Interview Paper

For the Honors class, you have been asked to compose an interview paper. Your experience should consist of the following steps:

Decide on a career you may one day want to pursue.

Arrange an interview time with somebody who works in that profession.
You may conduct an interview in person or on the phone, or you may choose to conduct your interview through email. Email will make it very easy for you to use exact quotes in the essay, but interviewing somebody one-on-one will allow you to elaborate on questions and make note the interviewee's tone and body language.
Should you choose to use a recording device for your interview, be sure to clear that with your interviewee first. Some people do not like being recorded, and you must not record somebody without their permission. Either way, be prepared to take accurate notes. After the interview, take time to look over your notes, expand on areas where you used shorthand, and clarify anything that is written sloppily.

Prepare a list of questions that will help you obtain information that may help in writing an essay that could persuade a reader to pursue the career in question.

Conduct the interview.
Keep in mind "etiquette." I suggest you do not ask, "How much money do you make?" in your interview. Instead, be more tactful. Ask, "What can a beginner expect to earn in this career?" You could ask, "What is the earning potential for this career?"



Draft a persuasive essay that explains important information about the career and explains why somebody would want to work in that career field.

Use direct quotes from the interview to support your thesis.

The following is an example of an interview paper:


In today’s competitive job market, many young people often find themselves flailing in desperation. Even with a college degree from esteemed universities such as Harvard, Brown, and West Virginia University, many young Americans will end up flipping burgers for several years before they find a career that will allow them to combine their intelligence, creativity, and ambition in a positive work environment that provides competitive pay and decent benefits. One job market that many educated Americans have overlooked in the past is professional Zombie. Of course, many people avoid this job because of the immense personal sacrifice involved. As an interview with veteran Zombie Dewey Bloodstone shows, however, this field, in which demand for serious professionals has risen considerably, has been a constant source of pride and satisfaction in the worldwide workforce for thousands of years.
The primary reason so many young people overlook this career option is that the sole employer in the field, Supernatural Rites of Cannibalism Inc., has been engaged in an intense legal battle for the right to obtain and store human souls. This lawsuit, brought against the company by the Anti-Undead Coalition of America, has been costing the SRC millions of dollars a year, and the SRC has had to make severe budget cuts. The majority of these cuts, according to Dewey Bloodstone, the current CEO of the company, have been “Gangrenous infections that have spread uniformly across the advertising department.” Bloodstone went on to state that the company has been “Disabled to the point of having to withdraw its corporate sponsorship of popular figures in the music industry like Marilyn Manson, Ozzy Osborne, and Brittany Spears.” Obviously, without these powerhouse recruiters in their corner, and with little money to purchase billboards or television time slots, the company’s numbers have been decimated.
The number of personal changes the job requires usually turns off the few humans that do apply for employment. The most drastic of these personal changes is that the applicant must undergo a life extraction. Bloodstone said “Technology in the life extraction process has come a long way since A.D. 950” when his life was removed through the use of six gallons of crude oil, two yards of goat intestine, one 304 pound stone, and a very large precipice. According to the veteran, the current process is “Relatively painless, with only minimal emotional damage.”
Some of the other drawbacks of the industry are simply side effects of the life extraction. Though different from death, a life extraction forces some lifestyle changes. For instance, the Zombie is force to remain underground during daylight hours, or he/she will suffer very painful and irreversible boiling skin, which, in many cases, ends a Zombie’s career. Another huge change is that of diet. After the life is taken, the new Zombie can only exist on a highly regimented diet that is exclusively composed of brains. Many prospective Zombies feel like they would not like the lack of choice, but Bloodstone claims that “Depending on the education of the individual, brains come in a variety of flavors that puts Baskin-Robbins to shame.” So, perhaps the brain diet is not as restrictive as it seems.
In fact, education is not the only source of variety in the Zombie diet. Bloodstone explained, “Different countries tend to have distinct flavors, as well.” Of course, most people, when thinking of becoming a Zombie, figure that the opportunities for travel are minimal. Bloodstone explained that this is one of the biggest “Misconceptions about the entire industry.” Apparently, though autumn is the only big season for Zombies in America, some places, like Jamaica and particular European and African countries, employ SRC’s Zombie on an exchange basis throughout the rest of the year. Thus, as Bloodstone stated, “The chances for travel and variation are great, indeed”. This fact explains SRC’s current motto, “Eating the world, one brain at a time.”
Opportunities for advancement are yet another enticing aspect of the Zombie profession. Bloodstone mentioned, “In our depleted state, the company is ready and willing to fill a number of middle-management positions within the Fright Farm [the company’s headquarters located in Death Valley, CA].” Furthermore, Bloodstone mentioned the fact that the world’s population is growing by leaps and bounds, and the need for smaller regional headquarters is growing. The experienced Zombie confided, “If a young Zombie were to scrape and claw long enough, he might just be head of a new base in such exotic locales as Bangkok or the French Riviera.” Obviously, young people with administrative abilities and people skills could easily fulfill their dreams.
“When it comes right down to it, we all want to make a dollar and a cent in this business. We facilitate that, and this company also manages to keep our employees,” said Bloodstone about the financial potential for a new Zombie. Within the SRC, the average income is $75,000 a year, and the company also offers a very healthy benefits package. Bloodstone said, “Nearly every district office is located within spitting distance of some of the prettiest scenery around, and our buildings are equipped with all modern luxuries.” After their office hours, many Zombies relax in the state of the art multimedia entertainment rooms that give the SRC employees access to music, television, movies, and internet. Furthermore, the SRC offers overtime pay for up to two hours of self-improvement activities. Thus, the Zombies that take advantage of the company’s million-dollar fitness center get paid for bulking up while others can earn when they learn foreign languages from fellow Zombies. “We are a competitive company, and we want to prove that by having the best undead employees around,” said Bloodstone in reference to the incredible incentive programs designed to improve current employees and recruit diligent, young Zombies. Bloodstone offered this mission statement to any interested youths: “As we move through the 21st century, in a nation wrought with conflict and instability, Supernatural Rites of Cannibalism vows to continue to be the best employer for the best employees; a thousand years running.” Clearly, SRC stands alone as a company dedicated to excellence in its field and its employees.
Professional Zombie is a high paying and satisfying career that is currently a hot opportunity for interested youths. As the interview with long time Zombie Dewey Bloodstone proves, the field is demanding and difficult, but opportunities for hard working individuals are limitless. The intense competition of the job market is sometimes enough to make a person lose his or her mind, and working at Happy Burger may not provide the professional opportunities sought by today’s workforce. Being a Zombie, however, offers the alternative to break on through to the other side and gain a career.