Before, during, and after the interview
Before the interview:
- If you have never done an informational interview before, practice with a friend.
- Write out a script for the initial phone contact.
- Always make an appointment and have your calendar handy. If possible, meet in person rather than interviewing by phone.
- When making an appointment, if you're a student, say so, and tell the person a variation of the following: "I am in the process of making some decisions about my career and want to learn more about the opportunities in my field for someone with my skills and experience. I was told by ______ that you might be a good person to talk to. May I set up a time to meet with you at your convenience?" Be prepared for a response suggesting you talk with Personnel. Let the person know that what you are looking for is information regarding careers, not job vacancies.
- Explain your purpose in requesting the interview. It is important that you are specific in your request. Give an estimate of the time you believe it will take (usually 20-30 minutes).
- Be on time, prepared, and dress professionally!
- If you have a resume, bring it with you. Often you may leave it with the person.
During the interview:
- Respect the person's time and be prepared to hold up your end of the interview.
- It's OK to let your interviewee digress a bit, but make sure your questions are answered.
- You are in control of the interview. Make it work for you.
- At the end of the interview, always thank the person for their time and always ask them if they know of anyone else you could talk to. This is the key to developing more contacts - your network.
After the interview:
- Evaluate your style of interviewing after each meeting. What could you have done better?
- Consider the career information you received from your interviewee. What are your positive and negative impressions? Take notes during the interview and refer to them later on.
- Observe the job setting and general atmosphere. How did they match your expectations?
- Always write a thank-you letter. Mention what you talked about, what you learned, who you are going to call/see at their suggestion. Make sure the letter is in business format. If you didn't leave a resume with them at the interview, feel free to include it with your letter.
- Keep the door open for further contacts. Call later to say how you are progressing.
- Keep records of who you interviewed. Use index cards or a special notebook. Enter: the name, address, telephone number, date you met, notes of your conversation, who referred you to that person, and contacts that individual may have provided. The person may be helpful to you in the future.
Remember - Informational Interviewing means gaining valuable knowledge, access, and referrals not only to individuals but to the industry. Effective Informational Interviewing requires more than just making contacts. The process involves leveraging those contacts so you are able to derive the full benefits of your networking as you begin your career search.