CD 123 Cuyamaca College Interview with a Professional Paper
Your task is to interview a professional currently working in the field of early childhood education. You may interview a teacher, an administrator (program director or site supervisor) in a preschool, kindergarten, special education program, child psychologist, social worker, resource teacher, child advocate, child care licensing employee or informal education specialist, at a zoo, aquarium, museum or other similar site. Please select a person working in an area that you are interested in for your future career, not simply a teaching peer or someone you already know.
? Interview a person with at least 5-10 years of experience and someone who considers early childhood education a career and not simply a short term job. Select a person with experience who will be able to provide advice and expertise.
? You will need to set up an interview plan with the person you plan to interview. I suggest zoom, skype, email, phone interview during this pandemic. Plan to spend at least 45 minutes interviewing.
? Be well prepared with your list of questions. Take notes to use for the written portion of your assignment. Be sure to thank your interviewee. A follow up thank you note is always appreciated. Who knows…you may be interviewed for a job one day by this person!
? We will share information and experience about the interviews in class.
ASSIGNMENT DETAILS:
? 2-3 pages typed/ Complete paper, double spaced
? Date, time, location of the interview (address of site)
? Name and job title, employer and years in the field. Be sure to ask permission to use the person’s real name in your write up for the class.
? How did you locate this person? Why did you select this person?
? Description of the program the person works in.
Section I: Interview Reflection: Using your notes type up answers to each question, the discussion that may have ensued and apply text reading to what you discussed in the interview.
REQUIRED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
? How or why was this career chosen?
? What training, education and experience are required for this job?
? How do you stay current in the field?
? What are some of the current trends in the field?
? What personal characteristics do you feel are important for your work?
? What is your personal philosophy regarding children in your field of work?
? What values and professional ethics do you abide by?
? How is the current economy affecting you, your program and field?
? What do you consider the 3 most important issues facing your profession today?
? What have been some of the most rewarding experiences of your career?
? What have been some of the most frustrating or difficult experiences?
? What kinds of stresses do you experience in your present position?
? What do you do to manage these stresses for yourself?
? Add two or more questions of your own to the interview
Section II: Your Personal Reaction. This part should be at least half a page or more.
? What feelings do you now have after conducting the interview?
? Could you see yourself in this person’s position? Why or why not? (discuss your views of the position before and then after the interview)
? Are there any unanswered questions you have? Any comments?
