The Secret to Networking and the Informational Networking Revealed →

Informational Interviews RSS

I've written two books on Networking, including a detailed explanation of the "informational interview." Surprisingly, these terms are widely accepted but only sometimes understood, yet often overlooked when they could be beneficial.

The term informational interview usually means an informal conversation, 20-30 minutes, with someone working in a career field that interests you. (This is often just fact-finding)

This practice isn't just for job seekers. It's relevant to everyone. A lawyer with a significant case needs to understand the other side's perspective. A salesperson must comprehend the actual competition and their offerings. If your friends' attitudes towards you have changed, and you're clueless about why, here's a secret solution: ask them. However, sometimes, you may need to figure out who to ask.

Years ago, when I worked in sales and sold food to restaurants, I needed to know what they were buying. The simple solution I used then was to check their garbage cans. Sometimes, it even revealed its other suppliers.

Networking can take you places you never expected, even garbage cans. You'll find meaningful connections everywhere. Everyone knows someone who knows someone. The "six degrees of separation" theory suggests that all people have six or fewer social connections away from each other. As a result, any two people can be connected in a maximum of six steps through a chain of "friends of friends." This is also known as the "six handshakes rule."

In March 2023, I published "Networking With a Purpose: The Informational Interview, Its Use, and Why it is a Valuable Tool." The introduction page explains the purpose, benefits, and strategies to build a network efficiently. It also includes a step-by-step guide and sample questions to help you feel confident in this vital process. These skills and techniques will serve you long after you land your dream job or acquire answers about your lawsuit or competition.

About Informational Interviews and Questions to Ask? →

Interviews & Resumes RSS

You have identified an industry leader or a person who will be able to see the industry more thoroughly than you have so far. You asked for a short appointment and have been honest about why you called them. A friend recommended them as very successful or knowledgeable, or maybe you have awareness of their role in the industry. You have 30 minutes to ask questions that will help you in your job and career search exploration.

The questions you will ask are essential, and you would like to ask if you would like to take notes. Your contact will want to know something about you and your goals, but you don’t want to take up too much of the time with that, so you use your ”me in 30 seconds speech”. You don’t want to ask things that would have been quickly learned on your own. Still, it will be helpful to ask the person about their journey to their current position, for a description of their day-to-day responsibilities, and for tips they would offer you as someone interested in working in the field.

When the interview is over, you can review your notes and outline what was discussed and what you learned.

Here are some occupation-focused questions that you can ask about the persons job or the job you are considering:

1. What is the title of the person you are interviewing? Is this person’s title similar to others in the industry with similar jobs? If you know the title of the job you are considering, is that title identical throughout the industry, or does it have different titles?

2. What duties and skills are used during a typical day, week, month, or year? Does the routine of the job change on a day-to-day basis? What does success look like?

3. What educational degrees or certificates are recommended? Which courses are most valuable to gaining the skills necessary for this occupation?

4. What kind of past work or internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant

5. What are the essential keywords or buzzwords to include in a resume, cover letter, or interview dialog when job searching in the field?

6. What would the advisor suggest as a practical job search approach?

7. What are the main, or most important, personal characteristics for success in the field?

8. What other departments or kinds of workers frequently interact with this position?

9. Is there evidence of differential treatment between male and female workers concerning job duties, pay, and opportunities for advancement?

10. What are the employment prospects in the advisor’s geographic area? Where are the best employment prospects?

11. What are some related occupations?

12. What are the different salary ranges?

13. Does the typical worker have a set schedule, or are the hours flexible?

14. What demands and frustrations typically accompany this type of work?

15. How can you determine your ability or potential to succeed in this specific occupation?

16. Is this a rapidly growing field?

What types of technology are used, and how are they used?

17. Where are job listings found?

18. What entry-level positions are there in the industry and companies considered?

19. What does the advisor know now that would have been helpful to know when they were in your shoes?

General Questions to Ask

20. How many hours does the person you are interviewing work?

21. What education does the advisor have?

23. What was the advisor's career path from college to the present?

24. What are the satisfying aspects of the advisor’s work?

25. What are the work's most extraordinary pressures, strains, or anxieties?

26. What are the primary job responsibilities?

27. What are the most challenging problems and decisions the advisor must deal with?

28. What is frustrating about the work?

29. How would the advisor describe the atmosphere/culture of the workplace?

30. Does the advisor think you left out any important questions that would be helpful to learn more about the job or occupation?

31. Can the advisor suggest others who may be valuable sources for you? If you call them, can you use the advisor’s name?

32. Express gratitude for the help and also follow up with a Thank You Note

Informational Interviews are an important the 1st step in Finding a Job and Especially a Career Change! →

When you apply for a job, be prepared to be interviewed, and when the time comes, don’t walk in without doing research. What you need to know is found by conducting your own “Informational Interviews.” Those interviews should occur with people in the same industry, the company where you will be applying, and people with similar jobs.

When you consider those in your target industry or the industry you have already worked in, consider the suppliers, competitors, and customers. Each has a unique perspective on the company and the job you will be applying for.

The more you know, the better your chances of getting the job and the more valuable you will be perceived to be in your job interview. Employers want qualified candidates, and if you know nothing about the industry, company, or job, how can you expect to be considered eligible? The informational interviews help you become qualified and ready.

Finding these contacts is what you ask your network of sources for help. You may not know someone working in your target areas, but someone in your existing network might, and that,t will enable you to call for a short meeting and open by saying that your network contact (by name) suggested talking to you them. You’ll need to treat an information interview appropriately. Just ask for a short time to ask some questions and learn a little about the person’s job and duties. Don’t take longer than you ask for, and don’t ask for a job during this time because you told your new contact you just wanted to ask questions.

If no one in your network can often point you towards someone working in the area you want to do interviews with, then ask if they know someone who might. You can call without a name reference, but you’ll be able to do your best to find a connection. This approach is research focused and will help you understand the industry and become exposed to the language and keywords of the industry.

If you set up and attend several informational interviews before applying for a job, you will find the interview will be far more successful.