You will prepare for the interview by selecting three of the questions provided below and creating two questions of your own. Your overall set of five questions should relate to at least two of the following HR topic areas: hiring, onboarding, and performance review. Select three of the below questions: 1. What 2 or 3 key competencies do you seek in job candidates? Why are these competencies at the top of your list?

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain
Assignment 2

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JWMI 521 Assignment 2 (1236) Page 1 of 4
Assignment 2: Informational Interview
Weight: 15%
Due: Sunday, Midnight of Week 5
INTRODUCTION
To gain a real-world perspective on hiring, onboarding, and performance management, for this
assignment you will do a short interview with an HR professional – or with a manager – at your workplace.
You will ask a total of five questions and keep a record of the responses. Then you will write a report of 2
to 4 pages, summarizing the answers you received and reflecting on the impact the interview had on you.
INSTRUCTIONS
Approach your HR department – or your manager – to arrange a short informational interview with a mid-
level or senior professional in your workplace (half an hour or less). If you cannot make this happen in the
timeframe required, you may instead interview a business professional whom you know outside of your
current workplace.
Questions for the Interview:
You will prepare for the interview by selecting three of the questions provided below and creating two
questions of your own. Your overall set of five questions should relate to at least two of the following HR
topic areas: hiring, onboarding, and performance review.
Select three of the below questions:
1. What 2 or 3 key competencies do you seek in job candidates? Why are these competencies at
the top of your list?

2. When would you hire externally and when would you promote internally to fill gaps in your team?

3. How useful are references to you in assessing job candidates?

4. How do you onboard new members of your team or department?

5. What performance review process does your organization use? How effective is it?

Create two questions of your own, for a total of five questions.

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain
Assignment 2

Questions

o For each question, briefly summarize the interviewees response
Note: Do NOT write out the interviewees exact words

Reflection

o Comment on any answers that surprised you and explain why
o What did you learn from this interview that you can apply in your own work?

Conclusion

o Sum up your learning from the interview on at least two of the following HR topic areas:
hiring, onboarding, and performance review
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

Uses a double-spaced, professional font (Times New Roman or Arial), 10-12 font size, with one-
inch margins on all sides

Includes a Cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, professors name, and
the course title and date

Headings are used to identify the four sections of the report

Paragraphs are separated by a single space

The assignment is written in a formal manner, with correct spelling and grammar

References are included and provide appropriate information that enables the reader to locate the
original source

Citations and references must follow the formatting instructions found in the JWMI Writing
Standards Guide. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Note: The Cover and References pages are not included in the required page length.

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain
Assignment 2

RUBRIC – Assignment 2: Informational Interview
CRITERIA Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

1. Introduction
describes the
interviewees
position and
business role and
explains their
business
relationship to
student.
Weight: 10%
Introduction
provides an
excellent
description of the
interviewees
position and
business role and
their business
relationship to
student.
Introduction
provides a clear,
informative
description of the
interviewees
position and
business role
and their
business
relationship to
student.

Satisfactorily
develops or
provides a job
description.
Selects and
ranks five
competencies
for each
position.

Introduction
partially describes
the interviewees
position and
business role and
their business
relationship to
student.

Introduction does
not describe the
interviewees
position and
business role or it
does not explain
their business
relationship to
student.
2. For each of the 5
questions, provide a
brief summary of
the interviewees
response. Do NOT
write out the
interviewees exact
words.
Weight: 30%
Provides an
excellent
summary for all 5
questions. Does
not use the
interviewees
exact words.

Provides a clear,
detailed
summary for all 5
questions. Does
not use the
interviewees
exact words.

Brief but
adequate
rationale for all
the competency
rankings is
provided.

Provides a brief
summary for at
least 4 of the 5
questions. Mostly
avoids using the
interviewees
exact words.

Does not provide
a brief summary
for all 5 questions,
or uses the exact
words of the
interviewee
instead of
summarizing.
3. Reflect on any
answers that
surprised you and
explain why. Explain
what you learned
from the interview
that you can apply
in your own work.
Weight: 25%
Excellent reflection
on any answers
that surprised you,
as well as a
thoughtful, detailed
explanation of
what you learned
from the interview
and how you can
apply that learning.

Good reflection
on any answers
that surprised
you, as well as a
thoughtful
explanation of
what you learned
from the
interview.

Satisfactorily
creates two
interview
questions for
each
competency and
follows the
instructions.
Questions relate
logically to the
competencies.

Short or confused
reflection on any
answers that
surprised you.
Short or confused
explanation of
what you learned
from the
interview.

Minimal or no
reflection on any
answers that
surprised you.
Minimal or no
explanation of
what you learned
from the
interview.

4. Sum up your
learning from the
interview on at least
2 of the following
HR topic areas:
hiring, onboarding,
and performance
review.
Weight: 25%
Excellent,
insightful summary
of students
learning on at least
two of the HR topic
areas listed.

Good, detailed
summary of
students
learning on at
least two of the
HR topic areas
listed.

Satisfactorily
writes 2 sample
answers with
content that
adequately
demonstrates
the required
competencies.
Partially summed
up students
learning on at
least two of the
HR topic areas
listed.

Did not sum up
students learning
on at least two of
the HR topic
areas listed.

JWI 521: Recruit, Develop, Assess, Reward, Retain
Assignment 2

5. Clarity, Writing
Mechanics,
Grammar, and
Formatting.
Weight: 10 %
Minimal minor
mechanical
errors; student
follows formatting
instructions.

Few mechanical
errors; student
follows
formatting
instructions.

Some
mechanical
errors; student
follows
formatting
instructions.

Mechanical
errors; student
does not fully
follow formatting
instructions.
Mechanical errors;
student fails to
follow formatting
instructions.