Whether you have freshly graduated, or if you are re-entering the job market, you don’t have to wait until you see an employee listing to introduce yourself. Many people aren’t aware that you can request an informational interview, or where you even start the process. Interestingly though, a large percentage of individuals who go out of their way to market themselves and make contacts are hired quite quickly. Sometimes the company doesn’t even have an opening, they are just so impressed by the person that they don’t want to lose them to the competition either.
Develop Your List
You don’t want to set up informational interviews with just random companies. They should be hand-selected after you have gone through the company’s entire profile. If you get offered a position with a company you are not crazy over, you may lose your chance at a career you will love or that you are better suited for. Choose your contacts wisely. Also, keep in mind that sometimes, competing companies are often friends on the golf course, so don’t spread yourself too thin and end up looking desperate.
Requesting the Interview
You can request an informational interview by letter or phone. It is rarely appropriate to send an email, unless a mutual contact has referred you. If you are calling, have a script prepared. While you don’t want to actually sound like you are reading something, you do want an outline to reference in case you get nervous and lose your train of thought. Make sure that you make it very clear that you are not actually asking for a job; you simply want to introduce yourself during a meeting at their convenience. Explain that you are interested in learning more about the field from an established professional.
Preparation
In a traditional interview, you should be the one answering all the questions, but an informational variety is a little different; you will be asking the majority of the question. A few basics could include:
- What inspired you to get into the field and where did you get started?
- What do you most like/dislike about your job?
- Do you predict changes in the industry in the future?
- What are your tasks on a typical day?
Make Sure You Do Your Homework
Visit the company’s website and don’t ask questions to answers you can find yourself. That’s wasting both of your time. Be sure that the questions you formulate are open-ended.
The Interview Process
Show up to the interview on time and dressed professional, as if you were indeed looking for a job. First impressions always count! Ask the person if they mind if you take notes or record the interview; don’t assume that it is acceptable. Above all, send a follow up, handwritten thank you note. Building a strong relationship will ensure that they will remember you when they have an opening, or they may pass your name along to someone else who might be interested.
Leave a Reply