I have this assignment in one of my college classes where I must interview a business person (management level or higher) about things like stress, problem-solving, cultural diversity, etc. But, of course, I have no idea who to interview or how to go about arranging for one. I've never been an interviewer before. I'm in my 3rd year, and I think this may be the most stressing assignment I have gotten to date.

Pick an industry you might want to go into after graduation and cold call their main office number. Ask for a VP of marketing, sales, publicity, whatever area you are more interested in and the receptionist will transfer you to that person's assistant.

Some will probably blow you off, but there are thousands of these mid-level managers.

The harder part would be preparing some good questions, just look at some recent interviews on business-related websites.

Simple find someone you want interview. Then kidnap his/her family and throw a brick through their office window with a note detailing your demands instructions on where to find their family. When they arrive shot them in the kneecaps and tie them to a chair. Proceed to ask your questions. Make sure to wear a mask.

I hope this helps. :thumbsup:

Ask Tod Howard

Pick smaller businesses. They're probably less likely to tell you to go away. If you just explain what you're doing and what it's for though I'm sure most people will be happy to do the interview. I can't really give good advice on how to do it besides calling the business and asking them to show you to their leader, but in terms of actually designing the interview it helps to actually practise it first with just a friend or something or your parents, that helps you find out which questions kinda just sound really stupid. When I did one of my interviews I ended up just rewriting the whole thing, then going in I didn't even ask half of what was on my sheet. If the person you interview is open and friendly, that will really help and you can probably just think of questions from there, so don't forget to bring a tape recorder. Thinking of stuff to ask is pretty hard though, so give yourself A LOT of time to do any relevant reading and researching and find out as much as you can about what the person you're interviewing and what their business does.

Is it a face to face interview or would a survey form suffice? There are forumers here working in management level, but I think your lecturer might be looking for a more direct approach to train your communication skills.

Our professor prefers that we do it face to face since we would probably get more out of it. But that's not to say that it can't be a telephone interview or some such.

I would recommend going through the Chamber of Commerce and have something arranged (in other countries it may even be called the Trade Board, or something to that effect).

can you just lie and say that you did it?

What class is this for? what is your major?

Just remember that if the first person you contact turns you down, don't be afraid to contact other people. They don't call around their network saying 'hey, this noob named Makatak wants to interview someone like us. LOL! Let's refuse so that he fails the assignment! ROFLMAO! Btw, who's up for some golf on wednesday? Got a new 8-iron!'

Everyone wants to be interviewed. Some will turn you down just because they are too shy or do not think that they could be any interesting. Or they are too busy.

But do your best :thumbsup: