What if you could get “inside information” about a company you’re interested in working for or about a job you’re applying for?
Conducting an informational interview could tell someone thinking about changing careers what they will — and will not — like, and it could provide valuable practice to someone who hasn’t interviewed in a long time.
However, an informational interview is not a job interview. With an informational interview, you’re not seeking a job — you are seeking information to help you get a job.
Informational interviews are not used as often as they should be, but they can be a valuable tool in your job search — one that can help you make an informed decision about the next step in your career.
Choosing Who To Interview
When you’re seeking information about a job, company, or industry, there are a variety of sources that can provide you with these details.
How can you find someone to interview?
• Ask people you know if they know someone who works in the job (or industry) you want to work in.
• Contact your target industry’s trade associations and ask if there is a member would speak with you.
• Contact your university’s alumni association and/or your former professors.
• Use LinkedIn to conduct a search by job title or company. Also consider contacting people in a LinkedIn Group.
• Reach out to a recruiter in the industry.
Make a list of people, companies, and/or job titles you would like to conduct an informational interview with. Email is generally best for this, and dropping the name of a mutual acquaintance always helps open doors.
After the Informational Interview
After the interview, write down your thoughts, recording as much information as you can remember.
Within 24 hours of your informational interview, write a thank you note to the person you interviewed. Equally important, keep him or her informed of your progress; you could have made a valuable contact and ally.
A few other points to remember:
• Prepare for the meeting. Don’t waste the time you’ve been given.
• Make it convenient for the person you’re interviewing. Choose a time and place that works for them. If you meet in person, buy their meal or drink.
• Be prepared to answer questions too. For example, “Why do you want to work in this field/for this company?”
• Be on time. Arrive 5-10 minutes early. If the person offers to extend the meeting, you can go on longer, but otherwise, keep to the agreed-upon time.
• Dress appropriately. In most instances, this will be business attire.
• Be sure you know the correct pronunciation and spelling of the person’s name you’re meeting with. Remember to ask for their business card.
Enlisting the help of others through informational interviews can be one of the best ways to move your job search forward and/or accomplish a career change. Research and relationship-building, can give you a significant advantage over other job applicants, and help you secure your dream job.