What are the 5 Steps of Conducting an Informational Interview?
The 5 steps of conducting an informational interview are:
- Research career fields, industries and organizations: Use online resources to gather information about the career field, industry, and/or organization you want to learn about.
- Identify people to interview: Utilize existing contacts such as family, friends, professors, and former employers. You may also identify Cal alumni through resources like My Berkeley and LinkedIn.
- Prepare for the Interview: Develop a brief introduction of yourself, your hopes for the meeting, and plan open-ended questions to ask.
- Initiate contact: Reach out to the person by email or LinkedIn, mention how you got their name, and emphasize that you are seeking information, not a job.
- Conduct the informational interview: Dress appropriately, arrive on time, bring your list of questions, respect the time, and encourage the interviewee to talk while directing the conversation naturally.
Benefits of Informational Interviews
Informational interviews allow you to gain knowledge and insights while building a personal connection with the interviewee.
- They help expand your network and open doors to future career possibilities.
- Your interviewee can offer personalized advice, introduce you to valuable contacts, and provide ongoing support in your career.
- Engaging in informational interviews can strengthen skills such as effective communication, active listening, and professionalism.
Important Tips
Maintaining good eye contact, appropriate body language, and asking permission to take notes demonstrates commitment to learning.
Following up expresses appreciation and continues the dialogue between you and the interviewee, which can lead to new opportunities.
Informational interviews are valuable for building lasting professional relationships in your field. They can help expand your network and provide unique insights beyond what textbooks offer.
The aim of an informational interview is to gather insights and information about a specific career field or organization.
Being conscious of the interviewee’s time is a respectful aspect of conducting an informational interview.
Definition of an Informational Interview
An informational interview is a meeting where you can learn about someone’s real-life experiences in a specific career field, industry, or organization.
These interviews usually last around 20-30 minutes but can go up to an hour if there’s a strong connection between you and the interviewee.
Unlike job interviews, informational interviews focus on gathering insights rather than hiring—although they might lead to future job opportunities!
This setting helps you make well-informed decisions about your career by offering personal insights and advice on a particular path or organization.
Informational interviews might also be called coffee chats, networking conversations, or informational meetings, as they’re about seeking advice from someone experienced in the field you’re interested in.
Due to their informal nature, these interviews often allow both the interviewer and the interviewee to share and acquire knowledge without the pressure of a job offer on the line.
As a knowledge seeker, you can use these discussions to explore career paths, discover job opportunities, and expand your professional network.
The knowledge provider benefits as well, gaining the chance to meet potential employees or business partners while sharing their expertise.
Informational interviews create a non-threatening atmosphere—perfect for casual conversations where you can indirectly showcase your qualifications and character.
Sources for Informational Interviews
You can reach out to various sources for informational interviews, like friends, family, alumni, or even former co-workers. Industry leaders and total strangers can also be valuable contacts!
Career advisors, coaches, and recruiters can help connect you to potential interviewees, so don’t hesitate to ask them for assistance.
Etiquette and Preparation
Before you dive into an informational interview, it’s crucial to research the industry and the individual you’re meeting.
Be courteous and acknowledge the favor the professional is doing by sharing their time and wisdom with you.
Remember, a typical informational interview is brief—aim for around 15-20 minutes to respect the interviewee’s schedule.
Think of the interview as a friendly chat where you’re both learning from each other, paving the way for potential networking opportunities.
Conducting informational interviews has numerous benefits that can aid in your career journey.
An informational interview allows you to gather firsthand experiences from someone actively working in your desired field. It’s a relaxed conversation, making it less stressful for both you and the interviewee.
These interviews empower the interviewee to direct the discussion, diving into specifics about day-to-day responsibilities and their interests. Moreover, you can ask about topics that are typically off-limits in formal interviews, like salary and benefits.
Engaging in candid conversations about the industry’s ins and outs — both the tough and positive sides — can provide invaluable insights.
One of the significant advantages is the boost in self-confidence and improvement in your interview skills. Informational interviews can greatly expand your professional network, potentially opening doors to unposted job opportunities.
It’s crucial to prepare thoughtful questions that go beyond the basics readily available online. And don’t forget, following up with a thank-you note helps maintain that valuable rapport with the interviewee.
These informal sessions are all about learning the realities of various career positions in your fields of interest. You gain insider tips on the qualifications required and the preparations needed to enter those jobs.
Additionally, this experience allows you to evaluate whether a company fits your values and preferred work environment. You might even discover that your initial career path no longer excites you, leading you to new possibilities.
