EXERCISES

Through the alumni office, your department office, the dean's office, personal connections, or a more experienced colleague, find an employed professional in your discipline. Conduct a face$-$to$-$face interview, a telephone interview, or an interview via electronic media. Determine the following: $($a$)$ the types of communications this person writes, $($b$)$ the frequency of the communications, and $($c$)$ the strategies used by this individual to become a better writer. Ask for suggestions on what you might do to develop your professional voice. Write a short report to document the results of the interview.

Search the classified ads for engineering positions in your field in a major newspaper, a professional society news periodical, or an online job advertisement. Examine at least $10$ position descriptions and tabulate how many specifically list communication skills as a required or desired prerequisite for the position. Summarize your findings in a table and describe them in a concise, well$-$organized paragraph.