Microsoft, 2011

Preparing for the Career Panel and Interviews

8th Grade: Careers in the Community

Review

• In this unit we’ve talked about how people from history have overcome obstacles to reach their career goals, and have also talked about the obstacles you may encounter and how you can overcome those obstacles.

• Next class, we will have the opportunity to hear from people in the community about how they reached their career goals and you will also be interviewing a person from the community in a career you’re interested in on your own

Today’s Objective

• Today, we are going to prepare for the career panel and for career interviews. • We will talk about

interviewing tips and develop a list of questions for both the career panel and your personal interviews.

Microsoft, 2011

Career Interview Assignment

• Identify a career that you are interested in that is open to people in your community.

• Identify a person who is employed in your career of interest.• Introduce yourself and explain the project. Ask the candidate

if he or she is willing to participate in an interview.• Set up a date and time for the interview. • Prepare your questions and then conduct the interview.• Send a thank-you note to the interviewee.• Prepare your 2-3 minute presentation.• Present your 2-3 minute presentation to the class.

Career Interview Assignment

• Presentation Date:• You will be evaluated on:– The length of your presentation– How prepared you were to present– The content of your presentation including –

– His/her path to the career– A description of the career and his/her job– His/her strengths and skills– Your opinion about the job, whether or not you would like to

have that job, and why or why not.

How to Conduct an Interview

STEP 1: Research, research, research.STEP 2: Contact the person you wish to interview. STEP 3: Read over your research and brainstorm a list of

15 questions.STEP 4: Come preparedSTEP 5: Be on time!STEP 6: Conduct your interview in an organized, timely

manner.STEP 7: Even if you are recording an interview, take notes.STEP 8: Review your research and your interview notes

Sample Interview

• Watch the following student interview.– Although it’s for a different

purpose than yours, consider: • What did he do well?

Which tips did he follow?• What could he have done

better? Which tips should he have followed?

Scholastic, 2009

Research

• Research, research, research!• In your groups, research the career of your

assigned panelist.• Based on your research, brainstorm a list of at

least 15 questions you’d like to ask the panelist.• Each group member should choose 2 questions

to ask the panelist and write them on a note card.– Put your name on the back of the note card.

Your Interview

• Select your career of interest• Research that career and brainstorm

questions to ask in your interview.• By next class, develop a list of questions and

set up your interview.• If you need help finding an interviewee, ask!

To-Do

• Log in to Family Connection• Add a to-do to your to-do list that reminds you

to research your career, brainstorm questions, and set up your interview.

References

• Microsoft Office Images. (2011). Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

• Scholastic News Kids Press Corps. (2009). How to Conduct An Interview. Retrieved from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752516