How to Secure an Informational Interview

How to Secure an Informational InterviewHow to Secure an Informational InterviewFor some job seekers, theres only one einstellungsgesprch thats worth landing- and thats the job bewerbungsgesprch. But informational bewerberinterviews can prove to be a rich resource of industry information, fresh new contacts, and an opportunity to get your foot in the door at a company you might want to work for.Heres a primer on what an informational interview is, how to land one, and what your next steps should be after having one.What is an informational interview?Much like its name connotes, an informational interview is a meeting between you and another person who might be employed at a company youd like to work for, or have a job that youre interested in. Typically, informational interviews are done in person, although they can be conducted remotely or via phone. The goal of an informational interview is just that- to get information that could help you possibly land a job with the company in th e future. Its not a direct job interview, and shouldnt be treated as such.Who should you have an informational interview with?Ideally, you should target someone who works in the company who can give you guidance regarding your career or provide an insiders perspective of what working in that industry is really like. Although you could have an informational interview with a hiring manager, youre mora likely to garner better information directly from employees of the company. You can have an informational interview with people you already know in your network, or reach out to those whom youre not connected with, but would like to be.What are the benefits of an informational interview?They can help you practice your interviewing skills.Since informational interviews do mimic the back-and-forth nature of a real job interview, they can be a good rehearsal for the real thing, which can be helpful if your job interviewing skills are a little rusty. They can help you form new connections wi th people outside of your network that might lead to new job opportunities within that company or possible referrals to another job with a different company.They can give you insight into what working for the company is like.If the informational interview is done in person, it can give you an idea of what working for the company would really be like. Are employees working late into the night? Is the office in disarray? Are employees friendly or is the office silent? These visual clues can be priceless, especially if you really want to work at the company, and help you determine if you would truly want to work there or not.They can position you as a top job candidate for the future.In addition, informational interviews can put you one step ahead of other job seekers, especially when a job does open up. A positive impression upon your interviewer during an informational interview makes it mora likely that hell remember you first- and hopefully reach out to you for a job interview. And if youre thinking about a career change, an informational interview can confirm if a new industry is right for you or not without having to actually go through the entire job search process.How do you contact someone for an informational interview?Call the person directly.Heres where picking up the phone and calling someone can really count in your favor. If you send an email with your informational interview request, it might get deleted. Do some research to see which employees you might possibly like to interview with (narrow your list down to about three) and then start doing your due diligence. Look to see what you might have in common with your potential interviewer- it could be anything from having a shared alma mater to living in the same neighborhood to even having had the same boss. Use LinkedIn, Google, or other social media channels to gather your intel.Know what to say.Once you have all your information ready, its time to establish contact If your call goes to voicemail , try calling again later in the day. After all, its easier for a person to not return a phone call than it is to turn down a request for an informational interview from a person theyre actually speaking with on the phone. But if the person does answer, make your pitch short and sweet. Explain that you know their time is valuable and explain why you would like to meet with them for an informational interview- even if its only for 15 minutes.Consider other options.Theres a chance that you might get turned down, and thats okay. Resort to the list you made and contact someone else in the company to see if you can set up an informational interview with them instead.Reach out to your network.Another option besides cold calling or emailing directly for an informational interview is to reach out to your network for assistance. Friends, family, current and former coworkers and bosses can all be helpful in directing you towards a new contact- and an informational interview. You might even ha ve a better chance of securing an informational interview if you come recommended from someone you already know in your network.How do you prepare for an informational interview?Research the company.Even though an informational interview is not like a real job interview, you still need to be prepared. That means doing research on the company to find out about its history, latest happenings, and some of the names of the key players in the company. Going to the companys website and reading its latest press releases can give you some good information, as well as checking out its social media channels to see how it connects with its consumers.Research your interviewer.Since the majority of your informational interview might be spent listening to the person talk about himself and his career, its a good idea to do some sleuthing on him, too. Find out where he went to school, companies hes worked for, and job titles hes held over the course of his career. You should also look to social med ia to see if there are any other connections you possibly share that could provide some common ground during your interview.Be professional.In general, an informational interviewer might be more relaxed in nature than a real job interview, but that doesnt mean that you should show up in jeans and a T-shirt. Be dressed as if you were going to a real job interview (business casual is a good option) to show respect to your interviewer for his time. By dressing professionally, youre showing that youre taking the interview seriously- and might leave a seriously good impression upon your interviewer. And dont forget to bring a few copies of your resumejust in case.Be prepared.Unlike a traditional job interview where the interviewer will take control over the interview byasking the questions, the same rules dont apply for an informational interview. Most likely, the person youre meeting with will ask you a little about yourself and why you wanted to meet. Thats when you need to be ready wi th some questions of your own to ask. Explain that you know that youre not there for a job interview but would like to know how they broke into their field, for example. You can also ask the following questionsWhat are the traits that someone would need to be successful in this industry?How have you seen this field change over the years and where do you think its headed?What tips would you have for someone starting out in this industry?How long do people typically work at this company?What have been some challenges youve seen people face who work in this field?These questions will not only give you some inside information, but also show that youre serious about potentially working in this industry, and if applicable, this company.What should you do after your informational interview?Follow up.You should always send a thank-you note or email after any interview, and especially so after an informational interview. After all, the person took time out of his busy day to meet with you, s o the very least you can do is to thank him for doing so. You can mention how much you learned during the interview and remind the person of what type of job youre interested in. See if he might be able to refer you to another person for a potential job lead, or keep you in mind should there be a job opening within the company.Keep the connection.Its important to keep the connection going with your interviewer after youve met with them. So for example, if you meet with a referral that you got from your interviewer, let him know how it went. And if you do get a job offer, reach out and tell them which company youre now working for. It can help to not only strengthen your connection, but also make him feel good to know that he was instrumental in your job search success.