How to Successfully Use Informational Interviewing
Informational interviewing is a networking technique used by job seekers. If you recently graduated college or are thinking of switching careers, you need to get contacts in the field you are considering. One great way to do this is to have an informative discussion. You can meet with an acquaintance and ask them questions about their job.
However, you also need to remember that this is a networking technique. That means you aren't only asking them questions to find out about their career, but to cultivate and grow connections as well. There are some informational interviewing dos and don'ts that you need to make sure to follow as best as you can.
Key Strategies to Use
Just as there are certain things you want to do in an interview for a job, there are also certain things you want to make sure to do and not do in an informational interview.
Informational interviewing dos and don'ts are similar to those for other types of interviewing, but you need to remember that you aren't interviewing for a job. You are simply getting information so you can be more successful at getting a job in the career that you want.
What You Should Avoid Doing
There are a lot of things you need to remember to do, and there are a few things you want to remember not to do too.
An information interview is the perfect networking tool for a recent graduate or someone looking to switch careers. It gives you an opportunity to learn about the career field from someone who is doing it. This will give you a great idea if it is the job you are actually looking for. You just need to keep in mind the informational interviewing dos and don'ts. Even though you may know the person you're interviewing, this is still a professional meeting and you want to treat it that way.
