Appendix C: Career Research Interview Questions

Adapted from Business Education A Curriculum Guide for the Secondary Level Accounting 10, 20, 30 (Saskatchewan Education 1992).

Interview someone who currently works in this career.

The assignment may be completed independently, in pairs, in small groups, or by whichever method is chosen by the student(s) and teacher. The teacher should encourage students to use a variety of resources to gather information about the career that they are researching. The student may use resources listed in the bibliography, letters, the Internet, phone or a personal interview to gather information.

After the students have discussed different career paths, students may prepare a short journal writing explaining why they are interested in the career area they are about to investigate.

Students may proceed to develop a list of questions to collect the information they require to help them understand more about the career area they have chosen.

The following list of questions may be included in the students' interview project.

1. What is the title of your job?
2. What are your normal duties on the job?
3. What are some of the things that you enjoy about your job?
4. Are there any things about your job that you dislike? What are those things?
5. Does your company have a dress code for employees? What is considered suitable?
6. How often is working overtime required in your job?
7. Do you have to work nights or weekends?
8. What aptitudes and abilities are needed to succeed in your career?
9. What are the post-secondary education and training requirements to enter and advance in your career?
10. Can you give an approximate starting salary for someone just starting out in your occupation? How much does the average person earn after five years? After ten years? What types of employee benefits, such as sick leave or dental plans, do workers in your career usually receive?
11. Do you think the demand for workers in your career will increase or decrease over the next five years? Why?
12. What changes have you seen over the past 5 - 10 years in this career?
13. What are the advantages and disadvantages of entering and being in your career?
14. Is there any advice you would give to a young person just making a career choice?

After the interview session, students may summarize the information they received and draw a conclusion as to whether they would like to learn more about this career. They may also determine whether they would like to join that organization based on their experience.