Source: Content contributed by Patricia Raskin, Ph.D, Columbia University as a Suggested Work and Family Class Activity for the Sloan Networks’ Resources for Teaching section.

Type: Assignment

Purpose

To gather information about a woman's career decisions

 

Steps

Identify a woman older than yourself.

 

Invite this person to participate in an informal interview.

 

Assure the person that the interview will be confidential.

 

Conduct the interview, using the following questions:

• When did you start thinking about a career?
• What information did you use to make that decision?
• Who were important career and/or non-career role models?
• Did that decision change? If so, when? What were the factors that influenced that shift?
• Did you have important mentors? Who were they and how have they influenced you?
• What were the non-career events (e.g. family, relationship issues) that have affected how you feel about or how you behaved in your career?
• How do you feel about your current chosen career path? How do you feel about your current employer and position?
• Do you perceive any forseeable changes? If so, when? What might influence you in that regard?
• Do you have any regrets about your career? Do you have any wishes for your future career?

Change the participant's name.

 

Summarize and reflect on the content of the interview.