How to Conduct and Information Interview
An informational interview is simply a means of gathering
information you need in order for you to choose which career
path is right for you. It is not the same as a job interview
because the job hunter is the one who conducts the informational
interview.
An informational interview is a great idea to undertake if you
are just starting out and are not really sure what job suits
you. Another reason to conduct an informational interview is
when you are thinking of changing your career path and as such
do not know much yet about the industry you want to break into.
It is also a means to expand your network and talk to all kinds
of people in a specific business area.
By conducting an informational interview, you are in effect
preparing yourself (1) for a better job, (2) for better chances
in a new field, or (3) simply improving your current 'market
worth' by networking and learning new things.
Following are some simple steps on how to conduct a successful
informational interview.
* Ask yourself what particular job or industry you are
interested in. On a separate list, identify your abilities,
skills, values, and expertise and see if you think you are
suited for the job you have in mind.
* Prepare for the informational interview and list all the
details you want to obtain about your preferred industry.
* List the people you already know that are in the field you
are interested in -- friends, family, relatives, former
professors, and others. Afterwards, work your way up to public
relations officers, organizational directors, and others.
* Arrange the interview by phone, email, letter, or though
someone you know who works in the same office as the one you
want to interview.
* Prior the informational interviews, take the time to read up
on the job or industry you are keen on so that you do not go
into the interview with absolutely no knowledge of the topic.
Make a list of questions you would like to ask. * D-day is
finally here. Conduct the interview with ease and grace. Dress
nicely; be punctual, polite, and professional. Follow the
questions you have made but also allow some spontaneous
discussion between you and the person you're interviewing.
* After the interview, record everything you have learned in a
journal or blog. Don't forget to send a thank you note within
one week of the interview.
Informational Interview Do's and Don'ts
Consider these tips when you're planning to conduct an
informational interview.
* DO ask for a face-to-face informational interview instead of
phone interviews or email interviews because this is by far the
best kind and most helpful. * DO ask your interviewee to allot
at least 30 minutes of his or her time for the interview. * DO
take the time to conduct some research about the company if you
are absolutely clueless about the job or field you are
interested in... even small bits of information will help. * DO
prepare to bring your resume just in case the interviewee asks
you for a copy. * DO be yourself because this is the only way to
know which career path is right for you. Remember, you don't
need to impress the interviewee here. You're there to ask for
good career advice. * DON'T get the false impression that an
informational interview is a job interview. You're merely
preparing to enter or change a career path, or improve your
prospects in your current field. * DON'T forget to ask for
referrals. * DON'T ask for a job! It will turn off the person
you are interviewing and will feel that you have deliberately
misled him/her as to the real purpose of the interview.