Informational Interviewing

An informational interview is a method of targeted job seeking, information gathering, and creating networks. It will help you to determine whether a particular career path is suitable for you and provide you with a roadmap that you can utilise to reach your goals. It is a subtle way of creating relationships with employers and identifying job opportunities before they are advertised. So although the aim is to gather information and explore the job role, you are also expanding your networks and more likely to gain access to the hidden job market.

Goal

• To learn about a position
• To build a network of contacts
• To determine if a job would be suitable for you
• To discover methods for getting the job
• To expand networks within field of interest
• To get a job before it is advertised
• To focus on the key characteristics employers look for when hiring in a particular industry.

Who to contact

• People who are employed in a job that you would like to have
• Someone in an industry that you are interested in.  Ask to meet with them - keep trying until someone agrees (1 out of 10 on average).

Organising the interview

• Approach people in your immediate network (friends and family) for some useful contacts.
• Use the yellow pages and other industry directories (internet) to find companies in your area of interest.
• Look out for opportunities and approach people who you interact with regularly (shops, community centres) for leads.
• Just ask your contact for 10-15 minutes of their time.
• Remember you may have to make up to ten cold contacts before someone agrees to give you an interview.

Questions to ask?

• Remember you have come to hear them talk, not vice versa, be knowledgeable but allow them to dominate the conversation. (What does this mean? Do a role play).
• Research the company or industry to determine appropriate questions. 
• How they got into the job? (advertisements, canvassing, chance encounter)
• What sort of training did they need?
• Who provides the best training in their field?
• What sort of experience was required?
• What do managers look for when they hire for these positions?
• What is the best part of the job?
• What is the most challenging aspect of the job?

Closure

• Ask for the names of three other people that you could talk to.
• Provide your contact details and resume at the end of the interview, suggesting that if a suitable position did ever arise to please contact you.
• Thank them for their time.

Follow Up

• Call your contact within a couple of days to thank them for their time or alternatively send a thank you note expressing your gratitude.
• Call all the contacts that you were given.
• Call periodically to look out for opportunities and maintain networks.
• Keep good records of your contacts.
   

Sample script for informational interviews