An informational interview is simply an informal meeting with a
designed purpose of learning the ins and outs of a career from
someone who knows. I highly recommend that these are conducted with
successful people who are currently (or recently at least) in the
field and should include at least one person who hires directly.
A few of the numerous advantages to utilizing an informational
interview:
-You learn “real world” information.
-You can use what you learn to tailor and focus any further training
or job search.
-You get to ask “sensitive” questions (with discretion) about
things like pay, commission, etc.
-You get free job interview practice, in a non-stressful setting.
-You begin to develop or extend a professional network of contacts.
-The person being interviewed may feel as though they have given
something back.
Generally three interviews is a good number to start with, a
Practitioner, A Supervisor and a Hiring Manager. You may be able to
get various combinations, such as a Supervisor who performs the
function in question or a Hiring Manager who Supervises. Your
Interviewees should be from at least two different companies so that
you get a wider perspective.
The next steps would be to 1. Locate someone. 2. Get their agreement.
3. Ask some questions. Let's start with “locate someone”. If
you have no personal network in this field at all, don't despair.
Perhaps you are acquainted with someone who could introduce you to
someone else?
Even
if you were hitchhiking and Elvis dropped you off in the middle of
nowhere (From his high winged pink 1958 Cadillac of course), you can
locate a professional in your field. Google “Chamber of Commerce
Membership Lists” and you will see (as of the time of this writing)
that for example Winters, California is doing a fabulous job with
their Search Engine Optimization. The Winters Chamber returned a
list that includes representative samples from many businesses,
including butchers and bakers. While missing the candlestick maker,
they do
have a florist listed. You can add in your location and find a list
of people who are seriously into promoting their businesses, not to
mention participating in their communities. Also, if training or any
type of classes is involved, you can ask the college or trade school
for a list of “friendly” contacts to get you started. If nothing
else, your favorite Yahoo Local or www.YP.com search will return
fewer filtered lists.
Next,
you need to get their agreement. Also Known As “What's in it for
Me?”, this question can be addressed by showing several points.
First of all, in the future, they may need good, qualified applicants
to help their thriving business. If they help you to become
qualified, you naturally will think fondly and favorably of them in
the future. Secondly, as a natural go-getter, you could very well
wind up in a position where you are using their goods or services.
Thirdly, no genuinely successful person has ever made it completely
alone. At some point, someone helped them.
This could be an opportunity to give a little back.
For
an in-person interview, remember that you are asking a favor of a
busy person. Be extremely respectful of their time. You should be
able to ask 10-15 key questions in 15-20 minutes. You are going to
be asking people about their two favorite topics: their work; and
themselves. They may run long when discussing their careers and how
they got started, but that is their choice. Set a strict time limit
for your request and then stick exactly to the time. If they start to
run long, simply say “I respect your time and we are now about
where I promised I would finish. I love
what you are saying and if you want to continue, then by all means,
please do so. But, if you need to stop now, I understand.”
In addition to respecting time, stick to the stated purpose. Don't
use a fake “informational interview” as a way to get a stealth
job interview. The goal of the exercise is not to get a job, it is
to learn about a career field and what it takes to successfully
transition.
That said, prepare, dress and behave like you are going to a job
interview, because you may be. Take a pen (Biro model if you prefer)
and notepad. Ask if it is OK for you to take notes. From time to
time, a client of mine has done a good job at an informational
interview, gone and gotten training and been employed at that
company.
Here's one direct report from a former client: “Chris, I called her
and left a message 'Hi, I don't know if you remember me, but you were
very generous with your time two years ago. Back then you gave me
great advice about training and I followed your guidance. I took the
classes you suggested and at the time, you said to call you back when
I got them done. Whether or not you have any open positions (and I
hope you do) I want you to know that the time you invested with me
has really paid off'. Chris, she called me back. They had an open
position and I start next month.”
When someone returns after an informational interview, having
listened, grown and maybe acquired the training or experiences
recommended, the Hiring Manager feels that they have helped to create
the exact type of employee they are looking for. If there is an open
position, they are more likely to look favorably upon a candidate
they helped out a while back. At the very least, they can be a
source for networking contacts. From time to time, someone gets
invited to explore a position that is open right then.
Returning to the topic of the questions, I don't recommend starting
with the obvious. For example, asking “What training and/or
experience is needed?” “Are there certain courses or
certifications I should seek?” “What is the salary range?” are
good questions, but the framework for the discussion has not been
established.
I recommend that you start off by being clear about your goals for
the discussion and thanking them in advance. For example; “Thank
you for taking the time to help me. I am seeking to change careers
and advice from an experienced professional like you is critical as I
(take a class, learn a skill, etc.).
Providing the framework helps them to know how to advise you. This is
probably not something they do every day. Early on, ask about the
person you are interviewing. This establishes their credentials and
gets them talking more freely: “So, you are the Director of Blue
Toilet Water here at Mega-Gigantic Janitorial of St. Sestito,
Florida. From our telephone conversation, I take it you started at
the bottom and worked your way up in your career, either through
experience, training or some combination?”
Be sure to use active listening, asking open-ended questions and
following up with additional questions in response. Then, it is
generally time to move into obvious questions and the “meat” of
your planned presentation. Don't be afraid to ask questions about
the culture, stress and other topics that probably would not fit into
an employment interview. Toward the end, good questions to close the
interview might be: “Is there anyone else I should be talking with,
either now or in the future?”; “When I am prepared, what are some
good resources for a job search?”; “Are there keywords or ways
that I should market myself later?”.
www.FaceBook.com, www.LinkedIn.com and the www.Monster.com
“Communities” section can be fabulous tools and grant access to
diverse experts who provide detailed information. You may be able to
connect with local people through the forums of your local electronic
edition newspaper, a local jobs board, or even with one of the 40 or
so people still using www.MySpace.com. Also, you may have a
networking contact who does not feel that a referral to a very busy
person is possible. An email introduction can help you reach very
successful people.
Regardless of the source, you obviously need to pay more attention to
credibility while swimming in the digital pool. Online, it is very
easy to forget the manners your mother taught you, since there is a
degree of anonymity and distance from more typical human interaction.
With that reminder, if you are cautious and polite, you can use the
same approaches as above to accomplish the goal of gathering
information.
After the informational interview, remember to send the thank you
card. This means that you need to make sure and obtain contact
information including the correct spelling of their name, mailing
address and so forth. Yes, I am advocating sending a traditional,
printed on paper, Thank You card. A Thank You email is also
acceptable, but you make a greater impact with an actual (business
appropriate) card. You can download templates from
office.microsoft.com and print your own if you use proper card stock.
Or, simply trot on down to the discount store and pick up a pack of
eight cards for a dollar.
Good luck and best wishes,
Chris
Good luck and best wishes,
Chris
Links to my work, “Beyond a Career
Crisis”:
Kindle Edition
Paperback Edition
