How to Get the Most Out of Informational Interviews as Part of Your Networking

We hear all the time that networking is important. And it is! But there is a part of networking hardly anyone does—and you must start doing it now. 

*Drumroll please*..............

Informational Interviews.

I know, I know, but that sounds wayyy more boring and stiff-collared than it is (well, depending on your industry, that is…. (Just kidding.))

So what is an informational interview?

An informational interview is a short, casual conversation between two people with similar professional interests.

That’s it.

Or, to put it simply: it’s a conversation between someone who has the job and someone who wants the job. And they can teach you how to get it.

I’m not talking about mentorship or an interrogation, (it is called an interview for a reason), but if you find the right person to interview they can provide invaluable information for you in your career transition process.

Informational interviews give you the inside scoop.

I know what you’re thinking: “Interviews are awkward.”

Yes, you’re right. And valid point. Interviews are awkward and no one really likes them.

So why on earth would you voluntarily subject yourself to that torment when you can just keep plugging away at the career transition process with what you’re already doing?

Here’s the deal.

You should do it because you should be networking. And networking isn’t all about just meeting the right people, leading to the right conversations, and attending the right workshops and conventions.

It’s about knowing what to do when networking pays off.

It’s about knowing how to do the skill you’re networking for.

And what better way to do that, than by interviewing an expert in the field?

Having a healthy network and informational interviews now and then can save you a lot of time and money that you would need to invest in developing those same skills on your own, and advertising your skills to different companies.

Guess what, sister? Word of mouth is still the best advertising tool.

You rock a good interview, you make it into someone’s good books (or heck, even just their contact list) and you have the most powerful weapon of all: a word-of-mouth recommendation.

It could allow you not just to apply for the job, but to have the upper hand over all the other applicants.

You’re learning skills and getting advice from someone already doing what you want to do!

And you’re gaining traction not just as a good applicant, but as someone who has a mind for the job.

So how do we get there?

The best informational interview starts with a single contact.

Or in your case, a single (long) list of contacts.

Don’t have a list? Here’s what to do:

How to Build the Perfect Contact List

• Do your research. Open your search engine and look up all the credible organizations and websites that provide the information you’re looking for. Save the pages. Write them down.
• Find your crowd. Take all the relevant groups, communities, websites, etc. from your internet search, and try to locate the people who are a part of these communities. (Hint: they like the same things you do and have the job you want). These people are your new, potential contacts.

Then, add these contacts. Diversity will increase your chances of an interview and thus, valuable information. (You’re not setting up an echo chamber here. You’re trying to learn.)

• DO narrow it down. Make a priority list. Go through your other contacts (your friends, relatives, relatives of your friends, coworkers, classmates, ex-classmates, neighbors, teachers, professors, and even social media friends.) Jot down anyone connected with the industry you are wanting to enter.

Okay. Perrrrfect! I’m wearing sunglasses right now because you are GOLDEN.

But You Can Also Mess This Up

Don’t worry! I have a helpful list of DON’Ts for you too. (I gotchu, girl.)

• DON’T let fear hold you back. I know it feels a bit awkward and scary to reach out and ask for an informational interview, but don’t let the awkwardness lead you down that dark, no-end hole called Procrastination.

Make the call. Do it scared. (Or better, do it not scared cos it’s really not that scary.)

Even if your contact has never been called for this before, as long as the interview is requested in a polite, professional way, they may just end up admiring your courage and industry before the interview has even started. So don’t hesitate.

• DON’T think of it as a job hunt. Networking and informational interviews are not job hunts. I know you would love it to lead to a job. But it is not part of the job hunt itself. If you act like you’re just talking to your informational interviewee to land a job interview, they’re going to feel used, and no one likes to feel used.

Make your conversations less about job opportunities and more about career development. When you genuinely engage with a person, ask sincere and insightful questions, and treat them with professionalism and respect, you set yourself up for success whether you get a job offer or not.

You should leave the interview with them wanting to keep talking to you. That will make them remember you in a good way.

• DON’T leave the conversation lacking. Avoid long pauses. If your conversation has a lot of awkward silences, that’s uncomfortable for both of you and leaves you looking unprepared. Have a list of questions ready that are open-ended and engaging so you can keep moving the conversation forward.

• DON’T be rude. Being rude to your interviewee is pretty much the worst thing you can do. Be polite, friendly, and respectful. Ask good questions. Use courtesy words as often as you can (without being weird about it, obviously), and make the tone of the conversation friendly yet professional.

Okay. You've got the interview. You've got the time and date. You’ve found the best coffee shop in town and nailed down the details of the meeting.

You want to be as prepared as possible.

Now what?

1. Have a Plan

 Research! Research the industry, your interviewee, the job description, and the company.

Think about what you want to know. Think about what you don’t know. Look into the rabbit trails, the nooks, and the crevices.

Jot down everything you can think of off the top of your head, then research some more, and write down questions from your research.

There is nothing like a first impression and you don’t want yours to be: “woman who set up an interview she had no questions for”. Prepare your questions (and wording) beforehand. Keep them open-ended and insightful. Allow them to lead the conversation down interesting rabbit holes. But always come back to the plan.

 2. Edit Your List

Prioritize your talking points. If your questions are good, it may take longer than you’re expecting to give a good answer, and you want to leave room for interesting rabbit trails.

Be insightful, but be sure to keep your questions short and to the point. You don’t want to waste time (yours or theirs). Keep your introduction precise. Ask your questions one by one.

3. Practice

Your first informational interview should not sound like your first informational interview. You shouldn’t be surprised by your own questions when you’re asking something. Know that list up and down.

Practice asking your questions out loud. Practice your body language and talking points until you are confident and polished.

Keep the tone of the conversation as polite and professional as you can. Your tone will not only help you build a good reputation, but it will also create a good relationship with the other person, which can prove beneficial in the future.

4. Don’t Shy Away

Once you are in a comfortable rhythm, don’t hesitate to ask about the nitty-gritty. Ask them the worst thing about their job, the taboo subjects, and the things you are curious about and couldn’t find answers to online.

This not only will help you learn about your industry but will show that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the subject (and that you're an interesting person, which is even better.)

• If done right, networking and informational interviews are one of the most effective sources of career development and personalized advertising.
• Be a part of organizations, communities, and websites and get acquainted with people of similar interests. Make a list of the contacts that you find appropriate for networking and informational interviewing.
• However, there are certain dos and don'ts involved in these techniques. The dos include doing your homework and researching the topic that you want to get information on.
• Make a proper list of questions that you want to be answered by experts or professionals.
• The don'ts include looking at these techniques as a job hunt and being rude or cold during the conversation. You want to be very polite and professional with the person you are interviewing. Avoid long pauses and closed-ended questions.
• You can make the most out of these opportunities by being prepared and asking to-the-point questions. If appropriate, you can ask them sensitive questions that you could not find on the internet.

👇  3 Ways I Can Help  👇 

If you want my support with your career transition, here are three ways I can help:

1. Sign up to get the free Tyche Career Transition Roadmap and get weekly career tips and resources at TycheCoaching.com
2. Schedule a 60-minute one-on-one coaching session for only $149 during which I will coach you through the topic of your choice.
3. If you’d like to use my resume and LinkedIn profile writing services or want to know about my coaching package, schedule a 20-minute discovery call during which we’ll discuss working together in those capacities