Add P-O-W-E-R to Informational Interviews
By
Linda Matias, NCRW, CIC, JCTC
www.careerstrides.com
linda@careerstrides.com
Visit our
interview coaching page
Visit our resume service page
An informational interview, also known as a research interview, is your opportunity
to speak to individuals that are in the position to offer you advice, support, and
guidance regarding your job search or career transition.
This is your chance to establish contacts, assess your marketability, and gain
“insider” information on your field of interest. An informational interview
differs from a job-hunting interview because the focus of the interview is on acquiring
information that may be difficult to obtain otherwise.
To get the most of an informational interview, you should prepare questions in
a specific sequence. Doing so will allow you to build rapport with your contact, and
you will avoid the common mistake of immediately asking work-related questions.
Below is a suggested sequence and sample questions you can use.
Ask questions about the person you are interviewing
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1.
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What attracted you to this industry, your company, and your job?
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2.
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What do you enjoy most about this industry, the company, and your job?
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3.
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What aspects of your career have you found most and least rewarding and why? Any
regrets?
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4.
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What else should I know about this field?
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Ask questions about their organization
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1.
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In what areas do you see your company expanding? What developments do you expect
in this industry? Do you predict development of new products and/or services?
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2.
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How is your company preparing for these changes? Is it training its staff?
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3.
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What obstacles do you see getting in the way of the company’s profitability
or growth?
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4.
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What is the work atmosphere like here? How is employee morale?
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Ask questions about their field of work
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1.
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How does a person progress in your field?
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2.
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What is the highest-level job one can hold in this career?
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3.
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What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
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4.
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What advancement opportunities are there?
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Ask questions about exploring opportunities within the field
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1.
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What strategies would you be using if you were in a job search for a position
in this field?
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2.
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Would you mind reviewing my resume and giving me feedback on it?
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3.
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What types of questions should I expect when interviewing for a job in this field?
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4.
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How are positron openings announced to people outside of the organization?
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Ask for referrals
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1.
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Would you be willing to refer me to other people in the field who might have additional
information? May I say you suggested I contact them?
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2.
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Could you suggest an industry trade publication that lists job openings that fit
my qualifications?
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3.
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Have you heard of organizations that have been expanding?
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Choose to conduct informational interviews with people who are excited about what
they do and are willing to be truthful on what it takes to be successful.
Don’t take up too much of their time. An informational interview should last
no more than twenty minutes.
Editors and publishers are welcomed to reprint articles found on our website as
long as the following byline appears intact.
Editors and publishers are welcomed to reprint articles found on our website as
long as the following byline appears intact.
Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the
career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment
market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing,
quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and
HR-esource.com. She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers’
Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com
or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.
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The CareerStrides Difference
Are you going on interview after interview and not receiving job
offers?
Visit our
interview coaching page to learn more about improving your interview
performance. .
Who Should Participate in Interview Coaching?
Interview coaching can help your if...
- You
never receive a call for a second interview—much less a job
offer—despite thinking you performed well in interview after
interview. You need
insights into the key skills and techniques for creating a winning
strategy.
- You haven’t interviewed in a while and
want to brush up on rusty interview skills. To really shine in an
interview, you must create an interview setting that inspires trust
and sets the stage for showcasing your qualifications.
- You have a challenge (been fired or laid
off, job-hopper image) you need to address. An interview coach can
help you overcome just about any such challenge by teaching you to
clearly communicate your winning points.
Visit our
interview coaching page.
REPRINT THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE
Editors and publishers are welcomed to reprint articles found on our
website as long as the following byline appears intact and the email and
web address are hyperlinked.
Certified in all
three areas of the job search—Certified Interview Coach ™ (CIC), Job &
Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW)—Linda
Matias is qualified to assist you in your career transition, whether it
be a complete career makeover, interview preparation, or resume
assistance. You can contact Linda directly at
linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website
www.careerstrides.com for additional career advice and to view
resume samples.
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