It's easy to overlook them but I'm going to show you how you can leverage Informational Interviews to boost your employability and make better career decisions.

An informational Interview is basically a short conversation that you arrange with a professional in a field that interests you so that you can interview them to get the benefit of their experience and knowledge. They can last from 15 minutes to an even hour, be by phone, online video conferencing, or in person.

Why you need to be doing informational interviews.

• They help you explore potential career pathways and test assumptions you may have about certain roles, companies, or job markets.
• They help you build professional relationships that can open doors for you.
• They help you assess your skills in terms of where you are now and where you need to in relation to a particular role or industry.
• They give you intel that is not openly available anywhere else.
• They will build your confidence in terms of the landscape of work and entering the workforce and what to expect.

Have a targeted outreach plan:

• Get clear on your goals for the interview- what is it you want to find out? Defining this can help you tailor your approach. Identify Your Targets: Select a specific industry or role you're interested in.
• Research: Find professionals in that field through LinkedIn or other networks.
• Craft a Message: WHY THEM? Develop a personalised outreach message for each individual.
• Be concise and to the point- resist the urge to waffle!! Briefly Explain your background and career goals.
• Respect their time and flexibility- in business, time is money.
• Leverage any shared connections or interests.
• Always use professional language and proper etiquette as well as expressing gratitude in advance for considering your request.
• End with a clear call to action for the next steps.
• Set a Goal: Establish a goal for the number of outreach messages you'll send.

Research and preparation equal great informational interviews!

Once you've got one

• Do a bit of a deeper dive and research the interviewee and organisation- who's who and what's trending what are people talking about- use LinkedIn or other social media platforms for this.
• Update your CV and Online Presence
• Prepare your tailored questions.
• Have a 30 second to 1-minute Elevator Pitch prepared that succinctly describes your background and what your career goals are.

• If you need help developing your Elevator Pitch, check out previous articles and reach out to your uni careers team for help.
• Finally, set up the informational interview: will it be phone, video or in person?

Some people can feel nervous about using Informational Interviews - we've all been told never talk to strangers since we were kids after all.  If you feel nervous, focus on the purpose of the informational interview- it's a one-to-one conversation- and you're not in the hot seat- they are! It's a way for you to expand your network, build your confidence around professional conversations and gain knowledge that will help you make career decisions that are right for you and align with what you want from your career. So, don't be afraid to dip your toes in the water!

In Part 2, we will be looking at how to conduct the actual interview, the kinds of questions that you could ask and what to do once the interview is over. See you there!

Suggested Resources

> Online Resource: What is an informational interview?
> Online resources: How to ask for an informational interview (and get a yes!)
> Video: How to ask for an informational interview + Cold Email Tutorial

By Anna Gordon - Certified Business Coaching Psychologist ABP CBCP