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 Informational Interviewing
Perhaps the single most versatile tool you have
available in any job search is the Information Interview. We define the
Information Interview as a conversation with an individual who can give you
information about a field of work, an organization, or a particular job that
interests you. An informational interview is an interview that you initiate -
you ask the questions. The purpose is to obtain information, not to get a
job.
An Information Interview may serve any one or more of
these purposes:
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To help you decide the field of work you want to enter
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To identify organizations and people where you might
like to seek job interviews at a later time
-
To discover employment opportunities that are not
advertised
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To help you prepare for a job interview by becoming
better informed about a specific job and its responsibilities
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To expand your professional network
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To build confidence for your job interviews
Benefits
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You will gain much confidence after completing several
information interviews. We promise you! Confidence gains are the
single most reliable result of information interview, regardless of the student
or desired field of work.
-
The people you interview will sometimes recommend you
to others, thereby obtaining you additional information interviews.
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You will gain valuable information and insights which
you need to decide among career or job possibilities.
-
You may even hear about some job openings while you
are information interviewing, because the word-of-mouth network is always
strong, and some people will try to help you with tips about jobs vacancies.
Preparation
The best way to prepare for an information interview is
as follows:
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Use printed materials (in Career Services, at
libraries, and on the Internet) to find out everything you can about a field of
work or a particular job, BEFORE considering an information interview.
-
Decide the questions you most need answered in person
- questions that you were not able to answer from printed materials.
Answer these questions, to prepare yourself for each
information interview that you will be seeking:
-
Field of work I am considering
______________________________
-
Local Organizations I have identified where I may seek
information interviews:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
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or, other individuals from whom I plan to seek
information interviews
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Questions to Ask
The following categories represent possible areas of
questioning for the information interview. For at least five (5) of these
categories, write a particular question you would like to ask:
Example:
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Where employed - Does your company have branches in
Colorado?
-
Problems of job - How much pressure is there in news
reporting?
Questions I want to ask in the information interview:
-
Field of work
-
Credential requirements
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Nature of work
-
Where employed
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Earnings
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Advancement potential
-
Related field of work
-
Personal responses
-
Rewards of the job
-
Problems of the job
-
Skills developed
-
Advancement potential
-
Uncertainties of the job
-
Greatest disappointments
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Greatest surprises
-
Specific job
-
Major responsibilities
-
Key problems
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Criteria for hiring
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Academic requirements
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Nature of the work
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Resources available to do the job
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Training opportunities
Setting Up An Information
Interview
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Get the telephone number of the organization where you
would like to do an information interview. Call and ask for the name of
the person with whom you would like to speak ( Who is head of the _____
department?)
-
Telephone the person you want to talk with. If
he/she is not available, ask for someone else who works in that department.
-
Say to this person: "I am interested in the
kind of work that your organization does, and would like to know more about
it. I am not looking for a job. Instead, I need information and
possibly advice about how to get into this field and what the work is
like. Could I meet with you at your convenience to ask a few
questions?"
-
If this person cannot meet with you, ask him/her if
someone else in the department would be willing to talk with you.
-
Note: You can also request information
interviews IN PERSON. The more informal the organization (smaller
firms tend to be less formal), the more likely you might get an information
interview on a walk-in basis.
Phone Script For Requesting An Informational Interview
(
= Insert your personal information)
Hello, my name is
and I am a senior
major at West Texas A&M University. As part
of my career planning efforts, I have been researching occupations of interest
and I am most interested in exploring work as a .
I would be most grateful if you would be willing to
meet with me to tell me all about the work that you do. What would be a
good day and time
for you to meeting with me? (Assure the person that you won't take up
much of his/her time.
After the meeting, don't forget to send a brief thank you note to the
individual you met with.
A sample letter follows)
Guidelines For The
Interview
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When you seek an information interview, make it clear
that you are not looking for a job. If the person believes you are trying
to get a job interview in a sneaky way, he/she will be reluctant to talk with
you.
-
Do not use the information interview as an opportunity
to push your resume onto someone.
-
The information interview is an opportunity for a
pleasant, informal conversation in which the person acquaints you with his/her
field of work and specific job responsibilities. It is also a chance for
you to ask for advice about the best ways to enter this field.
The guidelines above may seem obvious, but they are
necessary, because sometimes people misuse or even abuse the concept of an information
interview. People in the working world are familiar with information
interviewing by now, so they expect you to be prepared, respectful of their
time, and honest in your intentions. As long as you follow these
guidelines, you will have a lot of useful conversations and will make some contacts
along the way.
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Get as much information as you can about the field or
job from printed materials BEFORE you seek an information interview. Ask
only those questions that you have not had answered from printed materials.
-
Know the specific questions that you want to
ask. Have these questions written down, so you can locate them easily (it
is OK to have notes with you).
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Have your first information interviews with people who
are easy to contact, either because you know them or because they are easily
available. This will help you get accustomed to the process, so that you
can approach less familiar people later.
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Do not assume that people will take a lot of time to
talk with you. Be respectful of their time. If he/she resists a
particular question you have asked, move to another question without pursuing
the first one.
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Listen attentively. Do not interrupt even when a
different question occurs to you while he/she is talking.
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Ask only those questions which are most important to
you. You may not have time to ask the others.
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Ask for referrals to other people and/or materials
that can extend your search for relevant information.
Follow up
Immediately following the interview, record the information
gathered. Be sure to send a thank-you note to your contact within one
week of the interview. Always analyze the information you've
gathered. Adjust your job search, resume, and career objectives if
necessary.
Sample Thank You
Letter
June 9, 2000
100 Buffalo Way
Canyon, TX 79016
Ms. Jane Doe
Information Processing Manager
XYZ Corporation
Amarillo, TX 79120
Dear Ms. Doe:
I am writing to let you know how much I enjoyed
meeting with you on Thursday and learning more about the field of Information
Processing Management. Through our discussion, I now have a much clearer
understanding of the options open to me within my area of concentration at
West Texas A&M University.
Many thanks for your time. I realize that your
time is valuable and I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and
experience with me.
Sincerely,
Joan Smith
Joan Smith
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