Informational Interviews - how to do them?
The concept of informational interviews has gained significant traction. The essence remains the same whether you refer to them as coffee chats or interviews. They serve as a gateway to networking while simultaneously demystifying the intricacies of a particular job.
This past year, as I was exploring my career options, I conducted over 10 informational interviews. Here is how I went about it:
1) First, I picked a few companies that I was interested in possibly working for that matched my interests.
2) From that, I found people working for those companies through LinkedIn that were doing similar work to what I was interested in exploring [ex. project management and engineering management for me] and connected with them on LI and asked for an interview.
3) I also found people I was connected to on LinkedIn already who worked at places I was interested in.
Here are some snippets of the messages I've sent to set up the calls:
"Hi FRIEND! How are you doing? I am looking into switching roles in XXX, and I would love to hear about your experience in XXX, along with any tips and recommendations you might have for building a successful career in that area. It would also be a pleasure to catch up. Would you be open to scheduling a quick call? Cheers, Stella"
"Hi XXX! Thank you for XXX! I would love to take you up on the offer to connect after the class is over. Would you be open to scheduling a quick chat on Zoom? Thanks! Stella"
"Hi XXX! How are you doing? I just saw you added a new position at XXX! Congrats! I'm keen on exploring the Product Manager path. Would you be open to a quick virtual chat? Thanks! Stella"
4) I asked these 4 important questions during the call:
What is your day to day like? How much of that is interest work vs todos.
What training is required for your position to perform your role.
How did you go about interviewing for your position?
What did you learn after starting at your job that you wish you already knew while you were interviewing?
5) Synthesize all the information you get to be able to answer the following questions:
What types of opportunities are there?
What training or experience is needed?
Which conversations sparked the most joy for you - aka what kind of people would you like to work with?
*The informational interviews might not seem like they will lead anywhere but they DO! They help you create relationships, and are key to finding cool opportunities!
Remember, the journey to professional growth is not a solitary one. Networking serves as a catalyst, opening doors to invaluable insights and possibilities.
Embrace the power of connection, as Reid Hoffman wisely stated: "The more diverse your network, the more likely you are to find the ideas and information you need."
So, reach out, forge those connections, and let your aspirations soar.
I challenge you to start with me! Send a message on LinkedIn for a free informational chat. I look forward to it!
