Your Interviewing Superpower: Script

Warm Up: What's Your Dream Job Question? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Today we're going to unlock a superpower that can help you explore your future career options. To start, let's do a quick warm-up. I want you to imagine your absolute dream job. It could be anything! Now, if you could ask someone who has that dream job just ONE question, what would it be? Turn to a partner and share your dream job and your question."

Allow 2-3 minutes for students to discuss.

Teacher: "Okay, let's hear a few! Who has a fascinating dream job or an intriguing question to share?"
Call on a few students. Acknowledge their questions and enthusiasm.

Introduction to Informational Interviews (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Those were some fantastic questions! Many of you are already thinking like future investigators. Today, we're going to talk about a powerful tool called an informational interview. It's exactly what it sounds like: an interview where your main goal is to get information."

Advance to Slide 2: What's an Informational Interview?

Teacher: "An informational interview is essentially a conversation. You're talking to someone who works in a career or industry you're curious about. The key difference is, it's not a job interview! You're not trying to get hired. Your primary goal is to learn from their experiences and insights. Think of it as being a detective, gathering clues about a career path."

Advance to Slide 3: Why Bother? The Superpowers!

Teacher: "So, why would you bother doing this? Well, these interviews give you some serious superpowers for your future:

• Gain Real-World Insights: You get to hear what a job is really like, beyond what a website or brochure might tell you. What are the daily challenges? What's most rewarding?
• Build Your Network: You're meeting professionals in fields you care about. These connections can be invaluable later on.
• Test Your Interests: You might think you want to be a marine biologist, but after talking to one, you might realize it involves more data analysis than you expected. It helps you see if a path is truly a good fit.
• Get Advice: Professionals have been where you are. They can offer advice on courses to take, skills to develop, or even pitfalls to avoid.
• Make Informed Decisions: All this information helps you make smarter choices about college majors, internships, and your overall career direction. It reduces that 'what do I do with my life?!' stress."

Advance to Slide 4: Who Do You Interview?

Teacher: "You might be thinking, 'Who do I even talk to?' The good news is, you probably know more people than you think, or know people who know people! Think about:

• Family friends
• Alumni from our school
• Teachers, counselors, or mentors you already have
• Or even just reaching out to professionals through platforms like LinkedIn (with parental guidance, of course!).

The important thing is to be polite, respectful of their time, and clear about your intention: you want to learn from them."

Teacher: "Any initial questions about what an informational interview is or why it's so helpful?"
Pause for student questions.

Crafting Effective Questions (10 minutes)

Advance to Slide 5: The Art of Asking: Getting the Gold!

Teacher: "Now, the secret weapon for a great informational interview isn't just showing up. It's asking great questions! Good questions do a few things:

• They help you dig deeper than surface-level information.
• They show the person you're interviewing that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested.
• And most importantly, they get you that valuable advice and insight you're looking for."

Advance to Slide 6: Types of Super Questions

Teacher: "Let's think about the types of questions you might ask. You want a mix to get a full picture. Here are some categories:

• Career Path Questions: These help you understand their journey. For example, 'How did you get started in this field?' or 'What steps led you to your current role?'
• Day-to-Day Questions: These give you a glimpse into their daily reality. Like, 'What does a typical day look like for you?' or 'What tools or software do you use most often?'
• Industry Insight Questions: These focus on the broader field. 'What are the biggest challenges facing this industry right now?' or 'What changes do you foresee in the next five years?'
• Advice Questions: This is where you get personalized guidance. 'What skills do you think are most important for success in this role?' or 'What advice would you give your younger self if you were starting out today?'"

Distribute the Crafting Questions Worksheet now.

Advance to Slide 7: Your Mission: Crafting Questions!

Teacher: "Okay, super interviewers! It's your turn to practice. On this worksheet, I want you to pick a job or industry you're curious about. It can be the one you thought of earlier, or a new one. Your mission is to brainstorm at least 5-7 questions you would ask someone in that role.

Think about:

• What do you genuinely want to know?
• What information would help you decide if this career is right for you?
• Try to include questions from different categories we just discussed.

I'll be circulating to help you brainstorm and refine your questions. Don't be afraid to get creative!"
Circulate, provide feedback, and encourage students. If time allows, have students share one question with a peer.

Cool Down: One Question Away (5 minutes)

Advance to Slide 8: One Question Away...

Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. For our cool down, I want you to think about one key takeaway from today's lesson, or one new 'super question' you've added to your mental toolkit for career exploration. Jot it down on your worksheet, or be ready to share it out."

Call on 2-3 students to share.

Teacher: "Excellent job today, future career explorers! Remember, the power to learn about your future is often just one good question away. Hold onto these skills; they'll be incredibly useful as you navigate your paths after high school. Have a great day!"

Crafting Questions Worksheet: Your Informational Interview Superpowers!

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Part 1: Your Curious Corner

Think about a job or industry you are curious about. It could be something you know a little about, or something completely new!

My Chosen Job/Industry: __________________________________________________________________

Part 2: Brainstorming Super Questions

Now, imagine you are going to have a 15-minute informational interview with someone working in your chosen job/industry. What questions would you ask to learn as much as possible? Try to create at least 5-7 questions, thinking about the different categories we discussed (Career Path, Day-to-Day, Industry Insight, Advice).

My Super Questions:

1. Career Path Question: What inspired you to pursue this particular career path, and how did you get started?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Day-to-Day Question: Could you describe a typical day or week in your role? What are your primary responsibilities?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Industry Insight Question: What do you see as the biggest challenges or exciting trends in this industry right now?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Advice Question: If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering a career in this field, what would it be?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Your Own Question: (Come up with another question based on your specific curiosity!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Your Own Question: (Add another if you have more things you want to know!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Your Own Question: (One more for good measure!)
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Reflect and Refine

After brainstorming, look at your questions. Are there any you could make more open-ended (questions that can't be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no')? Are there any that are too vague? Briefly revise one of your questions below to make it even better.

Original Question (optional):

Revised Question:

Cool Down: One Question Away

What is one key takeaway you learned today about informational interviews, or one new question you would add to your list?

Warm Up: What's Your Dream Job Question?

Instructions: Imagine your absolute dream job. If you could ask someone who has that dream job just one question, what would it be? Write your question below, and be ready to share with a partner or the class!

My Dream Job: __________________________________________________________________

My Question:

Cool Down: One Question Away

Instructions: What is one key takeaway you learned today about informational interviews, or one new question you would add to your list of questions for a career you're curious about?