Career Services 70 Griffin Hall Ext. 6695

THE INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW Career Services 70 Griffin Hall Ext. 6695

Infrmatinal Interviewing What is an infrmatinal interview? An infrmatinal interview is a way fr yu t gain infrmatin and advice abut a field, industry, r cmpany. It is als ne f the mst effective ways t grw yur netwrk. An infrmatinal interview cnsists f a cnversatin between yu and smene in a jb r industry yu wuld like t learn mre abut. The gals f an infrmatinal interview include: Learn mre abut a cmpany, industry, and/r persn Intrduce yurself t prfessinals, and industry leaders Grw yur netwrk in an intentinal and systematic way In shrt, yu will be gathering Advice, Infrmatin, and Referrals (A.I.R). The benefits f such a strategy are many and varied and include: Gain self-cnfidence in talking with prfessinals, since it is much less stressful than a jb interview Obtain infrmatin abut the jb market, the industry and the cmpanies yu are interested in. Meet peple wh are new and interesting Build a netwrk f cntacts which may be helpful in the future Explre jbs r career paths yu did nt knw existed Enhance yur cmmunicatin skills Imprve yur scial skills Learn hw t manage a fcused cnversatin Observe varius wrk envirnments Learn which skills are necessary fr particular ccupatins Sharpen yur decisin-making skills Hw is an infrmatinal interview structured? The ideal frmat fr an infrmatinal meeting is face-t-face, ne-n-ne. It is less effective and less desirable t cnduct infrmatinal interviews ver the phne r via vide chatting, email, etc., but better than nt cnducting ne at all. The timeframe fr an infrmatinal interview can vary widely, but range frm 15 minutes t mre than an hur As the jb candidate, yu are the driving frce behind infrmatinal interviews. Tasks yu will be respnsible fr include: Researching the industry, cmpany, and peple t meet with Initiating cntact and asking fr the meeting Cnducting the Infrmatinal Interview

Fllwing-up after each meeting Hw d I cnduct an infrmatinal interview? Belw are guidelines t help yu befre, during, and after each infrmatinal interview Befre: Assess yur skills, interests and abilities Identify an industry and/r target cmpanies yu d like t learn mre abut Research the cmpany using a variety f resurces, including: Cmpany website, materials, infrmatin Other surces (glassdr.cm, vault.cm, Occupatinal Outlk Handbk, etc.) Yur netwrk Chse the kinds f infrmatin, advice, and referrals yu wuld like t cllect and generate a list f questins that will help yu gain that infrmatin (see list f sample questins later in this resurce) Prepare t dress apprpriately, making sure yu have the right utfit well befre the meeting takes place Develp yur 30 secnd cmmercial and practice it Develp and practice answers t several cmmnly asked interview questins in case they cme up in the infrmatinal interview Identify (and research) the persn/ peple within the cmpany yu wuld like t talk with and reach ut t set up a meeting (see sample script fr asking fr meeting belw) Practice infrmatinal interviews with smene already in yur netwrk Have smene in yur netwrk intrduce yu r make a referral t a targeted persn, in advance f yu reaching ut t them if pssible Cntact the targeted persn and include the fllwing key infrmatin in yur ask Yur name and yur cmmercial Cnnectins yu have in cmmn Ask t meet (be as SPECIFIC as pssible in terms f date, time, lcatin, and types f questins yu wuld like t ask). Emphasize yu are nt asking them fr a jb, but yu are explring career ptins Once a meeting is agreed upn, cnfirm the details, exchange cntact infrmatin (cell phne numbers) in case smething cmes up last minute, and say THANK YOU Make sure yu knw exactly where t g and when t meet: shw up early t avid stress and bad impressins. Create the agenda fr the meeting, which shuld include the fllwing elements: Intrductin using yur 30 secnd cmmercial and thank them Build rapprt by talking abut cmmn cnnectins, interests, etc. Re-statement f the purpse f the meeting (gathering infrmatin, nt asking fr a jb)

Ask questins t help yu gather infrmatin, advice and referrals Identify next steps Say thank yu and end the meeting n time Set a gal f cnducting 2-5 infrmatinal interviews per week During: Fllw the agenda yu develped fr the meeting Make a strng first impressin shwing yur calm cnfidence, making eye cntact, shaking hands, etc. Ask permissin t take ntes Start with easy questins, but get t the meaty nes fairly quickly Bring a resume, but nly share it if they ask fr it When apprpriate, dn t be afraid t sft sell yurself by sharing yur knwledge, experience, insights, enthusiasm Ask wh else they might recmmend yu talk t in rder t learn mre abut certain things yu cvered. Ask permissin t stay in tuch after the meeting (via email, LinkedIn, etc.) After: Within 24 hurs, send a thank yu nte. Thank them fr their time and infrmatin make specific reference t tpics f interest Make ntes f what yu learned (helpful and nt) and ask yurself hw these learnings may change the ways yu think, act, r feel, including what types f jbs, cmpanies, etc. yu might pursue mving frward Fllw-up n any items discussed, especially any peple they referred yu t. As yu cmplete fllw-up tasks, reach back ut and update them Keep the cnnectin active by establishing a cntact plan (every week, ther week, mnthly, etc.)

