31 Jan Informational Interviews: 6 Steps To Secure Them
Informational Interviews: What They Are, Why They Are Important and How to Request Them
Informational interviews can be an extremely effective way to learn about an industry, become familiar with the inner workings of a company, and meet new connections.
The objective of an informational interview is to expand your knowledge of an industry, company, or position. It is not the place to talk about yourself, sell yourself for a position or ask for a job. Unlike a job interview, in an informational interview YOU will be asking most of the questions and doing a majority of the listening and learning.
Informational interviews are a great way to explore industries if you are unsure exactly what you would like to pursue in your career. They are also an excellent way to get a clearer picture before you go “all in” to an industry, company or position. After a productive informational interview, you may feel more comfortable that the job of your dreams will actually be along the lines of what you think it is. Or, on the flip-side, you may uncover the reality is not something you are super excited about and need to reconsider or learn more before taking the plunge.
No matter what you learn, look at it as a positive. It will either solidify your thinking and fuel your pursuit of that industry, company or role even more. Or, it will challenge you to learn more or change your plans and potentially prevent you from spending much time and effort, even money, investing in a quest for something that will ultimately not make you happy.
Informational interviews are the easiest to schedule if you know the person you want to interview or have a connection who knows him or her. It’s not to say you can’t book an informational interview with someone who you have no connection to. It can definitely happen. You just may have a lower percentage of people saying “yes” than you will for those you are connected to. Which simply means you’ll need to make a few more requests to secure informational interviews with people you don’t know than you do if you are looking to secure an exact number of informational interviews.
Here is how I recommend you go about securing Informational Interviews:
1. Define Objectives
First step is to determine your objective of the informational interview. Are you looking to learn more about a particular industry? Or would you like to get a feel for what it is like to work for a specific company? Perhaps you want to know what day-to-day life is like working in a certain role. Know what you are trying to achieve so you can tailor your request specifically to your objective. You will likely not get a lot of people willing to give you some of their valuable time if they are not clear on what you are asking them to do or share.
2. Create Target Lists
Research and identify who you want to request informational interviews from. LinkedIn is perfect for this. Search by industry and see companies within it. Look for companies both big and small and in between. If you prefer to conduct your informational interviews in person, include location in your search.
Once you have identified companies to target, research the employees who work there. Again, LinkedIn is the tool I recommend for this. First degree connections are people you know directly. These are the people you can send a request to directly and are the people most likely to say “yes.” Second degree connections are people one of your first-degree connections knows. For second-degree connections, you’ll need to request an introduction from your contact. Make a request to your mutual connection to forward your informational interview request, or send a request directly without the help of your contact. Go with one of the first two of these options if you can. The third option (sending a request directly without any introduction) is the least favorable for getting a “yes.”
The internet is another tool for researching informational interview candidates. Many companies post their leadership team or support teams on their company website. You can also google the industry you are interested in and select the “news” option to see what news has been released and by which companies. This can spark ideas of people to reach out to and what to ask in your interviews.
3. Make Requests
Write and send your email requests. While you are not going to be pitching yourself for a job, you do want to come across as professional. Take the time to craft a well-written request where the request you are making is very clear. Double and triple check for typos and grammatical mistakes before sending. Click here for fill-in-the-blank templates to craft the perfect informational interview request.
Templates for Requesting Informational Interviews
4. Follow Up
People mean well and often want to get back to you, but they can be busy and forgetful. Don’t simply send one email request for an informational interview and assume the answer is “no” if they didn’t respond. After a reasonable amount of time, (a week is long enough to still be fresh in their mind without seeming like you are hounding them), send a follow-up email reminding them of your request and that you are still interested in meeting or talking with them.
Still no luck in getting a response? I suggest one phone call to their office. You’ll likely get voicemail, so leave a clear and concise message, along with your name, why you are calling and your phone number. Be sure not to speak too fast so they can properly capture your name and contact information. I often repeat my information twice to be sure they get it.
When you get a “yes,” book a time that is most convenient for the person you are interviewing, if you can. Make it as easy for them as possible. If you haven’t heard anything after three requests, assume the answer is “no” and move on.
5. Prepare Questions
Congratulations! You’ve got an informational interview scheduled. You’ve done all this work to get the informational interview, now it’s time to prepare for it so you get the most out of your time!
Make a list of thoughtful questions to ask. What is it you really want to know? What would help you the most if you had the knowledge and understanding? Don’t be afraid to ask! The worst they will do is decline to answer, deflect the question or give you a non-answer. But they will likely give you the honest truth, and that’s what you are looking for!
7 Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview
This is true if your request is reasonable. It’s Ok to ask what the pros and cons are of an industry. What it’s really like working at a specific company. Or the downside of being in a certain role. But don’t expect someone to bash their company or the people within it.
I recommend you have your list of questions to ask, but don’t be so focused on the next question that you stop listening to the responses. Be an active listener, and be tuned into what the person is saying outright, and what you may be able to read between the lines. The informational interview should feel like a conversation, not a deposition. Ask follow-up questions that flow naturally from the conversation. You may find you only need to refer to your prepared questions occasionally to be sure you’ve gotten all the information you came for.
6. Send a Thank You Note or Letter
Do not skip this step! Within 48 hours of your interview, follow up with your thank you. Send an email thank you for sure; you can also send a hand-written note sent via mail. Be sure your thank-you message is more than a few impersonal sentences. Write a personal thank you that truly conveys your appreciation for their time. Refer to something specific you discussed in the interview or a follow-up item the person recommended you do, and let them know your status on it.
Your thank-you notes shouldn’t stop with the interviewer. If one of your contacts or connections made an introduction or helped secure the informational interview, be sure to also send them a thank you. Let them know you met with the person, how much you enjoyed the meeting, and how much you appreciate their assistance in making it happen. If there were any action items from the meeting, share it. People love to be helpful, so let them know the important part they played in your career, and keep them posted as you progress toward your goals. Be sure they hear from you more than just when you need their assistance. They are more likely to help you if they know what you are working toward and the progress you are making.
Informational interviews are a terrific way to gain knowledge to help you pursue your career goals. While you shouldn’t bank on it, informational interviews can often lead to career opportunities. They will most certainly open you to new connections that can play a big part in your career as it evolves.
Not a lot of people make information interviews part of their job search, so make them a part of yours and see what happens!
Have you secured Informational Interviews in pursuit of your career goals? Let me know if you found them beneficial and why or why not!