6 Tips for Informational Interviewing during Coronavirus
Informational interviews are an amazing job search tool. When used well, they can give you information about your desired field/industry and also allow you to impress one of your connections.
Right now is truly the perfect time to conduct informational interviews. Here’s why:
We’re all in front of our computers/phones. All. The. Time.
Since most people aren’t at their physical office, there’s no sneaking off or finding a quiet space to hold a private call during work hours.
There’s quite literally nowhere else we’re supposed to be.
People are looking for something to do - and most people are eager to help in whatever way they can during this challenging time.
Take this time to make the most of this situation. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
I’ll say it now, and I’ll say it again, DO NOT ask for a job during an informational interview. This is the big thing about informational interviews - they are meant for you to ask questions and learn. Sometimes people will ask for your resume and offer to send it on; sometimes they won’t. Either way, that’s OK!
Decide what information you want to get from these interviews. While you may want to ask broad questions when conducting the interview, you’ll get the most out of it if you have a clear idea of what you hope to gain (and to be clear, “a job” is not what we’re going for here). For example you may want to find out how someone got their foot in the door at your dream company or learn how someone pivoted from Finance to HR. Write out a few specific questions to help guide the conversation.
Now that you know what you want to know, take a look at who you know. LinkedIn is by far my favorite tool for this. Start by looking at your connections. If you don’t have many connections, take this time to add from your address book. Search for people from past jobs, high school, college, volunteer experiences, etc. The wider you cast this net, the better. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. can all be used to look for connections so if your LinkedIn is a little light, take a look at your other social networks as well.
Reach out and ask to chat. You’ll find that most people love to talk about themselves when given the chance. You can start with a simple note asking for 15 minutes of their time to tell you about their experience. Friendly reminder, DO NOT ASK FOR A JOB!
Be present on the call. Be friendly, yet polished. If it’s a video chat, get yourself together as if you were meeting them in person. If it’s phone or video, minimize distractions - turn off the TV, don’t be scrolling through Instagram and if at all possible, let someone else be in charge of the pets and kids during this scheduled time.
Follow up and stay in touch. After your call, send them a thank you. Consider sharing an article about something you discussed. If they offered anything (e.g. to send your resume on, to connect you with someone else, etc.) make sure you follow through with your part of this offer.
