Informational interviews will help you determine if you are interested in a particular career field or job. For example, in our work with college students, we encounter many who aspire to become attorneys. However, a typical conception is based on seeing too many episodes of LA. Law and Perry Mason. The image of legal work often is one of standing before the jury dramatically arguing a case. Once these students realize mat the two most important skills attorneys use are research and counseling, many quickly lose interest in this career field.
Conducting informational interviews can help you avoid jobs or careers that are not right for you. Whether you are looking forward to a job after you finish school or are already in the workforce but desire to make a job or career change, informational interviews are valuable tools.
EXPECT SERENDIPITY
When conducting informational interviews/ you may occasionally uncover a job opening with the person you are interviewing. Sometimes the company may consider creating a position for you because they are so impressed with your credentials. We have seen this happen with individuals we have counseled. But these are exceptions rather than the rule. Do not go into an informational interview expecting to come out with anything more than information/ advice/ referrals/ and the promise to be remembered.
FOLLOW PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING
As you conduct informational interviews and network with many individuals/ keep these four rules in mind:
-RULES FOR NETWORKING SUCCESS-
- Look for a job that is fit for you rather than try to fit yourself into an available position.
- Target your job search toward specific positions/ organizations, and individuals. Most shot-gun approaches tend to be ineffective.
- Conduct a persistent prospecting campaign to continually expand your network and replenish contacts mat lead to more contacts and informational interviews.
- Increase your number of acceptances by conducting many informational interviews. When you ask for information/ advice, and referrals/ few people will turn you down. Most people you ask will be flattered and eager to assist you.
- If your job search bogs down, chances are you need to substantially increase your daily prospecting activities as well as the number of informational interviews you conduct each week. Persistence, based on an understanding of probability/ pays off in the long-run.
- Always send a thank-you letter to those who take the time to talk with you. Thoughtful people tend to be remembered people.
- In the end, your job search success is a direct function of how well you network according to the principles of prospecting and informational interviewing.
If you decide not to engage in networking and information-al interviews, all is not lost. People do get interviews and jobs by submitting applications and resumes in response to job vacancy announcements. The difference is that you may have to spend a great deal of time on the inherently frustrating advertised job market where you are likely to experience high competition, numerous rejections/ and a much lengthier job search process. Our recommendation: try networking as outlined here. Trust us - it works wonders in today's competitive job market!
BE CAREFUL ABOUT ENCLOSURES
Do not enclose your resume with this approach letter. You should take your resume to the interview and present it as a topic of discussion near the end of your meeting. If you send it with the approach letter, you communicate a mixed and contradictory message. Remember your purpose for this interview: to gather information and advice. You are not - and never should be - asking for a job. A resume in a letter appears to be an application or a request for a job.
Most people will meet with you, assuming you are sincere in your approach. If the person tries to put you off when you telephone for an appointment clearly state your purpose and emphasize that you are not looking for a job with this person -only information and advice. If the person insists on putting you off, make the best of the situation: try to conduct the informational interview over the phone and request referrals. Follow-up your conversation with a nice thank-you letter in which you again state your intended purpose; mention your disappointment in not being able to meet the person and learn more from him or her; and ask to be remembered for future reference. You may enclose your resume with this letter.
Some individuals will want to conduct the informational interview over the telephone since he or she is too busy to see you. Such interviews can yield just as good quality information and advice as face-to-face informational interviews. Welcome such interviews since they will save you a great deal of time. When you telephone the person, be prepared to conduct this interview over the phone. Have a list of questions nearby that you planned to ask in the informational interview. Follow-up this telephone interview in the same manner you would follow-up any informational interview -with a thank-you letter. You should also enclose your resume with this letter in which you ask to be remembered and referred to others.
Whether you conduct the informational interview in person or over the telephone, treat this interview as an important screening interview. While you are ostensibly seeking information and advice, informational interviews can quickly turn into job interviews should you by chance contact an individual who also has a vacancy or who may create a new position around your qualifications. Therefore, you need to be on your guard. Be sure you communicate your competence, intelligence, honesty, and likeability in this interview. These are the same qualities you should communicate in a formal job interview.
