Mine the Gold in Informational Interviews

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-01-19 15:38:04.245055-05:00

What is an informational interview?

It's a quick meeting to get information for your job search. The purpose of the meeting is to learn about a company or job that interests you. You meet with someone you know, or with a person you've been referred to.

The information you ask for can include ideas and tips on:

which businesses might be hiring soon,
where employers advertise the kind of job you want,
what's really involved in a new field you're exploring, or
how best to break into a new field or into a company.

Informational interviews are valuable in looking for a job in your own field and in finding out about a new job field.

They also give you the chance to practice interviewing. You're in charge of this kind of interview. No one is evaluating you for a job. You ask the questions, so you can relax.

Two Kinds of Informational Interviews

1) You know what kind of job you're looking for. You want leads on:

possible openings;
the inside scoop on organizations where your job exists - when they hire, who to talk with, what to avoid; or
names of other people to talk with.

2) You're not sure what exact job you're looking for. You want information on a job field that you're not already familiar with, such as:

the skills, interests, and values that most match this kind of work;
what parts of your background and experience to emphasize to break into this field;
what training would best help you get your first job in this field;
which companies or organizations would be best to explore first.

Set Up Interviews

Informational interviews can be informal or formal.

Informally, speak for a few minutes with people you see at your place of worship, at a community event, or in your neighborhood. Ask a specific question. You can also use this informal encounter to set up a more formal interview later.

For a formal interview, set up a meeting in advance. Phone, e-mail, or write.

Introduce yourself if you don't already know the person. Explain who referred you.
Ask for 20 minutes of time.
Say what you want to meet about.
Suggest a specific day and time. It's easier to say yes to a specific arrangement.

If you're an extrovert, asking for an informational interview won't be so hard.

But what if you're an introvert? Do you prefer getting job information from the newspaper or Internet? Practice asking for an interview appointment with a more extroverted friend or family member. Let your friend push you to gather the energy to make some phone calls.

Interview Tips

Use informational interviews to ask for what you really want to know. If people agree to talk with you, they're likely to want to help you. You'll probably be more relaxed than you would be in an actual job interview. You can ask questions that you're really wondering about but that may not be appropriate in a real job interview.

Draw on these ideas during your interview:

If you don't already know the person, start with a reminder about who referred you.
If the person doesn't already know about your work background, take two or three minutes to tell them. Someone who has an idea of who you are - what you've done, your best strengths, your strongest interests - can help you better.
If you use a resume, bring a copy. Give the person a few minutes to look it over.
Ask your list of prepared questions one at a time. Sometimes it's tempting to ask your questions quickly to get them all in. Give the person time to answer each question before going onto your next one.
Take notes to make sure you remember any names, contact numbers, or e-mail addresses you get.
Make sure the person has your name and contact numbers. Ask them to get in touch if something else comes to mind after you leave. Ask if you can call them later if you think of another question.

After each interview, write a thank-you e-mail or note, or call or leave a voice mail. Last, reward yourself after each informational interview you go on.

Questions to Ask During an Interview

To find out about openings:

I've been checking regularly with the companies that might be hiring. (List the companies.) What other ones do you suggest I check with?
Whom should I talk with at (a company where you don't know anyone) to get more information about future job opportunities there?
Which companies or organizations do you think I should focus on to set up informational interviews about what they do or about possible future opportunities?
Which trade, professional, or business association meetings would you suggest I go to? Could you introduce me to employers if we go together sometime?
Where should I look for job ads? What else could I do to find out about specific job openings?

To present yourself effectively:

What would make my resume stand out?
What parts of my previous work and background do you think I should emphasize, to be hired as a (job you want)?
Is there a certificate or other qualification that would give me a better chance of getting a job?

To explore different jobs:

I've worked for a long time as a (job you've had). What ideas do you have for using my skills in a different kind of job?
What's the best way to switch from (kind of job you have now) to (job you want)?

To get advice about your job search:

Whom else do you suggest that I contact to get job information? Can I use your name? (Write down exact names, titles, and contact numbers.)
Can you think of anything else that would help me find a job?

Additional Resources

Informational Interviewing
From About.com's Job Searching category, the newest ideas on how to set up and conduct your information interviews.

Books

Find these books online at Barnes and Noble.com

Getting Interviews, Kate Wendleton, Career Press, 2000. The Five O'Clock Club's founder shows you how to get job leads, with a focus on networking, or informational, interviews.

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