Interviewing manager DIL

1. The Hitchhiker's guide to the
Day in the Life journey
 Rules for a successful journey:
 Preparation: confirm time and place same day early by txt
or e-mail
 Download a map with the place marked and turn up 5
minutes early
 Front up, shake hands and introduce yourselves
 Stress confidentiality
 Decide WHO will do the talking and who will do the
recording
 At the end, thank again, shake hands and then within an
hour, send a ‘thank you’ e-mail

2. Step one: the meeting
 ‘Thank you Julie for seeing us. We know you must be
busy..just want to assure you this is confidential..
Might we record…?
 ‘Julie, could you tell us please..how did you become a
manager…how did you begin your career”
 ‘Julie, could you tell us what a typical day is like for
you… from the time you get up to the time you go to
bed..how does your day go…what do you do…?’
 Thanks….

3. Step two: developing the tale
 ‘Julie… what are the things that you really like about you’re
job?’
 ‘What are the things that you don’t like about your job as a
manager? What are the hardest things you have to do?
 Thanks Julie. We have nearly finished but one more
question..
 ‘You are obviously a successful manager, with a successful
career. What would you tell us as first year students of
management to do to prepare for a career in business and
management? What should we do while we are studying?

4. Important probing questions
 ‘Why does the company do that Julie?’
 ‘What do you do when…’
 ‘How do you go about ….’
 ‘When is the best time to do ….’
 Probe, question politely, ask for examples etc

5. Last leg of the journey
 ‘Thank you Julie for you help..when we have written up
our talk we will send you a copy..’
 Shake hands, leave and then within an hour send a
‘thank you’ e-mail
 The non-talkers transcribe the recording or write up
the notes
 Also responsible for analysing the results
 Write into your ‘travelog’ (report)