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 yourselvesStress confidentialityDecide WHO will do the talking and who will do

the recordingAt the end, thank again, shake hands and then

within an hour, send a ‘thank you’ e-mail

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….

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?

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

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 resultsWrite into your ‘travelog’ (report)