Sample Questins t Ask in an Infrmatinal Interview Belw is a list (adapted frm quintcareers.cm and ther surces) f pssible questins t ask in an infrmatinal interview. Read ver the list and identify the questins which wuld mst directly help yu gain the infrmatin, advice and referrals t help yu succeed in yur career develpment and transitin. As yu becme mre cmfrtable with the infrmatinal interview prcess and the jbs yu will target, yu will likely develp yur wn sets f questins fr each interview. Infrmatin-based Questins Is there a basic philsphy f the cmpany r rganizatin and, if s, what is it? (Is it a peple-, service- r prduct-riented business?) What is yur jb like? A typical day? - What d yu d? What are the duties/functins/respnsibilities f yur jb? - What kinds f prblems d yu deal with? - What kinds f decisins d yu make? - What percentage f yur time is spent ding certain tasks? - Hw des the time use vary? Are there busy and slw times r is the wrk activity fairly cnstant? Why did this type f wrk interest yu, and hw did yu get started? Hw did yu get yur jb? What jbs and experiences have led yu t yur present psitin? What are the mst imprtant persnal satisfactins and dissatisfactins cnnected with yur ccupatin? What part f this jb d yu persnally find mst satisfying? Mst challenging? What d yu like and nt like abut wrking in this industry? What are the varius jbs in this field r rganizatin? What things did yu d befre yu entered this ccupatin? What ther jbs can yu get with the same backgrund? What srts f changes are ccurring in yur ccupatin? What skills are mst imprtant fr a psitin in this field? Hw is the ecnmy affecting this industry? What are the salary ranges fr varius levels in this field? Is there a salary ceiling? What are the educatinal, requirements fr this jb? What ther types f credentials r licenses are required? What types f training d cmpanies ffer persns entering this field? Is graduate schl recmmended? An MBA? Des the cmpany encurage and pay fr emplyees t pursue graduate degrees? What are the typical entry-level jb titles and functins? What entry-level jbs are best fr learning as much as pssible? Wh is the department head r supervisr fr this jb? Where d yu and yur supervisr fit int the rganizatinal structure? Advice-based questins What is the best way t enter this ccupatin? - What are the advancement pprtunities?

- What are the majr qualificatins fr success in this ccupatin? What special advice d yu have fr a student seeking t qualify fr this psitin? Hw des a persn prgress in yur field? What is a typical career path in this field r rganizatin? What were the keys t yur career advancement? Hw did yu get where yu are and what are yur lng-range gals? Hw can I evaluate whether r nt I have the necessary skills fr a psitin such as yurs? If yur jb prgresses as yu like, what wuld be the next step in yur career? Are yu a member f any prfessinal rganizatins related t yur wrk? D yu recmmend jining them? Why did yu decide t wrk fr this cmpany? What d yu like mst abut this cmpany? D yu find yur jb exciting r bring? Why? Hw des yur cmpany differ frm its cmpetitrs? Hw has yur jb affected yur lifestyle? What are the majr frustratins f this jb? What interests yu least abut the jb r creates the mst stress? Des yur wrk relate t any experiences r studies yu had in cllege? Hw well did yur cllege experience prepare yu fr this jb? What curses have prved t be the mst valuable t yu in yur wrk? What wuld yu recmmend fr me? Hw imprtant are grades/gpa fr btaining a jb in this field? Hw d yu think my university's reputatin is viewed when it cmes t hiring? Hw d yu think graduatin frm a private (r public) university is viewed when it cmes t hiring? Frm yur perspective, what are the prblems yu see wrking in this field? If yu culd d things all ver again, wuld yu chse the same path fr yurself? Why? What wuld yu change? D yu have any advice fr smene interested in this field/jb? Are there any written materials yu suggest I read? Which trade/prfessinal jurnals and rganizatins wuld help me learn mre abut this field? What kinds f experience, paid r unpaid, wuld yu encurage fr anybdy pursuing a career in this field? D yu have any special wrds f warning r encuragement as a result f yur experience? These are my strngest assets (skills, areas f knwledge, persnality traits and values):. Where wuld they fit in this field? Where wuld they be helpful in this rganizatin? Where might they fit in ther fields? Where might they be helpful in ther rganizatins? Hw wuld yu assess the experience I've had s far in terms f entering this field? [If yu feel cmfrtable and it seems apprpriate:] Wuld yu mind taking a lk at my resume? Any ther advice r wrds f wisdm?

