Recent hire accelerates own development through information interviews
Narrator: Information interviewing may help you expand your boundaries. Let’s listen to Cindy pitch an idea.
Cindy: Jim, as part of my individual development plan, I’d like to try doing an information interview once in a while. I think it will help me understand more about how government runs and how the work of other divisions connects to ours. I think that will equip me to add value to my job more quickly. Here is my first draft of potential conversations. It is a combination of subject matter experts and supervisors in our building. What do you think?
Jim: Good idea, Cindy. I think this experience could expand your comfort zone and help you develop more quickly. I approve, with the understanding that you must continue meeting your team deadlines that you’re responsible for. By the way, this Associate Director in the Office of Special Education Programs is about to retire. If you really want to talk to her, better go right now and see if you can make an appointment. Please keep me informed about what you’re learning. Come by any time if you need help.
Cindy: Great, Jim, I will. Thanks for your advice and support.
[Scene changes. Cindy enters the Associate Director’s office.]
Cindy: Hi, I’m Cindy.
Associate Director: Cindy, have a seat. Sorry I couldn’t do this when you stopped by yesterday. I may keep packing while we talk – I’m short on time. I have meetings all day tomorrow. Now, how can I help?
Cindy: No problem. Thanks so much for agreeing to meet with me at all. Here’s my background in brief. Until five months ago I was finishing a graduate degree at State University and serving as the student member on a statewide citizen advisory board on K through 12 education. I’m here because I want to work in education policy. Right now I’m based in the office of Impact Aid programs. My supervisor is Jim Brown, and I thought these information interviews could get me up to speed more quickly. I would be very interested in anything you want to tell me about the work of your part of the Office of Special Education Programs. Also, are you willing to share a little about your career path? And if you want to share any lessons learned, I’m all ears.
Wow. Okay. Well, why don’t we start with … [fade out]
