Boss: Hello, this is Ms. Tyman.
Yow Ms. Tyman, this is Abigail Hunter; I'm following up my letter of December fifth. I don't know whether or not you recall, but I wrote you that letter outlining my interest in the shoelace industry. I was hoping to set up a brief interview with you to get your, advice. (OR: I was hoping to set up a brief interview with you to discuss opportunities at your company.)
Here's where you find out whether or not your contact reads the mail.
These and similar responses and there are an infinite number of variations bring you to one compelling question: How do you get in the office?
Here are a couple of suggestions. One way is to ask some prepared questions about the shoelace industry that showcase your knowledge of the field. This may jog the contact's memory of your stellar letter and get the conversation moving along a little more smoothly. Another tactic is to emphasize precisely why you feel your contact(and/or the contact's company) has a lot to offer, and how you'd really appreciate a meeting in person to discuss what you have to offer the firm and/or careers in the field.
Finally, if you have not had any luck with these approaches, you can thank the person for his or her time and ask for the name of anyone else who might be helpful.(Remember, if you can't get a job, get a lead.) By all means, be considerate of your contact's time, and do everything you can to keep the conversation short, businesslike, and free from "polarizing" exchanges like this one:
How on earth can you expect to generate a referral from a phone conversation like that? Why would Ms. Tyman wish such a candidate on her worst enemy?
What a difference! Now, instead of a notebook with the name "Lucy Tyman" scratched out violently, you've got the chance to pursue another lead. And not only that now you can begin your letters and phone conversations with,"Ms. Lucy Tyman at Ace shoelace suggested that L.."
All About Interviews
Suppose that you've finally arranged an interview. Whether you're looking for information about the shoelace industry or for a specific job at Ace Shoelace, you'll need to make certain kinds of preparations for the meeting to be a fruitful one.
Obviously, the preparation for each type of interview will differ. Your goals for each are completely distinct. In the first type, which we'll call the Information Only Interview, you have no knowledge of a specific opening and are hoping to generate new leads and add to your information base. In the second type, which we'll call the Job Interview, you've set an appointment through a referral or a "cold" telephone call to discuss a specific opening for which you feel qualified.
In this article we'll examine each of the interview in some detail
The Information Only Interview
The best advice for this type of interview is that you should never ask for a job. Be true to your word. You stated in your cover letter that you're seeking advice. Seek advice. Don't worry: no self respecting employer will let you slip away if you meet the qualifications for a certain position and fulfill the overall needs of the company.
Avoiding the job issue is important; a very different (and probably quite pleasant) mood will prevail in your meeting if the question of employment is not on the agenda. Instead of the employer dreading the point in the interview where he or she will have to disappoint you, contacts can talk about themselves and their own career development. This is informative and should not be underestimated as an "input" to your potential career path, even at a later period in your job search. In addition, your contact will have the opportunity to reflect on the difficulty of finding a job both in his or her past and in your current situation. Once this occurs, you'll be seen in a very sympathetic light. But the key is to allow the contact to reach at point without your prodding for immediate results.
You'll also have the opportunity to show off your qualifications. Don't attempt to "sell" yourself directly as a candidate but do show how much research you've done, and mention the significant accomplishments in your background if you can do so in a non threatening way. Doing so will speak volumes about your suitability as a candidate, and will avoid putting your contact on the defensive.
Be prepared, moreover, for the employer to ask you for your insights into the field. The more knowledge of the basics you demonstrate, the more specific and helpful will be the advice you receive. Once you realize this, you'll understand why it is that if you go into the meeting simply asking about the very basics of the field (i.e., "I'm a big fan of Dan Rather's how should I get into the anchorman business, anyway?") you will demonstrate that you are a relative novice at best. If that's the impression you convey, the employer may be strongly tempted to give you the standard ten minute spiel about the business, shake your hand, and get you out of the office as quickly as possible. Don't let this happen.
If you've had any previous discussions with industry professionals, point these out, and discuss any new perspectives you've gained as a result. Be sure throughout all this that you are conducting a conversation with your contact, neither delivering a prepared monologue nor asking a staccato series of questions requiring immediate answers.
Here's the secret that will allow you to maintain your panache throughout the Information Only Interview, and throughout in general: virtually all employers are looking for good people. All the time. Period.
Good people are assets. If Ms. Tyman has no job to offer, it is only good business for her to recommend an outstanding candidate to someone else in the firm - or perhaps even a friend elsewhere in the industry. She will, in the long run, benefit from this referral especially if you turn out to be a real star!
