HCOM 325
INTERVIEWING: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

FALL SEMESTER 2005

Dr. S. Irene Matz
Assistant Professor

Class Meeting, Time and Place: TR 1-2:15 p.m. CP 470 - #13291

Course:

Required Text:

Stewart, Charles J. & Cash, Jr. William B. (2003). Interviewing Principles and Practices (11th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.

Matz, S. I. Handbook for HCOM 325 (purchase in Titan Bookstore)

Additional Readings: To be announced.

Course Description: Prerequisite: HCOM 100 or consent of instructor. Principles and practices of interviewing processes. Consideration of appraisal, counseling, employment, exit, journalistic, persuasive and survey types of interviews.

Course Objectives:

• Learn about various types of interviews.
• Study strategies for interviewing, both as an interviewer and interviewee.
• Investigate career opportunities through research and informative interviews.
• Learn communication skills.
• Critique interviews with other students.
• Explore personal professional goals.

Course Assignments and Activities

Attendance & Participation 15%
Mid-term Assessment 20%
Final Assessment 20%
Cover Letter 5%
Resume 5%
Interview Report 25%
Poster 10%

Attendance (15% of your grade)
Classes

1-2 Classes = A
3-4 Classes = B
5 Classes = C
6 = D
Below = F

GRADING SYSTEM
PLUS/MINUS GRADING

Schedule

Class discussions, case reviews, interviews, guest speakers will be included in the semester’s program. Your attendance is vital to the success of the course.

YOU ARE VALUED AND NEEDED

Course Policies

University regulations require that you are provided with a statement about plagiarism in the course syllabus.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as the act of taking the specific substance of another and offering it as one’s own without giving credit to the source. Sources must be cited accurately and appropriately. When sources are used, acknowledgment of the original author or source must be made following standard scholarly practice. Cases of plagiarism will constitute dismissal from the course with a failing grade.

Honesty: Academic honesty is a core value at Cal State Fullerton. It is cheating if you develop your answers from sources other than those permitted by your professor or represent the work of others as your own. A few specific examples are:

• Using notes of other aids
• Using the work of other students
• Handing in work that isn’t yours
• Taking a test for someone else
• Sharing your answers to examination questions or class assignments with others

Attendance: Part of your grade will depend on your attendance. Please reference the attendance scale for your letter grade that will be factored into your final grade. Good attendance and promptness are professional behaviors that reflect a responsible employee who is valued. If you must miss a class, please email or phone the professor prior to the class meeting. Please be on time for classes; tardiness interrupts the entire class – use this opportunity to develop habits that lead to your success.

Assignments: All assignments are accepted on or before the due date only. Assignments should be “professional” quality. All assignments must be completed and handed in for a final grade. Please type all assignments.

Cell phones: Please make certain that all cell phones and other technical equipment are turned off during class meetings.

Flexibility: Please allow for flexibility of the schedule due to class enrollment, class speakers, or other events.


 

Resume and Cover Letter

Assignment I

Objectives: Update personal resume and write a cover letter.

Write a professional resume that includes all current information. You may submit a resume of your choice, e.g., chronological, functional, targeted or electronic. You will also include a letter of application.

 

Interview Assignment

Assignment II

Interview a professional in your particular area of interest.

You may not interview your present employer, people in your present employment, family members or friends. You should use this opportunity to meet and network with people in your future career.

Procedure

1. Find someone who works in your area of interest.
2. Contact the person and identify yourself as a Cal State Fullerton student doing a class assignment. Politely ask for approximately 30 minutes of his/her time. Telephone interviews are not permitted. If you record the interview, ask for permission first.
3. Get started on finding your person immediately. Don’t be discouraged if you have to contact several people before someone grants you an interview.

Interview questions (or any ones of your choice):

1. What do you find most rewarding (challenging, frustrating (about your job?
2. What is a typical day (work week) like?
3. What are the requisite skills and areas of knowledge needed to be successful in your position?
4. What are the career opportunities?
5. What course(s) do you wish you had taken (or done better in) while you were in school?

Report:

1. Use APA report style format. First, research your profession using magazines, books, journals and other sources. Grading will include content, style, grammar, creativity, effort for pursuing the professional, and resources.

Paper Requirements:

Title page

Abstract (summary of the report)

Part I – introduction of the profession and the interviewee’s company

Part II – summary of the professional whom you interviewed; paragraph themes from your interview (e.g., work schedule and responsibilities, career path, interactions with workers)

Part III – your summary of the interview and implications.

Enjoy this assignment!

Use this as an opportunity to network with a professional.


POSTER ASSIGNMENT
Observation/Critique Assignment

Assignment III

Objective:

Observe interviewing styles
Comparison of styles
Relate to both the interviewer and interviewee styles
Observe interviewing questions and probes
Creative presentation experience

Part I Observe two media interview. This could either be on radio or television. I’d recommend television because you will have the richness of nonverbal communication.

Shows: Charlie Rose; Larry King; early Sunday morning programs such as Meet the Press, Sunday Morning Report or any other. Please do not view shows such as Oprah, Jay Leno or others.

Part II Compare and contrast these styles of interviewing. Observe the interviewers and their response styles.

Part III Present your findings on a “poster”. You may want to include the following:

i. Brief summary of the event including date, time, place, and channel or station.
ii. Discuss their styles, types of questions and probes.
iii. Your observations of the interviewing styles of both interviews.
iv. A comparison and contrast of these two styles.
v. Your observations of the interviewees/interviewers.
vi. Critique these styles, questions, and probes as compared to our readings. Were these appropriate, professional, proper?
vii. Summary and implications of your observations.

Part IV You will informally share these findings with your classmates.

Double space. Reference page of your sources, i.e., TV show, articles that you used. Title page (include your name, course number, assignment, and my name).