Double-Check Schedule | Informational Interviews
Double-Check Your Schedule
Before or during Thanksgiving break, take time to double-check what you are registered to take during spring semester:
- Are you registered in a full course load (14-16 credit hours unless we specifically discussed otherwise)?
- Are you registered in the remaining courses you need to complete Cluster I by the end of your first year?
- Did you register for courses that you did not discuss with your advisor? Do you want to discuss those with with your advisor so that you get confirmation that your schedule will help you progress towards General Education, declared/potential major, and declared/potential degree requirements?
Remember, you can still make changes to your spring semester schedule until the second Tuesday of spring semester. Many students making course changes between the New Years and the first day of classes. Granted, after classes have started you want to be more strategic about making changes since you may have already missed classes.
Spotlight on Exploring Resources
Informational Interviews
The Holiday Breaks are a great time to connect with people in career fields you’re considering by conducting an informational interview! This is a uninterrupted time for you to have a Q&A with a professional. Generally, this runs 20-30 minutes, and can happen over the phone, at the professional’s place of employment, or another central meeting location Seriously, people love sharing their experiences and helping the next generation.
When you conduct an informational interview, you can gather information you cannot learn online. When you talk with a professional, you can learn subjective information, such as opinions, advice, and an outline of their personal experience. For example, here are some great questions to ask:
- How did you get into this field? What was your major in college?
- What do you like most/least about this position?
- What is the typical career path this job follows?
- What is a typical day or week like on the job?
- What skills and abilities have you found to be most important in your work?
- What personal qualities do you feel are needed to succeed in this line of work?
- What kinds of classes/experiences do you recommend someone obtain in college that’s entering this field?
- How would you advise someone to begin seeking an internship in your field?
You don’t want to ask questions you can find the answer to online, and nobody wants to take time answering those questions. O*Net and the Occupational Outlook Handbook are good places to begin your research so you go to the interview with basic understandings about their profession. To identify a professional, utilize:
Learn more about (1) how to make contact, (2) how to prepare, (3) what to wear, (4) saying thank you, and (5) reflect on the experience by reading Informational Interviewing: Get the Inside Scoop on Careers. Remember, you can always meet with me to process what you learned with your informational interview to determine your next steps to make a decision!
When you conduct an informational interview, you can gather information you cannot learn online. When you talk with a professional, you can learn subjective information, such as opinions, advice, and an outline of their personal experience. For example, here are some great questions to ask: