Assignment:

Forbes $(2019$; $2020)$ consistently cites "interpersonal communication" as one of the most vital skills needed in the workforce. Indeed, to succeed in nearly any field or in any organization, you must have the ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with to management, coworkers, customers, and stakeholders.

This assignment requires you to discuss the role of interpersonal communication in a specific career or field of your choosing. Ideally, you should select a career or profession you are interested in pursuing. In order to gain an "insider's perspective" for your paper, you will interview one individual who currently works in the field or profession you have selected. Some possible interview questions include the following:

Do you think interpersonal communication skills are important in your career$/$field$?$ Why or why not?

How, if at all, do you use interpersonal communication to perform your specific job duties? Can you give an example?

Can you give an example of a time when you had a successful communication encounter at work? What made the interaction successful?

Can you give an example of a time when a communication encounter at work did not go very well? What made this interaction unsuccessful or difficult?

What advice related to interpersonal communication would you give to someone interested in your career?

What tips do you have for communicating effectively with others at work?

You are not limited to the questions listed above. I encourage you to come up with your own questions and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the importance of effective communication in the professional world. There is no required length for the interview, but a $10-20$ minute chat should provide you with enough information to address the assignment requirements and write a thoughtful reflection.

NOTE: I strongly encourage you to conduct the interview over the phone, via video chat $($FaceTime$,$ Skype, Zoom, etc.$),$ or in person. Interviews conducted over email or instant messaging tend to yield shorter, less$-$detailed responses. In a face$-$to$-$face or phone conversation, people are more likely to elaborate on their responses and provide specific examples to illustrate their points.

I also recommend that you record the interview so that you can refer to the conversation as you are writing your Application Log. However, you MUST obtain the person's permission in order to record the conversation!

Your reflection $($Application Log$)$ should include the following:

Introduction paragraph: Briefly introduce the focus of your application log and end the paragraph with a sentence that states$/$previews what you will be discussing in the rest of the paper. In other words, provide a thesis statement!

Main Body Paragraphs: In your first main body paragraph, you should briefly explain the career$/$profession you are focusing on$,$ identify the person you interviewed, and describe his$/$her position or specific job duties.

a$.$ In the subsequent main body paragraphs, you should discuss and reflect on your interviewee's responses to your questions. Be sure to clearly address how, if at all, interpersonal communication plays a role in the career$/$profession you have selected, and how the person you interviewed communicates with others to perform his or her job duties. Please use direct quotes and specific examples from your interviewee to support your ideas.

i$.$ Additionally, you should reflect on the interview responses and provide your own assessment regarding whether and how interpersonal communication skills are important in this line of work.

b$.$ In your final main body paragraph$($s$),$ please discuss how you anticipate using interpersonal communication in your future career $($which may or may not be the same career as the person you interviewed$).$ Do you think your interpersonal communication skills meet the necessary requirements for the type of work you are interested in pursuing? If not, how can you work on improving your professional communication skills?

i$.$ If you already have a job in your desired field, please reflect on how you use interpersonal communication in your current position and whether you feel as if you could improve your communication skills related to your job.

Concluding Paragraph: Restate the overall purpose of the paper and briefly summarize your discussion of how interpersonal communication is used in the career you have selected. Conclude with a meaningful closing thought that provides a practical takeaway related to your interview experience and