This week we will focus on informational interviewing, which is an informal conversation between you and someone working in an industry or company of interest to you. Use informational interviewing as a research tool during your career decision making process.
What are the benefits of informational interviewing?
· Find out or learn more about career paths you did not know existed.
· Become informed about the realities of working in a particular field, industry, or position.
· Learn about the culture or departments at a specific organization.
How to conduct informational interviews:
· Utilize your network to acquire names of individuals and employers. Your network could include relatives, coworkers, mentors, community members in volunteer organizations or religious groups, graduate school/college peers, or LinkedIn users.
· Compile a list and then reach out to these individuals.
· Craft your message in a professional manner that is clear and concise. Introduce yourself, identify the reason you are contacting the individual, and inquire as to whether they would be open to scheduling a time for an informational interview.
· Ask for 20-30 minutes of someone's time.
· Make contact via email, phone, or LinkedIn message. Follow up in one or two weeks if need be.
· Research the individual or company before the interview to help you tailor your questions.
· Prepare a list of questions. Next week's newsletter will cover questions to ask in an informational interview.
· Conduct the interview. Remember, informational interviews are for information and to ask for advice- not a job.
· Hopefully the interviewee offers referrals of other people to contact. If not, ask for names of others in their network who you could conduct an informational interview with.
· Follow up with a thank you message.