The Power of Informational Interviews: Understanding Its Main Purpose
In today’s highly competitive workforce, landing a job is not only about having a great resume. It takes more than that to make it through the hiring process, and informational interviews are one of the powerful tools that job seekers can use to their advantage.
What Is An Informational Interview?
An informational interview is a conversation between a job seeker and a professional in their field of interest. It’s an opportunity for the job seeker to ask questions, gain insights into the industry’s workings, and receive advice on how to succeed in the field.
This type of interview is different from a typical job interview because it’s not focused on a specific job opening. Instead, it’s more like an informational gathering session that can help a job seeker with career planning.
The Main Purpose of Informational Interviews
The main purpose of informational interviews is to gather information and insights into a particular field or industry. It can help job seekers learn more about the job requirements, the skills needed, and the day-to-day responsibilities of a particular job position. Job seekers can also gain insights into the company culture, career advancement opportunities, and industry trends.
Informational interviews can also be used to build relationships with professionals in the industry. It’s an opportunity to ask for advice, seek guidance, and receive feedback on their skills and qualifications. Building relationships with professionals in the industry can help job seekers gain referrals, recommendations, and potential job opportunities in the future.
How to Conduct Effective Informational Interviews
The success of an informational interview depends on its effectiveness. Here’s how job seekers can conduct effective informational interviews:
- Do Your Research: Before reaching out to professionals, job seekers need to do their research on the industry, company, and professional they want to interview. This will help them ask relevant questions and show their interest in the industry.
- Prepare Relevant Questions: Prepare a list of questions that are relevant to the industry and the professional’s career path. This will help job seekers gain insights into the industry and understand the professional’s journey in the industry.
- Be Professional: Dress appropriately, arrive on time, and treat the interview like a business meeting. Show respect for the professional’s time and expertise.
- Follow Up: After the interview, send a thank you note to the professional. This will help job seekers build relationships with professionals in the industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an informational interview is an excellent tool for job seekers to learn more about a particular industry, gain insights into the job requirements, and build professional relationships. Conducting effective informational interviews requires job seekers to research the industry and professional, prepare relevant questions, be professional, and follow-up after the interview. By using these tips, job seekers can harness the power of informational interviews to advance their careers.
