We've all heard that informational interviews are an important part of finding a new career/job. The purpose is to talk with people who can give you an informed description of what they do in their work. Seems reasonably straight forward as long as you can get over the nervousness that comes with the territory.
Many career changers I talk to believe that informational interviews are their first step in finding their next career.
To fulfill their goal, they set up interviews with a
wide variety of people. That's the good news.
Unfortunately, after meeting with a series of
contacts, the career changer is no closer to knowing their next step.
What's Wrong with This Picture?
Although the career changers have
learned about a lot of possible jobs:
- There's nothing in that
information to guide the career changer toward the career that's the
best fit for them.
- There's no internal rudder steering them toward the position that suits them.
- There's no way to compare or contrast the information they've gathered.
Is There a Better Way?
Yes! The key to conducting valuable informational interviews can be summed up in two words. Be strategic.
Informational interviews aren't meant to point you toward your new
profession. They are meant to help you determine whether the position
you've chosen is a good fit for you.
How to Be Strategic in Your Informational Interviews
Before you set up any informational interviews, determine what you hope to gain from your interviews.
- What you you trying to learn more about?
- Your target profession?
- Your target job title?
- Your target industry?
- Your target company?
- Your target work style?
- Your target lifestyle?
- Who in your network can provide you with the best information. When possible interview several people in the same field to make sure the information you collect is reasonably objective and not skewed by one person's personality or experience.
- When you are preparing for your informational interview prioritize the questions you want to ask. Then when you are in the interview find the balance between your planned questions and the questions that evolve during the conversation.
After you have completed a series of informational interviews, take time to review and synthesize what you've learned. Then plot your next move. Who do you need to talk to next? Are you ready to move into active job search/business development mode?
