Objectives:

1. To understand the value of people as source of Labour Market Information.
2. To practice interviewing skills.

Suggested Time: 30 minutes

Materials:

Overhead, overheads, screen

Handout

Flipchart, felt pens

Facilitator's Note: The time spent on this activity depends on the experience of participants, and may be shortened as required.

Content and Process:

1. Refer back to the chart "Survey of Labour Market Information Sources" (3 page landscape chart) on Labour Market Information and explain that the activity will discuss the last two rows of the chart regarding Participation and People.
   
2. Explain how participation and people are alternate ways to gather relevant up-to-date information and knowledge form first hand experience. Refer back to the activity of sources of Labour Market Information. Review the examples given on sources of information that refer to people and participation for the four industries discussed.
   
3. Information interviews are a way to obtain information from people. Ask participants why a person might use an information interview. Students/clients may use an information interview to (OVERHEAD 52):
   

• find out what a job involves in regard to day-to-day basis
• learn what education/training is preferred by employers
• to assess the demand and projections for employment in a particular field
• get up-to-date information about salary ranges, working conditions, educational requirements, on-the-job climate, etc
• make contacts to extend your network
• use as a warm-up for a job interview
  

1. Some of these issues may have been covered in the previous discussion. Use your judgement as to whether to address them again.
   
   1. . Ask participants how many of them have ever done an information interview.
      
2. What skills did they use as the interviewer? Write their responses on the flipchart. (FLIPCHART)
   1. (OPTION) Facilitators may give a short demonstration of an interview.
      
3. Ask participants to make observations and identify what skills they say being used.
4. (DISCUSS)
   
5. Some key skills to use when interviewing are: research, information gathering, planning, formulating appropriate and relevant questions, note-taking, organizing materials, clear communication.
   
   1. Ask participants how they would establish or make the contact with people they would like to interview - a cold call, name from a directory, a referral from someone else.
      
   2. Ask what advice they would give to someone conducting an information interview.
6. Describe some key points about information interviews (OVERHEAD 53):
   
   • Talk to more than one person about the same topic. Acknowledge that the person's personal interest and a job experience influence their opinion and view of their job. Make sure to compare several opinions and experiences.
     
   • Plan ahead the interview. Define your goal for the interview and have questions prepared.
     
   • Be clear about your interview goal: you want information not a job or any other kind of help.
     
   1. Have participants divide into pairs and interview each other about their present job or career path (10 minutes each). Suggest that they ask some questions related to the labour market such as: (HANDOUT 49)
      
   • What trends have influenced your career?
     
   • How is technology changing or affecting your field?
     
   • How did you use "contacts" in your career choice?
     
   • How did you research the career choices you made?
     
   • What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in the same area that you do?
     
7. Allow some time for each interviewer to prepare their questions (5 minutes). After ten minutes, remind the partners to switch so the other person gets a chance to do the interviewing. They will not be asked to report back on the interviews. Ask in general what they learned, what they found useful, what things/questions they might modify or use again?
   
8. Discuss how information interviews might be arranged with their own clientele. (DISCUSS) They could start with having someone come to a class for a group interview, so the clients/students get the idea.
   
   1. Evaluating Information. To close this section, ask participants "What suggestions will you make to your clients to evaluate the information that they gather?" and "How will the clients prepare for this evaluation of information in advance?"
      
9. Record on the flipchart and discuss (FLIPCHART, DISCUSS).
   
   1. Refer to handout (HANDOUT 50) "Responding to Client Information Needs: Suggested Sources and Research Activities" as a reference list for work with clients.
      
      

Adapted from an activity developed by Barbara Philpot and Julia Melnyk.

List of Handouts and Overheads used in this section:

HANDOUT 49
Information Interview

HANDOUT 50
Responding to Client Information Needs

OVERHEAD 52
Information Interview

OVERHEAD 53
Some Key Points about Information Interviews