Broadening your search

An informational interview is a meeting to gather occupational information with someone in a job, field or organisation you are interested in. Informational interviews should not be used to ask for a job, but instead to chat about your contact's own experiences and to seek advice from someone with experience. Here are some basics of informational interviews that will broaden your job search.

Who should I talk to? Approach anyone who is in an industry or a job (currently or previously) that you are interested in. If you don't know anyone personally do some research to find someone suitable. If there's an organisation you really want to work for search their website for someone who is in a similar position to what you want. Even if that person declines they may be able to direct you to someone else who can answer your questions.

How do I approach someone? Once you have a contact write a short and concise introductory email. Explain who you are, what your interests are, and why you want to talk to that particular person. You are basically sending them an invitation to talk to you, either in person or over the phone, so make it clear that you are looking for information only. Offering to buy them a coffee on their break is a great way to invite someone to talk to you.

What should I ask? Since you will have on average 10-15 minutes of this person's time, you want to be well prepared for this interview. Research the company and the occupation you're asking them about and avoid redundant questions that can be easily answered online. Instead, focus on the contact and their experiences; what it's like in that role and at that organisation, how they got their job, the skills necessary to be hired for that position. I like ending interviews by asking for advice on job searching. You often get a lot of valuable information from advice questions, and it can segue into asking if you can send them your resume.

How do I follow up? Although informational interviews are purely fact-gathering missions they can also be the start of a professional relationship with that contact. You never know where that one meeting will take you in the future, so it's important to follow-up with a thank-you. Within 24 hours you should email your contact to thank them for taking the time to meet with you.

Informational interviews are great tools to gather occupational information and increase your network of contacts. You can use informational interviews to narrow and strengthen your job hunt, and by talking to different people you are putting yourself in the market and letting prospective employers know you are interested and looking for more than just a job to apply to.