Informational interviews, in which you gather information about a contact’s job and industry, are vitally important to learning about new careers and opportunities. Plus, it’s precisely when jobs aren’t available that people are willing to meet with motivated job seekers as a way to develop a strong talent pool for the future. An informational interview can put you at the head of the line when a position appears, lead to valuable employment contacts, or simply help you figure out your next career move.
So how do you get this informational interviews and how do you get the most out of them? Find out in this short video:
That’s it—that’s all you need to know. Now get out there and get some interviews lined up. Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and your friends and family, and don’t be shy about asking anyone who looks interesting to you. And remember, the more informational interviews you do, the less awkward they become.
Have you done any informational interviews? I’d love to know how you’ve made the most out of them – please leave me your comment below.
Margaret Buj
Margaret Buj is an Interview Coach who’s helped hundreds of professionals across Europe and the US to get the jobs and promotions they really wanted. Margaret also has 8 years of experience recruiting for a variety of positions at all levels across Europe and in the US, primarily in technology and e-commerce sectors. If you want to find out how recruiters read resumes, why you are not getting hired, how to sell yourself successfully in a job interview, and how to negotiate your best salary yet, you can download her FREE “You’re HIRED!” video course.
Harry Urschel
Laura Smith-Proulx
Margaret Buj
Thank you, Margaret! Informational interviews are incredibly valuable to job seekers. Even if there isn’t a position readily available, an informational interview will allow you to be recalled easily when a position opens up. Many individuals fear informational interviews, just like any other networking opportunity, but practice makes perfect. Remember to display confidence and positivity when speaking about your experiences and your current job search.