occupation remain the best source of information.
What Information Should You Gather?
Prepare questions that will gather useful information. You can adapt your questions from these:
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
What frustrates you the most?
What tasks do you spend most of your day performing?
Describe a typical day?
How much do you get to do (one of your motivated skills) a day? Week? Month?
How much does your job allow/prevent you to (one of your always valued)?
What do you see the future holding for this occupation? Is it growing or shrinking?
What advice would you give someone thinking of entering this work?
Who Should You Interview?
People doing the work you want to explore are the best source of information. You can also gain valuable information talking to the others who work closely with your desired occupation. You can find people in professional associations, company web sites, and articles about the industry or companies. Your family, friends, associates may know someone working in the occupation or industry. They can refer you to people if you ask:
“Who do you know working as a (desired occupation)? or at (a company)?
“Who do you know that could give me information about (desired occupation)?”
“I want to learn more about (desired occupation). Who do you suggest I talk to?”
Do not expect a lot of time with the people you interview. You make better progress making 3-4 3-minute phone calls coupled with 4-5 two question emails, than one 30 minute interview. People do not have 30 minutes to give you in one stop.
Art courtesy of 123rf.com
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