Informational
Interviews
by ResumeEdge
What's an
informational interview?
In general, an informational
interview is a meeting or conversation
between two people: someone who wants
to learn more about a particular career
and someone who works in that career
field. For example, if you are a recent
college graduate interested in becoming
a dentist, you would pursue informational
interviews with experienced dentists.
Or, if you wanted to go into investment
banking, you might arrange meetings
with executives at Goldman Sachs or
Morgan Stanley. Keep in mind that an
informational interview is NOT a job
interview.
Why do I want
to conduct informational interviews?
Informational interviewing
is an excellent way to learn more about
a career you are considering. Let's
say, for example, that after extensive
research you're pretty sure you want
to be a management consultant. Informational
interviews with seasoned consultants
- employees at firms as well as self-employed
consultants - will help you solidify
your goals.
If all goes well, your
informational interviews should leave
you much more knowledgeable about a
particular career or field:
You should have a sense
of what - should you go down the career
paths of your interviewees - you would
do on a daily basis.
You should be able
to pinpoint prospective employers.
Through your interview you'll develop
an understanding what it's like to
work for specific companies, firms,
or individuals, and you'll be able
to make informed decisions about what
employer would be a good match for
you.
You will expand your
list of contacts by collecting names
from interviewees.
Just by listening to
your interviewees speak, you'll begin
to develop a fluency in the vocabulary
and verbal etiquette of your prospective
field.
You will cull information
from your interviewees that, during
your own job interviews, will help
you show prospective employers that
you've done your homework.
You'll practice handling
yourself well in a professional context
and discussing your own objectives.
Whom
should I Interview?
How
should I set up a meeting?
How
do I prepare for an informational interview?
How
do I conduct the informational interview?
How
do I follow up after the informational
interview?
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