Job Interview Aspects
Informational Interviewing
A preliminary sort of interview which may help you make a selection of the
company you want to work for is termed informational interviewing. Here is a
detailed exploration of this technique:
What is an informational interview?
It's the single best way to find a
career you love and a job that you really want. It's an informal sharing of
information as equals. Unlike the "sweaty palms" of interviewing for a
job, it's a chance to discuss business trends in general and the company in
particular without the pressure of being selected or rejected for a position.
Isn't that just a sneaky way to get in for an interview?
No, not if done properly. You should
make clear from the first contact that you are not, repeat, not asking for a job
or expecting them to have an opening. The goal is to learn about the career
field so that you can make intelligent choices. Like the rest of life, honesty
pays so please be clear about what you want.
Why would anyone agree to talk with me?
Human nature. Most people are extremely
flattered to be asked for advice. It makes them feel important and worthwhile to
talk about what they do for a living. Also, you show appreciation for the fact
that they are busy yet willing to do you a favor by speaking with you for 15 or
20 minutes. (Keep to your time limit once you get there; if they ask you to stay
longer, fine.) You're also a bit of novelty to break up the routine of their
day. And who knows? You may end up being a valuable contact for them if you do
enter the field.
Some people will refuse to talk to you.
They may have a deadline to meet. They may be reclusive and unfriendly. There
truly is such a thing as "a bad time to talk." That's life. Chalk it
up and call the next person on the list or try to meet with someone else in the
organization. In general, over 80% of people will respond positively to your
request: more in verbal, outgoing fields such as public relations, fewer in
areas such as engineering.
Wait a minute---what if I'm uncomfortable making these contacts?
Then it might be worth your while to
read Why Should Extroverts Make All the Money? Networking Made Easy for
the Introvert by Frederica, Ph.D. Balzano and Marsha Boone Kelly.
Introversion doesn't necessarily mean shyness or unwillingness to talk, but it
can require a bit more effort to both reach out to others and to open up so that
your most valuable qualities are visible.
Who is the best person to talk with?
Someone who has a job very much like
the one you think you'd be interested in having is ideal. But don't overlook a
chance to speak with people at the very top of the company. Executives often
have more time and may be of an age to feel like mentoring or helping younger
people along. Talking to someone at any level of a target company can be an
insight into its workings and a lead to others in a position to give you
information.
What type of questions would I ask?
If you've done research on the
organization and the industry, you'll have lots of questions: what are the
trends? Who are the key players? What is the impact of recent changes? How do
people move up in this field, etc.
But some of the best questions are more
personal: how did you decide to go into this field? What do you like about it?
What don't you like? (This is great for clues for why you might want to run for
the hills or, conversely, why your skills would be perfect for a job in this
company or a similar one.)
Never leave an informational interview
without asking "Who else would you recommend that I talk to? May I say that
you referred me?" This builds your network of contacts rapidly. Get
business cards whenever possible so you'll have the correct spelling of your
contact's name and a title. Always send a thank you note for the person's time
and input. Better still, send articles of interest as you see them in the press
and trade magazines. This keeps you in mind and strengthens your position as
someone who's "part of the solution," not part of the problem.
What else should I look for during an informational interview?
Think of it as intelligence gathering
or reconnaissance. Observe the environment, the work space, the way people
dress---and the biggest factor, the expressions on their faces. Is the general
tone of the organization one where you'd feel comfortable fitting in? You may
need to explore several similar organizations because there can be a great deal
of variance in style and tone. Do they seem to be pursuing goals and holding
values which are compatible with yours?
Should I take a copy of my resume along?
Yes. Your contact may want to see it
and you are certainly entitled to ask for feedback on its appearance and
content. Don't ask to be kept in mind for future openings or that it be sent to
Personnel; ask that your contact keep it so you're address and phone number will
be available if s/he has any further thoughts to share. Also ask if you can call
to follow up if you have another question or two as well. Being sincerely
interested and respectful of your contact's time makes you an ally, not a pest.
What if even after doing a lot of research in the library and on the
Internet, I don't feel that I have enough to offer?
Good news! You don't need to be able to
solve ALL the problems of an organization in order to be valuable. Some
are small and obvious problems which you can tackle with skills you already have
and make an impact quickly. More to the point, the problems can be simply what's
bugging the person who has the power to hire you.
Should I do informational interviews in a company where I hope to
eventually work?
It's very helpful to discuss the
industry with people in similar companies before you approach your main target.
You'll sound better informed and more importantly, you'll have picked up more
jargon so you'll seem like a member of the tribe when you talk to prospective
colleagues. But keep informational interviewing separate from employment
interviewing.
How would I approach a company for an actual job?
It is perfectly legitimate to call or
write saying, in essence, "I've done a lot of research. I've talked to you
and the competition and found that I have something to contribute in order to
solve these problems that I discovered. Of all the companies, I admired this one
the most. I want to be part of it and work with you to accomplish these
goals."
Does this guarantee I'll get the job?
No. Of course not. But you've got a
50/50 chance---it's you or nobody instead of sending a resume to an ad for an
open position where it's you or one of 300 other people. And even if you don't
get hired on there immediately, you may be next in line when something does
open, or you may get referred when your contact hears of something elsewhere.
Remember, you spent your time in the
informational interview being neat, polite, cheerful, positive,
well-informed---and you've given thoughtful ideas on how to resolve the
company's problems. You've established rapport with your contact, you're a real
live person instead of a piece of paper. Never underestimate just how fervently
people hate to hire strangers. You've become a known quantity and your odds of
employment have skyrocketed over those of an applicant in off the street. You've
shown that you're thinking in terms of what you can do for them while much of
your competition is saying "you should give me a job because I want a
job."
What can I do about feeling nervous in asking for an informational
interview?
