Informational Interview

One of the best ways to gather information about a specific occupation, industry, or employer, is the informational interview. By talking to people in the field you may find out valuable information on a career, industry information, company information, job requirements, salary ranges, career paths, trends and hiring patterns.

Here are some steps in using this approach:

1. Conduct your rigorous self-assessment first. Self-knowledge is the foundation needed to give you focus and direction during your information interview. Take time reflect about your ideal work situation.
   
   
2. Research the work environment as much as possible before the informational interview in order to ask intelligent, focused questions. Be respectful of the interviewee’s time. Research the role, function, organization or industry. Check out relevant web sites trade magazines, newspapers and journals.
   
   
3. Identify people to interview. Brainstorm to create a list of potential contacts to interview. You may have more connections than you realize. Start by asking your friends, family, neighbors, neighbors, former co-workers and supervisor, and then all the people that they know. Professional organizations, the yellow pages, organization directories, and public speakers bureaus are good resources.
   
   
4. Get organized. Prepare a 30-second telephone script including your name, how you got the contact name, your current work focus, and why you would like to meet, and the meeting request. Practice your introduction. You may want to have your referer make the call or you may make the call yourself. If you request a résumé critique, make sure to send a copy in advance. Be sure to get an address, phone number, or e-mail address, depending on their preference. Stand up and smile when you make the call. Studies show it can project confidence and enthusiasm. Set up an informational interview, or in the unlikely event someone denies your request, phone the next person on your list.
5. Prepare your list of questions. List the most crucial questions first.
6. Conduct the informational interview. Dress appropriately. Be polite and professional. Begin by thanking the person for the meeting and reiterate the time limit, (a maximum of 30 minutes is standard). Refer to your list of prepared questions to help stay on track. It’s your responsibility to manage the time, even if your contact is enjoying the meeting, close on time.

If you still have questions, follow-up with a brief conversation by telephone or e-mail. Make sure to keep the conversation focused. Reiterate that you are not asking for a job. Ask for referrals during the last five minutes of your interview and whether or not you may use this person’s name when contacting the reference. Ask for feedback. Save the last few minutes to ask them:

• What questions did I fail to ask that are key to getting the information that I need?
• What problem areas to you see that may cause me particular difficulty?
• What do you see as my best assets for success?
• What suggestions do you have for me (on any aspect of the information interview process)? Then offer something in return. Your contact has just given you the gift of their time, information and resources. You should try to do the same. Think of how and what you can contribute. Save time to ask where your contact sees their career headed. Keep it in mind and provide pertinent resources and information over time.
• REMEMBER to write a thank you. A one-page letter thanking the person for their time and the contacts offered. Express your enthusiasm for the industry and/or profession.
• Analyze your information after the interview. Ask yourself these questions:
• Is this career for me?
  
  
• Does it match my skills, values, and priorities?
  
  
• Is it a realistic choice given my age, training, family needs and income requirements? If so, you are ready to explore in more depth, so keep reading as much as you can about the field, focus more on the industries and companies you have already identified, and continue to connect with people in the field.
  
  
• Stay in touch with your contact if you feel that it is a good one. For example, send copies of articles you find interesting or let them know about web sites that you have found valuable. Offer to return the favor to them or a friend. Building connections is key to work-life success!

For more information about informational interviewing, check out the book, Information Interviewing, by Martha Stoodley.