Informational interviews help in building professional relationships and expanding your network, which can lead to future job leads.
Besides learning new and intriguing career options, they also help clarify your career objectives and provide access to the latest information in the field.
You can gain insight into what it’s like to work at specific organizations, knowledge that is beneficial for crafting resumes and preparing for future interviews.
These interactions initiate professional relationships, giving you the chance to delve into specific job types and career paths or industry details.
Staying updated about your industry and learning about potential employers can happen in a low-pressure environment, making it easier to build future networking connections.
So, are you ready to take the plunge into informational interviews? They could just be the key to unlocking your next career move!
Setting Clear Objectives for the Interview
Before diving into an informational interview, it’s important to establish clear objectives. Your purpose can vary, whether you’re gathering personal experiences, uncovering insights, or assessing a company’s fit for your career aspirations.
By outlining specific goals, you’ll better guide the conversation. The STAR method can help you frame your responses effectively. Be prepared to discuss the Situation, Task, Action, and Result related to your questions or experiences.
Setting SMART objectives—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—will enhance the clarity of your interview. Start by researching the company and the individual you’re meeting. This groundwork lays the foundation for a meaningful exchange.
Effective Interview Preparation
Your preparation should encompass researching the industry and formulating thoughtful questions. Understanding logistics, such as the interview style, can also influence your success. Different formats—structured, semi-structured, or unstructured—serve different purposes, so choose wisely.
The quality of your questions matters; they should be open-ended to foster engaging dialogue. As you prepare, think about what you truly want to learn from your interviewee.
Steps to Prepare for the Interview
- Start by researching the company and your interviewers. Knowing specific details about the company can build your confidence and help assess how you fit the role.
- Practice your answers to common interview questions. Be ready to tackle questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “Why are you interested in this role?”
- Reread the job description. Familiarizing yourself with required qualifications will allow you to match your experiences effectively.
- Be prepared with examples of your work. Think of specific tasks and relevant experiences you can discuss during the interview.
- Plan your route. Consider travel time and check the route in advance to ensure you arrive on time.
- Dress for interview success. Align your outfit with the company’s dress code, opting for something more formal than informal.
- Use the STAR method when answering questions. This approach helps structure your responses and showcase your accomplishments effectively.
- Prepare smart questions for your interviewers. Think about what you’d like to know regarding responsibilities, performance measures, team culture, and the next steps.
Overcoming Interview Stress
Managing nerves is key. Techniques like visualizing a familiar person can help ease anxiety and boost your confidence.
During the interview, maintain focused and positive body language; avoid crossing your arms and keep a friendly demeanor. Remember, showcasing lessons learned from past experiences is more impactful than negative tales.
Lastly, be aware that the employer will evaluate your work history, education, strengths, and weaknesses, aiming to understand your fit for the role.
Finding the Right Person to Interview
When you’re looking to conduct an informational interview, finding the right person is crucial. Start by broadening your view of recruitment beyond just interviews; think of it as an entire process with meaningful interactions at various stages.
Having a manpower plan helps you define who the ‘right’ hire is. You want to clarify the specific attributes needed for the role—like skills, experience, and behaviors—to guide your search.
Conducting a job analysis can help create an updated job profile or description that reflects current demands. This goes a long way in making your talent search more effective.
A systematic recruitment process is essential for improving hiring outcomes. Structured face-to-face interviews tend to yield better results than unstructured formats or panel interviews, which often lead to biases.
While it might be tempting to rely solely on interview intuition, this can result in only a 50-60% success rate in hiring. Aim for a systematic approach that utilizes various touchpoints to get a full picture of the candidates.
Don’t forget about internships and externships. These can be valuable talent pipelines, helping you identify top candidates who may fit well in your company culture.
When interviewing, consider these principles: make candidates comfortable, maintain a conversational tone, and limit your speaking time. Ideally, you should do the listening while candidates demonstrate their potential.
To gain deeper insights into a candidate’s thought processes, follow up with additional questions after their responses. Focus on obtaining facts rather than relying on gut feelings.
Look for candidates who are actively engaged in their career paths and express goals and aspirations. Those interested in growing with your company are more likely to flourish long term.
Remember, interviewers should consider themselves as part of the selling process, showcasing the job and its opportunities to create an attractive environment for candidates.
Ultimately, structured interviews can help you reveal the core attributes of candidates—Confidence, Competence, Communication, Character, and Chemistry—essential for your team’s success.
