Informational Interviews Are Easy

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter explains the purpose of an informational interview and how to do one.

Informational Interviews: A Short Script for a Networking Email Asking for One

informational interviews are a great way to broaden your network. They are 15, maybe 20 minute conversation with someone, ideally in person that allows you ostensibly to find out more about that with which you’re interested. But it’s also a gateway toward additional networking connections. You can use informational interviews to talk with former employees of firms about what it’s like to work there, what they liked about it most what they liked about at least, and go from there, but the idea comes down to you want to chat with people who knows something about whatever it is that you’re interested in. This way you use them as a stepping stone to other people. Let me give you an idea of a few questions you can ask.

Let’s say you’re a program manager or a developer, you want to arrange an informational interview. You reach out to someone that you have a real or even a marginal connection with. You schedule a time to meet with them. “The connection” is really about professional matters. The reason for doing it is they know something that you don’t.

Here are a few questions you might ask them

How did you get involved with (fill in the blank)? And you chat with them about this for a minute of two?

What do you like about it most? And you chat about that for a while. You ask a few simple follow up questions.

What do you like about at least? And you chat about that a little bit.

Then, start switching gears to ask “Who else do you know who I might speak with about it? I’m attempting to gather information because I’m thinking of pursuing this direction

Would it be okay if I used your name and reached out to them?

They’ll probably say, Sure.

The last question here is “Would you be willing to call them and give them a heads up that I might be calling them.” It’s fine if they don’t want to.

Then, follow up with this next person, learn more, and start the process of building a relationship with people who may be absolute strangers and/or in this field or with this firm or with whom you’re marginally connected, that might lead to something.

Again, all you’re doing is gathering information to help you., 15, 20 minutes. very casual. You never mention the words. I’m looking for a job.

Adapt!

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS job search coaching and career advice globally because he makes job search and succeeding in your career easier. 

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He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 3000 episodes over 13+ years.

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