2021

GRADE 9 LIFE ORIENTATION

Informational Job Interview Task

Name: Grade 9 class:
S
Craig Gill

TASK OUTLINE
You are required to:
• choose a job/career that you could potentially see yourself doing one day
• conduct an interview with a person working in that position/field
• answer all questions in the task (some must be answered before the interview, some during and some after)
• submit your completed task on/before Friday 26 November on the assignment on your class LO Team

PREPARATION
Refer to your subject/career choice report from Bryce Dekker and reflect on the kind of work you would like to do in the
future after school.

TASK
You will be required to follow the steps outlined below, each step constituting a section of your final report. Answers to all
questions must be submitted as a part of your task.

1. Choice of job interview

1.1. Identify three possible jobs that you are interested in. Provide a reason why you are interested in each.
Lawyer:I have always found a interest in law and enjoyed debate.
Phycologist: I thought phycology was interesting and a enjoyable career.
Stockbroker:I have shown a strong interest towards this new career and believe it
could take me very far.
1.2. Choose the one job which you are most interested in and identify a person in this position that you can interview.
Lawyer and I will be interviewing Malcolm Lennox

2. Preparation questions
Complete the following questions before commencing your virtual job interview.

2.1. Why are you interested in this position/career?

I have always loved debate and arguments and always though of taking law as a
way to help those in need. I have already job shadowed a case and immediately
knew that this is what I wanted to do in my life.
2.2. Construct two questions that you plan to ask during your informational interview.

What made you want to take law.

How did you decide what type of law you wanted to take.

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2.3. Use the website bit.ly/CareerVideoInfo ( type exactly like this with capital letters) to source a video clip giving
insight into the career that you are researching. Write two sentences in summary of the key information provided
by the video clip about the career.

A lawyer provides counsel and represents businesses, individuals, and

government agencies in legal matters and disputes.

Lawyers can specialize in a number of areas, such as corporate,

family, bankruptcy, or environmental law.

3. Virtual informational interview

The informational interview will ideally give you a better understanding of the career.
Use the questions below and any other questions you come up with, in your interview regarding the career.

3.1. What is your job title?

Advocate of the High Court of South Africa

3.2. What qualifications are required? Is a degree or diploma necessary to perform the job?
A Bachelor of Laws degree although I obtained a Bachelor of
Commerce degree first.

3.3. Why did you choose this career?

I think it chose me. I cannot remember wanting to do anything else other
than being a historian and that seemed a little too boring.

3.4. Please explain your career path and the steps that you have taken to get to where you are currently.

I completed my BComm and LLB degrees and then proceeded to do articles

so as to be admitted as an attorney. That took two years to complete.
Thereafter I worked as a Judges’s Associate at the Labour Court for 18
months. Thereafter I served pupillage in order to be admitted as and advocate.

3.5. What are your main roles and responsibilities?

I offer advice to attorneys and clients on legal matters and draft legal
documents such as pleadings and affidavits and also argue matter in court on
their behalf.

3.6. What do you enjoy most about your work?

On occasion you get to undo an injustice and help someone who has really
been hard done by.

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3.7. What do you enjoy the least? Or what have been the main challenges?

Unpleasant confrontational colleagues.

3.8. How much are you required to work outside of normal work hours?

There are really no set working hours. You have to be disciplined.

When an urgent matter arises you have to attend to it.

3.9. What are the key skills required for your work?
Discipline, punctuality and attention to detail as well as the ability to
listen.

3.10. What personality characteristics would be best suited to this career?

You have to be a little bit or an extravert and be able to stand your ground.

3.11. If you could have done anything differently in your career, what would it have been?
Nothing

3.12. Does your career field enable financial independence (enough finances to live in the way you want to)?

Yes

3.13. What does it take to be successful in this career?

Perseverance

3.14. Do you have any further advice?

You will never become a millionaire but you will never be poor either.

3.15. Include any other questions that you asked.

I originally started off as a member of parliament and then from there I decided to move
to law.
After working on a number of cases I realized how many people had been screwed
over out of there jobs and I knew I could put my efforts to good use and help.

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4. Final report
After the informational interview, summarise your experience by answering the following questions.
This interview may confirm that this career is a good option for you or that it is not the direction you want to head
in. There is no correct answer; answer the questions below honestly.

4.1. What two aspects of the job do you see as most positive? Why?

Being a lawyer grants me access to be able to work in many different jobs and
has the potential for me to earn a good very salary. This is helpful because it
will allow me to be open to many opportunities.

4.2. What two aspects of the job do you see as most negative/challenging? Why?
Being a lawyer also come with its challenges such as having to work long
hours and the stress from the job can be enormous.

4.3. Do you believe that this is a suitable career option for you? (Give a reason for your answer)

Through all of its challenges and advantages I believe being a lawyer is still a
good option for me. Through my life I have learned to work well under
pressure and stress. Which leaves me to believe that I would still be a suitable
candidate for the job.

4.4. Do you believe you would enjoy working in this career? (Give a reason for your answer)

As a short answer yes. But to really explain I have always had a passion for
law and thought of taking law in the future. I believe through law I will be able
to people in need and that by itself will be enough to keep me happy.

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