Referral-based Questins I was really interested in the tpic yu mentined earlier. Wh shuld I talk with r where shuld I lk fr mre infrmatin abut it? Amng the peple yu wrk with nw (r used t wrk with at cmpany XYZ), is there anyne else yu think wuld be helpful fr me t meet with? Based n ur cnversatin, d yu think I am n the right track? Are there ther cmpanies/ industries/ questins I shuld cnsider? Is there a jb site that wuld be gd fr me t add t my list if I wanted t keep my eyes ut fr jbs here? One f my target cmpanies is XYZ. D yu knw anyne there I shuld try t reach ut t? Hw wuld I g abut cnnecting with them? Wh else d yu knw wh is ding similar kinds f wrk r uses similar skills? What ther kinds f rganizatins hire peple t perfrm the functins yu d here? D yu knw f ther peple whm I might talk t wh have similar jbs? Any next steps yu wuld suggest fr me?

Asking fr an Infrmatinal Interview Taking the initiative t ask fr an infrmatinal interview requires sme curage, but is a great way t pen a dr and intrduce yurself t the wrld f wrk. T take full advantage f this strategy, when yu ask, try t be: Prfessinal talk, act, dress and carry yurself nt just as if yu are a gd student, but as if yu are a gd emplyee Psitive appraching yur jb search and infrmatinal interviews with a calm cnfidence and the thught, I can d this and it will make a psitive difference, will carry yu thrugh the challenging, uncertain times f this prcess Pleasant smile, shake hands, be yur genuinely best self. Yu will leave a lng and lasting impressin by being the kind f persn smene wuld like t spend time with Persuasive if yu want smething, yu have t cnvince smene yu deserve it. Persuade peple that an infrmatinal interview with yu wuld be a psitive experience fr all invlved Persistent yu will encunter resistance in this prcess (yu will get sme n s frm peple yu ask fr a meeting), but stay fcused n yur gals and keep asking. Every yes is a step frward n yur career path The tw mst cmmn ways peple ask fr an infrmatinal meeting is via email r via phne call. Belw are sample scripts t get yu started, but it is imprtant that yu cmmunicate using yur wn vice. Elements f the ask include an intrductin f yurself, the reasn yu are asking t meet and the actual meeting prpsal. Bth examples belw are adapted frm quintcareers.cm) Sample email: Dear Mr. Shanesn: [Intrductin f self] As a junir at Washingtn State University, I start my physical therapy curse next semester. [reasns fr asking fr the meeting] I wuld lve the pprtunity t schedule an infrmatinal interview with yu t learn mre abut the field, mre abut hw yu gt invlved in this career, and the day-t-day activities f a physical therapist. I was fascinated with the apprach t physical therapy yu describe in yur blg pstings n PhysicalTherapyBlg.cm, and I felt yu wuld be ne f the mst enlightening peple in the field I culd pssibly interview. [Ask] I knw yu must be quite busy, s I assure yu I will be brief -- taking up n mre than 30 minutes f yur time.

I will cntact yur ffice next week t inquire abut a cnvenient time fr scheduling this infrmatinal meeting. Yu can als reach me at 509-555-4876 r at katie.waltn@gmail.cm. Thank yu very much fr cnsidering this request. Sincerely, Jimmy Junir Sample Phne Script "Hi, my name is and I'm a student at University. I gt yur name frm. Yu're in a line f wrk I'm interested in, and I was hping yu culd help me gain insights int the prfessin. I'm sure my questins culd be answered in a 20-30-minute infrmatinal interview. I was wndering if yu wuld be able t meet n (date, time, lcatin) r wuld there be a mre cnvenient arrangement fr yu? If resistance r pushback: Let me assure yu, I am nt meeting with yu t ask yu fr a jb r anything mre than yur expertise (which has cme highly recmmended). Yes, I have a resume, but at this pint, I am in the infrmatin gathering phase f my career If yes: Let me cnfirm the date, time, and lcatin (any special instructins abut parking, access t the building, where t meet yu?). I d like t share with yu my phne number in case anything shuld cme up last minute (XXX-XXX-XXXX). Wuld yu be willing t share yur number with me if I have any last minute car trubles, etc.?