In my last post, I explained why you should be doing informational interviewing if you are interested in expanding your existing network and seeing what positions are available outside of your current company.
Since informational interviewing is an unfamiliar process for many people, it can be hard for a first-timer to know how to conduct informational interviewing. Obviously it is much different from a hiring interview, in which a potential employer reaches out to a qualified candidate after reviewing their application. In informational interviewing, the interested potential applicant (that's you) will be reaching out to a strategically-picked contact at the company. The process can be difficult to navigate at first, but if you follow my tips, you will become an expert at informational interviewing!
How to Conduct Informational Interviewing
Step 1 of Informational Interviewing: Identify Your Target Organization
Before you can conduct informational interviewing, you need to make a smart choice about what companies you want to connect with. Do research on the company's culture, their projects, and their results. Just like when applying for a job, you should only conduct informational interviewing with a company in which you feel you would be a good fit.
Step 2 of Informational Interviewing: Research on LinkedIn
If you are not already on LinkedIn, a professional social networking site, you should create your account right away. LinkedIn will be instrumental as you conduct informational interviewing. You will use LinkedIn to further explore your target organization and to find your contact person. Stay away from HR or hiring personnel, as this could create a conflict of interest as you later apply for a position. Sales team members are often ideal for you to conduct informational interviewing with, because unlike some of their audiences, you actually want to hear what they have to say.
Once you identify your contact person for informational interviewing, find their contact information on LinkedIn and either call their direct line or call the company number and ask to speak with them. If they answer explain that you were doing research on their company and that you would like to talk to them to learn more about their industry. Then schedule an in-person or phone conversation with them. If you have to leave a voicemail, provide the same explanation along with your contact information and availability over the next week.
Step 3 of Informational Interviewing: Develop Your Questions
As with any other interview, before you conduct informational interviewing, you should prepare questions to ask your company contact. Unlike a hiring interview, you want these questions to be general and about the industry rather than the specifics of a particular position within the company. Otherwise, your contact may feel used or as though you are "fishing" for a position in the company. Ask about long-term trends affecting the industry, what skills people need to have in order to react to those trends, what trade publications they recommend, what areas of the business are growing fastest, and what career areas in the industry are in the greatest demand.
The last question you should plan to ask during your informational interview is "Who else do you know that I should be talking to?" This question will provide you with other viable leads for informational interviewing without making your contact feel as though you are just focused on finding yourself a job. duri
Step 4: Conduct Informational Interviewing
Once you have prepared your questions and are meeting with your contact to conduct informational interviewing, be sure to stick to your planned discussion. Do not mention your resume or ask about open positions unless your contact brings them up first. Try to discuss the industry and develop a real relationship with your contact.
You should also be sure to respect your contact's time during your informational interview. Remember to the amount of time you agreed upon when originally scheduling your meeting--10 to 15 minutes--and take care to to wrap up on time. Thank them for taking a moment out of their busy schedule to discuss their industry, and exchange contact information if you have not yet already.
Step 5 of Informational Interviewing: Measure Your Results & Follow Up on Leads
When your informational interviewing session is over, you might think that you have no more work to do. This is not true. After any meeting with your contact, you should take time to reflect on the process and follow up on any leads.
If your informational interview contact reaches out to you to further discuss the industry, you can broach new topics with them and talk more specifically about your career. Ask them what you could do to improve your qualifications, what the next step in your career could be, what might give you a competitive advantage over others in the industry, and whether they know anyone in the field who could recommend a position for you.
Your contact might even contact you with information on an opening in their company or elsewhere in the industry. Be sure to reply in a timely matter expressing your gratitude and your interest in the position. Ask them for any more relevant information on the position. If you are interested in the position, apply to it in a timely manner and mention that your contract referred you to the position in your cover letter.
Sometimes informational interviewing yields referrals that are not directly linked with open positions. You should still pursue these leads, because a position could open within that company at any time. If you receive the name of another industry contact during informational interviewing, be sure to reach out to that person soon after your initial conversation. Start with "I was speaking with (insert contact name & company affiliation) last week and he/she mentioned that I should talk with you about _________." Having a common contact will help you break the ice and also shows that you are a legitimate part of your industry.
Further Assistant with Informational Interviewing
You may still feel nervous about initiating contact with an industry expert to conduct informational interviewing. If you want help with expanding your networking and job prospects, feel free to contact me with any questions about informational interviewing at (816) 600-2478.
