# Module 4 — Meet the Locals

> **App quests:** 🎙️ Book an Informational Interview · 👥 Shadow a Day
> **Time:** 60 min to set up; the interview happens later · **Worksheet:** Outreach scripts

## The big idea

This is the most valuable hour in the entire course. No article, video, or even simulation beats 20 minutes with a real person who does the job — and will tell you the truth.

## Why it matters

Real professionals will tell you things no brochure will: what they wish they'd known, the parts that surprised them, whether they'd do it again. Most are flattered when a student asks. The skill of reaching out to strangers and asking good questions is itself worth more than any single class.

## Do this in the app

1. In your career world, open **🎙️ Book an Informational Interview**.
2. Use the built-in directory of real places to find people:
   - **[Forage](https://www.theforage.com/)** — free company-built job simulations.
   - **[CareerVillage](https://www.careervillage.org/)** — ask professionals questions for free.
   - **[VirtualJobShadow](https://www.virtualjobshadow.com/)** — video day-in-the-life shadowing.
   - **[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/)** — search the job title + your city, send a short polite note.
   - **Your school counselor and alumni network** — often the fastest path to a real person.
3. Copy the outreach script the app generates for your career and send it to **three** people.

## Great questions to ask

- What does a typical day actually look like?
- What surprised you most when you started?
- What do you wish you'd known in high school?
- What's the hardest part nobody talks about?
- If you were 16 again, would you choose this path? What would you do differently?
- How did you get in — and is there a cheaper or faster route?

## Activity

- Send three outreach messages (interview or shadow). On your honor, claim the XP in the app once you do.
- Schedule at least one conversation. Bring your questions. Take notes.

## Deliverable

Notes from at least one real informational interview or job shadow. Earn the **🤝 Field Agent** badge by completing all three Field Work quests.