Begin to prepare for this informational interview by identifying the professional you plan to interview. Ideally, the professional should be engaged in a career that you hope to pursue. (You may want to identify a second candidate in case your initial choice is unable to complete the interview with you.) This professional may work in your local area, but that is not necessary. If you cannot identify a professional easily, ask your friends and family if they know anyone who works in the field of psychology.
Provide the following identifying information about the individual you have selected:The name
The job title (licensed psychologist, social worker, or case manager)
The level of education (a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree)
A description of job responsibilities or day-to-day tasks
The type of license, if applicable
The state of residence and practiceDevelop a list of at least fifteen questions to ask in your informational interview. Be sure to put them into your own words for the purpose of this assignment and to give credit to your source by using in-text citations and a reference list in APA format.
Ask the interviewee about his or her work, academic preparation, and advice. In addition, include the interviewees answers to questions on the following topics:The experience, skills, and knowledge necessary for success in a career in psychology or in graduate school
Relevant professional organizations
His or her views on professional ethics and academic integrity
The role of psychological research in his or her work
His or her greatest challenges and rewards
His or her reasons for choosing the fieldDevelop a script (word-for-word written statement) that you will use during the warm-up (meet-and-greet) portion of the interview. What will you say to the interviewee when you meet him or her? What will you do? For example, will you shake the persons hand and introduce yourself? Include small talk of a professional nature that will serve as an introduction and explanation of the purpose of the interview. Demonstrate in your script your ability to interact professionally and effectively in a professional environment.
This assignment is preparatory work for the interview to be conducted later in this course