Informational Interview Tactics Part 1 | No BS Job Search Advice
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Questions to Ask on an Informational Interview
Informational interviewing is an effective technique for people at all stages of their careers to find a job or a career shift.
For a person in the earlier stages of their career, it’s a method to meet people from companies and/or groups that you might be interested in. If you’re an experienced professional hoping to explore a new career path or make a professional move, it’s a particularly smart strategy.
What exactly is an informational interview, and why should you conduct one?
Some people are unclear about the definition of an informational interview. Isn’t the goal to obtain knowledge about a position, a firm, its corporate culture, and a variety of other topics.? That is correct. The main distinction between an informational interview and a job interview is that when you sit across the desk, or Zoom, with someone, there isn’t always a job opportunity. But, and this is a big “but,” it doesn’t rule out the possibility of an opening in the near future, or that this won’t lead to a job down the road.
Consider an informational interview to be a fantastic networking opportunity that can help you in a variety of ways.
As a method to look inside a business. Informational interviews can be conducted at the office of the person you’re interviewing, much like a traditional job interview. You’ll get an inside glimpse at what it’s like to work for that organization once you arrive. The way people dress, interact with one another, the workplace environment, and the feeling that meets you when you walk in the door can all give you indications about the corporate culture. Of course, it can also be done digitally, where the hints to the business culture may be more subtle.
If you’re considering a career change, not just looking for a job along the lines of what you’ve been doing, but doing a complete career switch and moving from, for example, customer service or sales to project management or something completely different, an informational interview is a great way to learn more about the field. From the outside, most things appear to be excellent. Insider knowledge provides you the a more complete picture.
An informational interview, when done correctly, gives you exposure and visibility in a firm you’re interested in working for, whether or not they have a job vacancy. Your 20-minute discussion about the sector, career paths within the organization, or specific roles will represent you as a driven, inquisitive, career-minded individual if you target the proper person. To put it another way, if you do your homework before walking in, you’ll have a better chance of making a good first impression. When the time comes, letting the person know you’d want to hear about future employment possibilities effectively offers you a foot in the door. You’ll be ahead of the game from the start.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2022
How to Approach an Informational Interview
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching, as well as executive job search coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2300 episodes.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
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