Informational Interview

There is tremendous value in learning from and networking with community rehabilitation practitioners on “the front lines.” New helping professionals often have many questions, concerns, and anxieties that can be uniquely addressed by individuals in the field.

Based on a students’ own professional aspirations (field of choice, i.e. substance abuse, vocational rehabilitation, counseling, peer support, etc.);

students will select one professional to meet with and interview in person or virtually.

While a list of potential agencies will be available to you, identify professionals practicing in your area of interest and will:

(a) meet with the professional at their place of practice to learn more about the work they perform;

(b) develop at least three (3) substantive questions to be asked of the professional that is directly related to the type of work they perform, and have the interviewee respond to additional questions; and lastly

(c), write a paper that details the information you gathered and then critiques it (compares and contrasts) based on the information you learned in class and your general understanding of that professional position.

Your 5-page paper should be divided into 4 sections:

Overview of the professional setting and what types of services professionals in this setting provide.
Overview of the information you gathered from the individual you interviewed. This should be presented in a narrative fashion, not Q & A. You should also give a brief introduction to your interviewee, their credentials and professional role.
Critique (compare and contrast of the information gathered versus what you have learned in class and via readings)
Conclude your paper discussing whether or not this interaction has influenced your own professional goals and what you learned that you were previously unaware of by interacting with this professional.

Questions for your professional:

How has current legislative and/or economic policy impacted the work you are able to do with the individuals you serve?
How important is licensure and/or certification to the work you do?
Since you began this position, what has changed in the way individuals are served?
How has ethical practice played a role in your own professional development?
How relevant has cultural competency been to the type of services you are able to provide?
What are your views on research and its relationship to practice?