Source: About.com
When you respond to newspaper or online ads, your resume is one of hundreds that will be viewed. We recommend “informational interviews”.
An informational interview is an interview conducted to collect information about a job, career field, industry or company. It could also be used as a source of contacts that could lead to jobs.
An informational interview is not a job interview. Rather, it’s an interview with an individual working in a career you would like to learn more about.
When you’re interviewing for information, you are seeking information about a specific type of job, about a career field, an industry, and/or a company. You’re attempting to discover what the person’s job is like, what they do, what responsibilities they have, and what it’s like to work in their job at their company. This could also be an excellent way to get referrals to additional people who may want to hire you.
Why do informational interviews work when nothing else does? The people who can help us get hired could be parents of your children’s friends in Little League or could be active members of your church. This technique can assist with using your contacts as a key and vital source of getting a job. Even if there is no one in your network, through research, you can identify people who work in fields that are of interest.
Here is a sample outbound message to someone you want to meet with:
“Hi, my name is Merry. I am calling with hopes of spending 20 minutes with you to learn more about becoming a clinical social worker. I have always been intrigued by the type of work you do and was wondering if you could share your thoughts and insights with me. I can be reached at (phone number) or at (email address).”
The following are some questions that you may want to ask:
- What are the duties performed during a typical day? Week? Month? Year? Does s/he have a set routine? (As the person describes the duties, ask what skills are needed). How much variety is there on a day-to-day basis?
- What educational background is recommended?
- What degree or certificate do employers look for?
- What kind of work/internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant?
- How can a person obtain this work experience?
- What are opportunities for advancement? To what position? Is an advanced degree needed? (If so, in what discipline?)
- Which skills are most important to acquire? Which skills do employers look for?
- What are the main or most important personal characteristics for success in the field?
- What current skills to you have that would give you access?
- What are the employment prospects in (the advisor’s geographic area)?
- Where are the best employment prospects? What are the employment prospects at the advisor’s company? Is mobility a necessary factor for success?
Always end the informational interview by asking for additional names of people who you could speak to. Follow with a thank you note.