Someone asking you for an informational interview will come prepared with important questions about your industry. One of these questions could be, "What are the opportunities in this career like in [geographical area you are most interested in]"
This question is often asked by interviewers who are interested in living in a specific part of the country, but they want to know if there are career opportunities at that location. Someone who has always wanted to live in New York may be deterred if they find out they will not be able to get a job in their field, so giving an informed answer can really be beneficial to the interviewer.
Points to Emphasize
It can be difficult to do prior research for this question because you will not know if someone is going to ask this and what specific geographic region they are going to mention if they do. Follow these guidelines to the best of your ability.
- Give the best appraisal you can
- If you don't know, tell them
- Feel free to say that you will look into it and get back to them
- Put them in touch with colleagues from that geographic area
Moving cities is a big life decision, so make sure the interviewer is well-prepared for any big changes.
Mistakes You Should Avoid
Your response to this question should not include any of the following mistakes.
- Don't give an answer if you're not 100% certain it is correct
- Don't lie if you are unsure
- Don't say it's great if it's actually bad
- Don't say it's bad if it's actually great
An interviewer will look to you for guidance as to where they should go for the betterment of their career, so set them on the best path possible.
Sample Answer
When answering this inquiry, your response should go something like this:
There are actually pretty good opportunities in this field in New York. Several buildings have recently opened, and I believe they are still hiring for some entry-level positions. If you want, I can put you in touch with my colleague, and she can give you a better idea of what they are looking for.
If there is any uncertainty, you could also have an answer like this:
Hmm…you know I'm not entirely sure. One of my colleagues lives in New York. Let me give her a call and see what she knows, and I can get back to you.
Either of these answers is fine. The most important thing is for you to give the most accurate information to the interviewer possible.
