Whether you’re looking for your first job, considering a career change or looking to move up in your company, informational interviews are a powerful tool to explore careers, help you make decisions about your path forward and expand your network of contacts. And for first-time job seekers, informational interviews offer a pressure-free opportunity to hone your interviewing skills and get feedback on your resume.
So, what’s an informational interview look like? Don’t let the word “ interview” mislead you. An informational interview is really just a conversation. It’s an opportunity to learn more about a job, career, company or industry you’re interested in. Richard Nelson Bolles, author of “What Color Is Your Parachute” and inventor of the term “informational interviewing” defines it as: “ talking to people who actually do what you think you’d like to do.”
Here are some key tips to help you maximize the potential of this valuable career tool:
Identify your objectives for the interview
Learn what the job, industry is like
Find out what the individual enjoys and dislikes about the job
Determine what degrees, credentials are required or helpful for this job
Identify the various career paths people take to enter this field
Connect with others in this field who might be willing to talk to you
Prepare for your interview
Research the person you will be interviewing, as well as his or her field and organization
Prepare a resume just in case you’re asked for one
Practice talking about yourself and be able to articulate the position you are seeking
Develop a list of questions based on your objectives
Follow up steps
Send a hand-written thank-you note
Stay in touch through LinkedIn
What NOT to do in an informational interview
Ask for a job
Ask how much the job pays
The more you learn about a job, and what it takes to be successful in that field, the better prepared you will be when an opportunity presents itself to interview for a specific position. Take advantage of this effective tool to learn more about what career you want to pursue and enhance your potential as a job candidate