You will be required to interview someone who currently holds a position that you are interested in.

Assignment Brief

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

An INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW is a meeting in which a job seeker asks for career and industry advice rather than employment. The job seeker uses the interview to gather information on the field, and to find employment leads and expand their professional network. This differs from a job interview because the job seeker asks the questions. There may or may not be a specific employment opportunity available. Nevertheless, job interview etiquette is expected. A thank you card or email to your interviewee is appropriate.

You will be required to interview someone who currently holds a position that you are interested in. This interview may be conducted in person, over the phone, or via email (if absolutely cannot be done in person). The more information you ask an interviewee, the more information you will receive about a particular career position. Grammar and Spelling will be graded.

DIRECTIONS:

Type out the QUESTION and the ANSWER. Once you have answered typed up the questions you asked and your interviewee’s responses, write a reflection about your experience. What did you find most interesting? Surprising? Exciting? Also, what career theories did you see expressed in the way this person chose their field?

Sample Answer

Informational Interview

Interviewee: Sarah Thompson, Marketing Manager at a UK-based technology company
Date: 20 August 2025
Method: Zoom video call

Questions and Answers

Q1: Can you describe your current role and main responsibilities?
A1: I manage a small marketing team and oversee all digital campaigns, social media content, and product launches. I also analyse campaign performance and report on ROI to senior management. My role requires a mix of creativity, strategic thinking, and data analysis.

Q2: How did you get started in this career?
A2: I started with a degree in Business and Marketing, then completed an internship at a tech start-up. That experience gave me hands-on exposure, which led to my first full-time role in digital marketing. Over the years, I moved from junior roles to team leadership by gaining practical skills and networking extensively.

Q3: What skills do you consider most important in your field?
A3: Communication, adaptability, and analytical thinking are essential. You need to understand trends quickly, communicate ideas clearly to stakeholders, and use data to make informed decisions. Technical skills in analytics software and social media platforms are also vital.

Q4: What challenges do you face in your job?
A4: The marketing environment changes constantly, so keeping up with trends and new technology can be challenging. Managing team workload and ensuring consistent performance under tight deadlines are also common challenges.

Q5: What do you enjoy most about your work?
A5: I enjoy the creativity involved and seeing the direct impact of our campaigns. Watching a strategy I helped design translate into increased customer engagement and sales is very rewarding.

Q6: Would you recommend this career to someone just starting out? Why?
A6: Yes, definitely. Marketing is dynamic and offers opportunities for creativity and professional growth. It’s also suitable for people who enjoy problem-solving, teamwork, and learning new technologies.

Continued...