Skip to main content

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

By
What is informational interview?
An informational interview is one of the most effective ways to obtain occupational information. While it may cover some of the same ground as printed material or information on a company website, it provides opportunities for an intimate and flexible inside view of a job field unmatched by other sources.


How can it be useful in pursuing your intended career?
An informational interview is less stressful, and differs in its settings compared to a typical job interview. In an informational interview you are the one in control. Questions can be asked that may not be strategic during a first interview (i.e., questions regarding salary, benefits, vacation). You can discuss what is done on a day-to-day basis and relate it to your own interests and feelings. Beyond the advantages of gaining valuable career information, the informational interview provides the opportunity to build self-confidence and to improve your ability to handle a true job interview.


Tips for informational interviewing:
  • The best starting point is from people you know. Ask your family and friends to refer you to people they know who work in the field you are interested in.
  • Talk to your fellow professors, alumni and classmates about possible contacts
  • Make a good first impression prepare for the informational interview the same way you would for a job interview: dress appropriately, make research, learn more about job, the company and the industry to better guide your questions.
  • Be sure you know the name of the person you are meeting, the correct pronunciation of his/her name, and the title of his/her position.
  • You should regard each interview as a business appointment and conduct yourself in a professional manner.
  • Always send a thank you letter an informational interview.

Questions you may ask during an informational interview
  • Can you describe your career path? How did each job lead you to the other?
  • What educational program is recommended as preparation? (Distinguish between courses which are desirable and those which are indispensable.)
  • What degree or certificate do employers look for?
  • What kind of work/internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant?
  • What are the duties performed during a typical day? Week? Does s/he have a set routine?
  • What steps besides meeting educational and experiential requirements are necessary to "break into" this occupation?

Finally make sure to sketch out a brief outline of the topics covered and the information gained as soon as possible after the interview. It may require a few minutes yet, it will insure that you remember the important points. Later, working from your outline, you can construct a more detailed report of the interview.

Yosef Bagdadi and Nathalie Jean-Elie

Comments

Post a Comment

Leave us a comment! We love hearing from our readers.

Popular posts from this blog

To Wear or Not To Wear?: Tips on dressing for success

By
So, the first step is over. You finished filling out the application for the job; listing all of your work experience, answering numerous questions about your work ethic on an online questionnaire, and you even polished up your hand dandy resume! After restless nights of worrying, you finally get a call saying they would love to have you come in for an interview: now what? First, don't panic ! Finding an appropriate outfit can be intimidating, but with the help of Google it is possible. Second, the outfit you should wear is based on what type of position you are going for or what your potential company is. If it's a store like Macy's, for example, it would make sense for you to wear all black since that's the kind of uniform the employees wear.  If you're working in an office setting, then you should go either business casual or professional. When in doubt of what to wear, go with business casual! Here are a few images of what business casual and professional ou...
3 comments
Read more

The Elements of a Resume

By
There are  many formats and designs for a resume, but there are essential components that EVERY resume MUST have, no matter what the layout is. HEADER Should contain  your name, full address, phone numbers where you can be reached and a PROFESSIONAL email address. EDUCATION Include the name of your college ( in bold ), location (city and state without zip code), major, and expected graduation date.  If you have any major achievements, such as being on the Dean's List, you can include it here. **Your GPA should be included ONLY if it is a 3.0 or above. EXPERIENCE Include the name of company ( in bold ), location (city and state without zip code), position title, dates of employment (month & year) and, starting with action verbs, list your responsibilities using bullets. Be sure to list your experiences is chronological order starting with the most recent position. SKILLS List computer programs you are familiar with and your skill level ...
Post a Comment
Read more

DEI & The Workplace

By
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is a broad term that covers the issues of equality in the United States. It existed throughout the years, trying to advocate for equality amongst individuals regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Thi helps foster respect and equality in every sector of the society, ensuring that as long as a person is a citizen of the United States, they are allowed to receive the same benefits as others. In the workplace, DEI is very essential as it ensures that people are hired based on the fact that they meet the qualifications of the position they applied for, and not discriminated against by not qualifying them for unknown reasons even if they reach all other qualifications. Below are a few important reasons for DEI in the workplace:  1. The Workplace Should Reflect Today’s Emerging Workforce: Social change has historically often led to backlash, but that isn’t necessarily a good reason to retreat or pivot away from one’s DEI mandate. Today’s emerg...
Post a Comment
Read more