Smallwood: ACCT Professional Development Informal Interview Reflection Instructions Due: Beginning of class Dec.

2, 2013 Often, when we see a successful person, we only see their end resultwe fail to see the hard work they have invested as well as the simple daily activities that brought their success. We also often do not get a full understanding of that person and what their career and accomplishments mean to them. Through the examination of successful individuals, one can gain personal insight into their own direction and talents. To this purpose, please complete the following: 1. Find a local professional who is working in the field of business. Make certain to select someone who currently has the job or a job similar to one you would like within ten years after you graduate. (NOTE: Remember, just because you contact someone does not mean they will respond or be willing to participate so try to identify two or three professionals.) (NOTE: This person CANNOT be a relative or someone at your current employment.) 2. Contact the interviewee and set up a face-to-face meeting or phone chat. (NOTE: This person does not know you which means that you will need to take care to reach out to them in your most professional manner.) 3. Prepare for the interview by conducting research on either the person or the company for which they work. Make certain that you go into the interview with adequate preparation so that you do not waste the professionals time but also so that you present yourself as a professional. (NOTE: Preparing questions ahead of time is great but remember you are not conducting an interrogation. Plan your questions so that you have a conversation with the professional.) 4. Conduct the interview. (NOTE: You will want to take notes and/or record the conversation for use later so be sure to ask permission to do so before you start your conversation.) After the interview, reflect on what you learned and how the information can potentially alter your future. 5. Construct a roughly 1250 word (which should be roughly three pages double spaced), informal APA correct essay which transfers your reflection on what you gained from the interview to paper. (NOTE: You are not constructing a transcription of the interview; rather, you are reflecting on what you learned. Simply paraphrasing what the professional said is not appropriatethis paper is mainly about you!) After the conclusion of your paper, please remember to provide the name, company, phone number, and email of the professional you interviewed.

IMPORTANT: As a student, you are in a unique position to visit with professionals and to make contact with them. This assignment is a perfect opportunity to gain access to a successful businessperson that you otherwise would not be able to do. Taking the easy way out on this assignment and selecting a generic or previously known person will waste this prime networking opportunity. Trust me, you will someday lament wasting this opportunity if you do not put forth the effort to meet with someone really outstanding.

Name: Smallwood: ACCT Professional Development Informal Interview Essay Feedback Sheet AREA
Professionalism (20 points) Essay was submitted in class on the day it was due (see syllabus) Essay features correct and required formatting Essay is roughly 1250 words Writing Style (35 points) Essay demonstrates college level writing regarding word choice Essay demonstrates college level writing regarding sentence structures Essay demonstrates planning with a cohesive flow and construction Essay demonstrates appropriate proofreading Content (95 points) Essay demonstrates evidence of a logically conducted interview Essay features biography of the interviewee Essay explores the educational background and training of the interviewee Essay explores the professional and workplace background of the interviewee Essay explores any future goals the interviewee has Essay features advice from the interviewee Essay pinpoints specific areas of advice from the interviewee to the writer Essay discusses how the interviewee would direct the writer Essay discusses areas which were of surprise to the writer Essay features reflection on the part of the writer Essay explores the connection between the interviewee and the writers future Essay explores how the information learned in the interview can and will affect the writers journey Essay features discussion on how the writer plans to move forward Essay features an introduction with a clear thesis Essay features conclusion which summarized the essay Essay features the requested contact information of the interviewee

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5 10 10 5 10 10 5 10 10 5 5 5 5

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