Preparing High School Learners to Interview Professionals
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We can’t know everything.
No one can. But, we do have the ability to know how and where to get our questions answered. Our learners should be empowered to do the same.
Let’s say your high schooler is interested in veterinary medicine. Your majored in business and finance.
How do you help your young adult learn more about this career field?
Find a trusted professional who is willing to share his or her passion, and then ask. Most people wait eagerly for an opportunity to talk about what they love. In the process, your young adult is afforded a chance to learn about the education requirements, niche areas of the profession, and perhaps even what the career might look like in the future (at the time when you learner is trying to land a job) from a person in the know. In addition, should an ongoing mentoring relationship form, there may be a potential connection made for later employment.
Identifying a person who could be interviewed is the first step. The second step, preparation, is key. Intentionality often reaps the greatest reward (another one of those life lessons our high schoolers learn from experiential learning).
Preparing for interviewing is an important skill. Afterall, if someone carves out time in a schedule to meet with a high schooler, being prepared for the meeting not only allows the learner to glean the most helpful information possible, but also shows respect for the professional’s time. Some high schoolers decide they need help brainstorming to make a list of questions and practice asking those questions through a role play scenario. Other young adults prefer to work more independently to create their list and then seek input or additions from someone they know will provide feedback. This process is another step in discovering how one learns best is a unique benefit of experiential opportunities.
When our high schoolers showed interest in an area and wanted to talk to professionals in the field, we developed a list of questions. I offer a full list in the appendices of More than Credits, but these examples will jump start the thinking process for your high school learner.
How did your high school experiences benefit your career?
Where did you attend college?
How or why did you decide to choose this college?
How did your post-secondary studies influence your career?
Which post-secondary courses were particularly beneficial in your career preparation?
Is there something you feel would have been helpful—maybe even a different major—than what you pursued?
How do you see your career field changing in the next five years?
When preparing to interview someone in a trade or technical field, we adjusted our list of questions to address trade-specific aspects of a field. The complete list is also included in the book, but again, these should provide a place to start as you and your learner develop a list of questions.
Did you earn industry certifications and if so, which were helpful to you?
What should I consider as I research post-secondary education options?
What skills do you use every day?
What types of writing do you do in your field?
The high school journey is more than taking tests and finishing study guides. Those do have a place in education, but it is important to remember these aspects of learning should not overshadow and crowd out some of the most beneficial ways our young adults gain knowledge—through experiential learning opportunities like interviewing professionals.
