LASA 1—Informational Interview

In M1: Assignment 3, you identified a professional in the field of psychology to interview. You selected an interviewee employed in a psychology-related job which interests you and developed a list of ten questions.

For this assignment, you will conduct an interview with your chosen psychology professional using those ten questions.The interview must last a minimum of 30 minutes. As specified in Module 1, you must ask interviewees about their work, academic preparation, and advice during the interview. Be certain to include the interviewee’s answers to your questions on the following topics:

• The experiences, skills, and knowledge necessary for success in psychology careers or graduate school
• Relevant professional organizations
• His/her views on professional ethics and academic integrity
• The role of psychological research in his/her work
• His/her greatest challenges and rewards
• His/her reasons for choosing his/her field

Once the interview has been completed, prepare a summary detailing the responses you have received from the questions you asked as well as a discussion of any impact the interview has had on your decisions regarding possible future employment possibilities.

When discussing the impact the interview had on you, be sure to:

• Discuss at least two strengths and two weaknesses you recognized in yourself after conducting the interview.
• Identify at least one step you can take to address those weaknesses so that you strengthen your ability to attain your chosen career goal.

Write a 3–4 page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc.

By Sunday, June 30, 2013, deliver your assignment to the M3: Assignment 2 Dropbox.

Course Project Grading Criteria and Rubric

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria	Maximum Points
Discussed the experiences, skills, and knowledge necessary for success in psychology careers and/or graduate school.	28
Discussed relevant professional organizations.	12
Identified the interviewee’s views on professional ethics and academic integrity.	28
Discussed the role of psychological research in interviewee’s work.	12
Identified the interviewee’s greatest challenges and rewards, and the reasons for choosing his/her field.	20
Discussed the impact the interview had on your decision making regarding future employment.	20
Included discussion of your own strengths and weaknesses identified after talking with the interviewee. Also included at least one step you can take to overcome those weaknesses.	36
Writing Components: Organization (12) Style (4) Usage and Mechanics (12) APA Elements (16)	44
Total:	200

For assistance with any problems you may have when completing this assignment—OR—to offer your assistance to classmates, please use the Problems and Solutions Discussion area located through the left side navigation link.

Preparing for the Informational Interview

His or her name: Tami Pennington

Job title (licensed psychologist, social worker, or case manager):  Forensic Psychologist

Level of education (bachelor’s, master’s, or a doctoral degree): Doctoral

Description of job responsibilities or day-to-day tasks: Mental Health Therapist for Adult sex offenders

Type of license, if applicable; License Associate Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, FBI Hostage Negotiator, and Mental Health Advisor for Gwinnett County Sherriff Office Swat Team

State of residence/practice: Georgia

E-mail address or phone number:  tpennigton@argorsy.edu

 1.    What made you want to do this particular job? 

 2.  How long did it take for you to get to this position?

 3.  Why did you choose the education path that you did?  IE you have a master’s degree then you    got a second masters, and now you’re working on your doctored.

4.  Do you obsess about things?  If so what are they?

 5. How did you get your current jobs with the department? What jobs and practices have led you  to your current situation?

 6.  What are the abilities that are most significant for a position in this field?

 7.  Let’s talk next step.  Where do you go from here in your career and in your education?

8.  Being a woman in this field of work how has your job positively or harmfully affected your way of living?  Examples please.

 9.   What frustrates you the most about your job?  If you could change anything what would it be and how would you change it?

10.   What stresses you the most about your job?  What are you least interested in dealing with your job?

11. If given the opportunity to redo things would you and where would you start?