Have you ever had bad luck with an application or struggled with not knowing where to start? If so, informational interviews are great tool for finding direction on your path to an entry-level position!
Here are some of the benefits of turning to the informational interview for guidance.
Gaining Insight
By scheduling an informational interview, you can create a professional relationship with someone in your field. I'll never forget meeting a published writer for the first time. Her passions aligned with my own and the conversation flowed between us. Her experience in the field inspired me to take initiative and continues to motivate me in times of hardship. The brief relationship I formed that day provided me with years of clarity and, ultimately, helped in making me the man I am today.
Prepare beforehand with questions about the field and ask about actions you can take now to increase the likelihood of being hired full-time at companies like the one your contact works for. Take notes and follow up with the meeting by thanking them for their time and saying that you'd like to stay in touch: you never know how the relationship will benefit you later down the line!
Meeting Experienced Professionals
The first challenge after deciding to conduct an informational interview is finding someone to have the interview with. If you find yourself struggling to find professionals to interview, then try reaching out to professors that teach at your school or locating alumni who graduated from your program. You can also research companies you would like to get hired by and look for employees on the company website who have publicly offered their email for contact. When you've compiled several candidates and have followed through by establishing communication, schedule a time and place to conduct your interview at their convenience.
When you're interviewing a professional in your field of interest, remember to be respectful and appreciative of the time they have set aside to help you. Most importantly, don't ask for a job. By presenting yourself as a well-rounded individual who is responsible and pro-active, you can impress your contact and improve the chance that they will refer you to potential employers.
In my conversation with the published writer, we exchanged numbers and a long-term, professional relationship was formed. She told me that I could contact her if I ever had questions about anything related to the field and promised to put in a good word with her publisher should I ever wish to publish any personal writing of my own. After a simple conversation, I expanded my network of professional contacts and created an opportunity for success.
Again, this is one of the countless benefits of the informational interview. Sometimes reaching out for help or wisdom is the best way to get into your field, and who is more qualified to help you than someone who's been in your shoes and emerged ahead?
The biggest incentive to interviewing someone in your field is humanizing the job search. It makes you believe that getting that job is possible and within reach while giving you the motivation you need to push even harder. Don't give up, because your success story is only an interview away.
