Jennifer Parris writes about career topics for FlexJobs.com. Learn more here_._. You get to network. However, informational interviews are worthwhile for new graduates, recent immigrants, and professionals looking to switch careers or expand their professional network. Let’s say that you’ve been working for the last few years as a marketing executive, but what you really want to do is work in non-profit. Related Reading Women are judged differently than our male counterparts at work for the same behavior—and it’s time for it to end. Informational interviewing is a largely overlooked process, because it is misunderstood. You should try going through your initial contacts first and see if someone in your network knows an employee who has worked in the organization or industry you are interested in learning about. Although you can be open about your job search and share that you are currently looking for work, you should never ask for a job or pressure your interviewee into passing your résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) onto their human resources department. THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW Networking: the word is thrown out there an overwhelming amount by our professors and advisors. With so much progress happening, it’s important that education be able to reach students in new ways so that their students are prepared for the future. Knowing that you’re not interviewing for an actual job can help you relax and build up your confidence. Informational interviews are crucial networking tools to receive guidance (and possible job opportunities) when developing your career. For any job opening, a hiring manager will have to peruse many resumes before choosing candidates to meet for an interview. Make the most of your next informational interview. Accordingly, have your 30-second elevator pitch prepared and committed to memory. Secondly, practicing before going to the interview is very important. The Importance Of The Informational Interview 707 Words 3 Pages Based of the information gathered during my research about my areas of interest, I decided to do the informational interview with one of the workers in the Region of Peel organization; her name is Lisa Hartley and she is the Analyst Supervisor in the Human Services department. Once the contact agrees to meet you for an informational interview, you should be flexible in scheduling. Shaming parents only adds to their guilt, during a time when what we need most is support. Contacting people you have no common acquaintances or connections with requires additional effort. It allows you to answer interview questions without the added pressure. The informational interview is simply a conversation between yourself and someone who holds a job similar to what you are searching for. Make a positive impression. You may feel awkward reaching out to people you don't know. An informational interview gives you the opportunity to learn about a job/company from a person who has first-hand experience within your field of interest. This mom learned the hard way how her phone usage was affecting her little ones. This type of interview process is valuable because you are […] Although they may seem challenging, informational interviews can be truly interesting and valuable. However, one of the more personal and in depth ways to conduct this research is through an informational interview with a professional in the field themselves. It is an effective research tool and is best done after preliminary online research. Are you overwhelmed? Trusted Advice for Academic and Professional Success, Thursday | August 10, 2017 | by Prepare a list of open-ended questions that would be appropriate to ask during the informational interview. Being prepared which means research, preparing your questions 2. Going on an informational interview helps you to boost your confidence in explaining your career goals and where you see yourself in five years. An informational interview is an informal conversation with the goal of gathering information and advice, not applying for a job or internship. As important as an informational interview is, it can feel like less pressure which is good practice for actual interviews. Working parents should use it even when we have strong negative feelings. In addition to being a fantastic information-gathering vehicle, an informational interview also provides a way to start building your professional network. An informational interview involves an informal meeting with the main goal of gathering insight on your desired industry, company, or organization. While the informational interview is primarily about you learning about the other person's position, you should also be prepared to talk about yourself and your long-term career goals. For example, you can find out if you can work remotely or have a flexible schedule in order to improve your work life balance. Cement the Connection. An informational interview is an underutilized strategy in the job search process and typically comes about because of successful networking opportunities. Identifying your potential contact is the first step to securing an informational interview. So it may seem silly to request an informational interview instead. The interview with Mr. Hong went very well, and he was said that he was happy that he could answer my questions. Job hunting is all about who you know, and who they know. It is not a job interview, and the objective is not to find job openings. 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