The ONE Thing  To Do Over the Holidays

Ho Ho Ho, High School Students!  The holidays are coming, with free time and family visits abounding.  Here’s one thing you should do during this relaxed time of connection:

Interview! 

And, to be specific, do three types of interviews.

1.      Interview an adult you know – like a family member or neighbor -- about their work experiences.  

Come with some questions, but don’t just ask about work titles.  Ask them what activities make up their current and past jobs.

Focus on the “ING’s” of their work. Are they, for example, leadING meetings, verifyING records, researchING new ideas, organizING materials -- even phonING people.

Ask them which of those ING’s give them energy, even joy. How do they cope with the ING’s that drain their energy?

Listen carefully; you’re going to learn a lot.

2.      Now, that you’ve had some practice, interview a person you don’t know who works in a field that interests you. Ask them those same ING questions.

Your parents can help you identify potential interviewees and their contact information. 

This is nothing weird or scary; adults do it all the time, requesting an “informational interview.”  Many adults will interview people as they develop their professional networks and look for work.  And those interviewed usually welcome these conversations as a way of expanding their own network. 

As a high school student, you might find doors wide open to your request for an informational interview.  Most adults enjoy assisting students who are exploring the world of work. (And you might even get an offer to shadow them for a day, as they work.)

3.      Finally, interview yourself about your own ING’s. 

Your ING’s are the activities you should lean into and develop as you function in your current  “job” – being a student and preparing for the future.

It’s stunning how your ING’s persist from childhood into mature adulthood. It’s our characteristic way of leaning into a problem, a challenge, an opportunity. Embrace those innate gifts and think about them as you plan your future.

Here’s a brief video where ING’s and informational interviewing are discussed, by Michael B. Horn, of Harvard University and The Christensen Institute.