How to conduct an informational interview

You will be conducting an informational interview with your contact. An informational interview is an opportunity to provide gather data you need that will help you make a more realistic career choice.

While its purpose is to get you information, NOT a job, informational interviews can serve the dual purpose of being a networking strategy by circulating your name and face among potential employers.

Whether you are conducting your informational interview in person, over the phone or via email, be sure you are prepared and professional.

Benefits of an Informational Interview

Informational interviews can provide you with valuable information for job searching and career planning that you could not get any other way. They:

• Present you with up-to-date facts about an occupation that can help you in your decision making.
• Inform you about the skills required for certain jobs so you can match them with your own.
• Demonstrate how people feel about their work so you can assess how you might feel if you did the same job.
• Provide you with valuable networking contacts to utilize when you are doing your actual job search.
• Help develop your communications skills and self-confidence in talking with professional people in a low-pressure interview environment.
• Teach you occupational “buzzwords” unique to the career field of your choice.
• Give you an edge in future interviews by providing you with inside knowledge not known by all of your competition.
• Develop basic skills similar to a targeted job search, which you will be conducting later.

Informational interviews work because most people:

• Enjoy talking about their jobs and career fields.
• Are flattered that you ask their advice to assist you with your own career and future.
• Are emphatic about career transitions because they have experienced them.
• Like to help others because it makes them feel good.

Know what you want to accomplish-The primary objective of informational interviews is to investigate a specific career field so you can make a more informed career decision. While searching the Blugold Career Network, determine what you want to learn about. Those decisions will help you choose a potential contact.

Arrange for the interview When using Blugold Career Network, your initial contact is usually made through email. After the initial contact, you and your contact can decide together what method of meeting will work best and when the best time will be to have your meeting.

Prepare for the interview-Decide and plan ahead of time what you want to ask your contacts. Come with specific questions. Even though you are looking for information rather than a job, this same organization might have an opening in the future that you would be interested in. Being prepared will help you make a good first impression.

If you are meeting in person

What to Wear
Business casual dress has been a hot topic in the office setting ever since it was introduced and accepted as code of dress in the workplace. It can be defined as “A comfortably relaxed version of classic business attire.” Although there are some highly debatable suggestions for what does and does not fit this definition, here are some concrete suggestions.

What NOT to wear:

• T-shirts
• Sport team jackets, shirts or any other “logo” clothing
• Sweat shirts and sweat pants, athletic “tube” socks, running clothes
• Hiking boots, athletic shoes or sandals
• Hats or caps of any kind
• Shorts, denim (These are considered “casual” and might be appropriate for a “casual Friday” or a company picnic, but they are not “business casual.”)
• Leggings or spandex pants
• Casual, athletic or short shorts
• Very short skirts, bare shoulders, tight sweater tops or any kind of glitter

What you should wear:

Men:

• Khakis, chinos, or gabardine trousers
• Shirts with collars (either polo-style or button down)
• Sweaters with collared shirts underneath
• Casual dress shoes with dress socks

Women:

• Slacks, skirts, or dress shorts (top of the knee) with coordinating tops
• A jacket, sweater or over-blouse to “finish” the outfit
• Flat leather shoes with coordinating trouser socks or hose
• Makeup and appropriate accessories

If you are communicating via email

Prepare your email carefully. You may want to limit the number of questions so as not to make the response too lengthy for the contact. If you make a good impression, it is likely that he/she may let you know they are happy to stay in contact with you as additional questions come up.

Be sure to have someone you trust read the email and check it for errors, professionalism, length, and content.

If you are communicating over the phone

Dress nicely. This helps your confidence on the phone. Be sure to smile while you speak to the contact.

Write every contact you interview a thank you letter as soon as possible. Mention something that you found particularly interesting or helpful. Some contacts may ask you to stay in touch so they can see how your search is going. Take advantage of this. Remember, informational interviewing also is a primary networking strategy.