Career Preparation - The Interview Assignment
Overview
Students will interview a faculty member who teaches in a major of interest. The assignment assist students in developing rapport with faculty, creating questions that require in depth answers, and learning how to synthesize and summarize their major findings.
This is an assignment used with students in the SMC Law Pathway program.
Overview
Students will interview a working legal professional. The assignment assists students in developing rapport with working professionals, creating questions that require in depth answers, and learning how to synthesize and summarize their major findings.
Purpose of Interview:
The purpose of this assignment is to assist students in learning more about the legal profession from a working professional. The interview assignment will introduce students to:
- Different areas of the law
- Developing rapport with legal professionals
- Creating and asking effective questions to evaluate responses to interview questions
- Improving summary/paraphrasing and critical thinking skills
- Improving job interviewing skills
The Assignment:
For this assignment, you will be matched with a working legal professional. Contact the legal professional and request an interview via telephone or Zoom or other platform. Once an interview is scheduled, create 6-10 questions (regarding the interviewees background, education, career path, and current work assignments). Finally, reflect on your interview and write a summary in approximately two pages. The reflection should include the following: a) The steps taken to schedule the interview, b) summary of what you gathered from the interview (including some direct quotations, summarizing and paraphrasing), and your concluding thoughts and what resonated with you.
Interview Protocol:
- Contact the professional by telephone or email.
- Make an introduction and give an explanation of the assignment
- Request an interview. If the person says no, thank them for their time and request another contact from your professor.
- Set up a telephone or Zoom interview at your mutual convenience. Email interviews will be accepted only if the other options are declined by the interviewee.
Question Examples:
- Why did you choose to become a lawyer?
- How did you decide on this area of law?
- Why do you enjoy practicing law?
- What is the best way to prepare for this career path?
- What will I need to do to succeed as a lawyer?
Please note, no close ended questions are permitted which results in a “yes” or “no” response. Open ended questions that require an in-depth response are allowed. If you have any questions, feel free to directly contact me.