The purpose of this project is to help you gain a better understanding of the sport management field and the career paths which might interest you. Conduct an Informational Interview Select a person who works in a job you intend to one day have Contact this person by email or phone and ask them for a 20 minute appointment. Write the following information about the interviewee: Name of the person Job title Organization s/he works for Email address Date of the interview. If the interview was set up by email, make sure you provide a copy of the emails used to set up the interview Write a 1,000-word minimum summary of the informational interview You can use your notes and the questions as a guide for this summary. Send the interviewee a thank you note/email Important Notes about Conducting an Informational Interview: Our textbook provides a list of very useful questions which you can ask in the informational interview. Also you can visit this website for other questions ideas: https://www.livecareer.com/resources/interviews/prep/informational-interviewing (Links to an external site.) Always be respectful and cordial. If one person tells you NO (regarding allowing you to interview them), just say “I understand, thank you very much for your time” and move on to the next person. Never be rude or disrespectful. On the date of the interview, make sure you dress professionally/appropriately (business attire). Do not wear jeans, tennis shoes, etc. (This can be a good opportunity to network and to make a good impression). On the date of the interview, make sure your cell phone is in silence (no vibration) and make sure to ARRIVE ON TIME! Make sure to TAKE NOTES! After the interview, make sure you send the person a thank you note (letter or email). Make sure you write one which is appropriate for an informational interview. Here are some questions you may want to consider asking (these are only suggestions): Can you tell me how you got to this position? What do you like most about what you do, and what would you change if you could? How do people break into this field? What are the types of jobs that exist where you work and in the industry in general? Where would you suggest a person investigate if the person were particularly skilled at (fill in the blank — quantitative thinking, communications, writing, advocacy)? What does a typical career path look like in your industry? What are some of the biggest challenges facing your company and your industry today? Are there any professional or trade associations I should connect with? What do you read — in print and online — to keep up with developments in your field? How do you see your industry changing in the next 10 years? If you were just getting involved now, where would you put yourself? What’s a typical day like for you? What’s unique or differentiating about your company? How has writing a book (starting a blog, running a company, etc.) differed from your expectations? What have been the greatest moments and biggest challenges?
