Participation Research
Through Attending Open Houses
What You'll Find on this Page . . .
- Open Houses in the Workplace
- Open Door Events at Schools and Other Training Institutions
There is an Action Plan Worksheet which goes with this page.
Go to Career Manual 2 and select the Donate Button for the Action Plan Worksheet.
When you download it, go to page 7 and click on Appendix 4 and your Worksheet will come up immediately. Print it out as many times as you need.
All Tests, Inventories and Worksheet Templates for this site are available in an easily printable format in Career Manuals 1 and 2.
For a small donation, you can have access to all of them, including the Action Plan Worksheet, which you can use over and over again.
OPEN DOOR EVENTS IN THE WORKPLACE
Participation Research
Opportunities for touring a workplace spontaneously show up in local newspapers, with an invitation to the general public, by the employer, to 'Come Visit'. Watch for these openings.
I've attended Open Houses at broadcasting studios, factories, science institutes, research centers, and charitable organizations. They are offered as Public Relations promotions to create good will, excitement around their product, and to help raise their profile in the public's awareness. These efforts make them more competitive, attract more financial support, and of course sell their product.
On the other hand, it also gives you an opportunity to make connections with key people, arrange informational interviews, and maybe even a 'Job Shadow'.
If that isn't an option then, at least you can ask questions during the tour, and if they can't answer your questions, they may offer to put you in touch with someone who can. The door is then open at their invitation.
If you are interested in a particular workplace, you can also phone and ask if they ever have "Open Houses". If not, then the door is not open to the public, unless you happen to know someone who works there. Companies can be very protective of their premises. Sometimes the best you can expect is an "Information Interview" with a key person, in the job you are considering.
OPEN HOUSES AT SCHOOLS
Participation Research
Public and Private Schools often open their doors to the public, inviting them to 'Come and See' what the students are doing. This is your chance to interview both the students and the instructors.
Instructors are on the lookout for new students to fill their programs, and will welcome your questions and interest in their programs. You can take your Basic Questions Checklist with you and do a short interview on the spot. If they don't have time to answer all your questions,
they are likely to invite you to call them or drop by later. This is just what you want. It buys you more time to get more information.
Keep in mind that most of the longer programs now include a 'Practicum Component' of several weeks to several months, where students do a "Work Experience". So the students get 'hands-on' experience before they complete the program.
Students will be eager to talk about their work experiences through the school, and to answer your questions from their own observations.
If you haven't seen any advertisements for 'Open Houses', phone the schools and ask when their next "Open House" is scheduled. Take your The Basic Questions Checklist and maybe an audio recorder, to record the answers to your questions.
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