Remember the first is the hardest. You
may have to make a cold call with a name from a newspaper blurb or a directory
listing or from asking the receptionist, "who's in charge of such and
such?" Maybe you can start the ball rolling by initially talking with a
relative or someone you know. The name of your referral will open doors for you.
You will more than likely find yourself enjoying discussions with new friends
who have similar interests and passions. (If you don't, are you exploring the
right field? If it's clearly wrong, you'll find out and can switch to a
different area.) You'll expand your contact network which can be very valuable
after you're in your new position.
One of the biggest payoffs for your
time and energy is this: by the time you've done several informational
interviews, you'll be used to talking with strangers at their worksites as
equals. You'll be much more relaxed in a real interview, more tuned to sharing
information, probing for problems and showing how your skills can help resolve
them. Employers aren't real keen on sweaty palms either, so if you come across
as alert, interested and comfortable, you'll be way ahead of the pack.
What about networking on the Internet? Do I always have to show up in
person?
The Internet has opened up an
opportunity to connect with people worldwide through listservs, usenet
newsgroups, support groups and on-line professional forums. See Chicagojobs'
excellent "Netiquette
101: Or How to Develop an Internet Presence and Network Effectively"
for great hints and tips. Networking in cyberspace removes some of the
pressure---a colleague across the continent may be willing to give you
information that someone in your home town won't. Most of the rules stay the
same: be clear and honest, show sincere gratitude, let them know how things turn
out.
Aside from the thank you note and sending useful information if I find
it, do I have any other obligations?
In some cases, you may choose to meet
your contact for coffee or lunch (although getting a look at the worksite is
important). If you extend the invitation, you pay for both. Many people have
found "lunching for success" to be a wise investment. After you're in
your new position, let your contact know and again express thanks for all the
help in making your career decision. Naturally, if you can return a favor
directly, that's to the good. You can also be available for others and repay the
debt indirectly by helping someone else to enter the field (that you are now
part of!) as the informational interviewee.
Taking the time to write down your
impressions after the interview is a good way to remember the conversation and
your observations. I've developed an informational interview form that should
help you as you think through your experience. By all means, download
it, and enjoy your informational interview!
Example of a letter asking for an information interview with a
newspaper journalist:
Dear Mr. Hack,
My work as sports journalist for Concrete, the independent student
newspaper of UEA, has encouraged me to explore the chances of a career in
journalism. As well as writing regular articles, I have been involved in
successfully establishing a market for Concrete off the university campus.
I have just completed my second year of an English degree at UEA and would
like to visit you during the summer vacation to find out about the work at a
professional level and obtain your advice.
If you could spare me half an hour some time between 26 June and 31 July I
would be very grateful. A meeting with one of your journalists for a short
discussion would also be appreciated.
My CV is enclosed. I will telephone your office next week
to make an appointment at a time to suit you.
Yours sincerely,
Joanna Jones
Gaining Skills
You may find during the course of your research into a career that you lack
certain required skills. For example, journalism applicants will be at an
advantage if they can show articles written for the student newspaper or
another publication and can demonstrate word processing skills. These could be
demonstrated by positions of responsibility held in student societies.
Questions to Ask
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what do you do as a ... ?
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how do you spend a typical day/week
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what kinds of decisions do you make?
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what are your major responsibilities?
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what do you find most/least satisfying about your job?
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tell me about this career..
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what Is the competition for jobs like in this career?
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where are vacancies advertised?
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what would you look for in a new applicant for the work?
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what sort of salary could I expect?
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is there a typical career pattern for new graduates in this field?
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how is performance at work assessed? Is there an appraisal system?
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which parts of this field are expanding and likely to offer opportunities
in the future?
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what is the 'work culture' here? eg is it very informal, formal, do people
work autonomously, does everyone come in early, stay late?
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what are the typical entry level jobs?
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what are the toughest challenges that your organisation is facing?
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are there any professional journals in this field that I should read or
professional bodies that might be helpful in providing information?
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are there any related careers that I could consider?
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could you look over my CV and offer suggestions for improvement? Do I
appear to lack any skills or qualifications that would be necessary?
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can you suggest anyone else to whom I might talk?
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Obviously this is only a starting point. You may have questions to ask that
are more relevant to your particular situation.
Being Extra Creative
If you try these techniques but still can't get into the career you want you
may have to consider alternatives, If you want to enter marketing you could try
to get a job in sales, and then try to move from there into marketing. The other
option Is to try being 'extra creative'. This involves finding a route into a
job that no-one else thought of. One way is to solve a need of an employer.
Let's look at an example:
A graduate wanted a trainee journalist position on the Oxford Mail, a tough
job to get. He did a careful analysis of the subject content of the Oxford Mail
and compared it with a similar analysis of similar papers, with rising
circulations, in Swindon and Reading. He then conducted a small survey of
readers' opinions about the Oxford Mail by standing in the town centre and
interviewing passers-by. He then drew up a list of possible changes of direction
in editorial policy and wrote a sample article of the sort he had in mind. Then
he wrote to the editor and was given an interview. They had a long conversation
on subjects in which the editor was most interested, The next vacancy that arose
on the paper was offered to him without competition.
Creative Jobhunting Steps
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self assessment (knowing your skills, interests, values and personality)
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researching jobs
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identifying contacts
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information interviewing
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gaining appropriate skills/work experience
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networking
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(solving an employer's needs - being extra creative)
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marketing yourself (application and interview technique)
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Advantages of Creative Jobhunting
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it unearths jobs which aren't advertised
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it impresses employers by showing that you have initiative/motivation
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you find out about a job before entry rather than when it is difficult to
change your mind
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it bypasses application forms. This could be useful if your
A-levels/degree class are weak.
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you get advice on other entry routes into the job
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it makes you feel that you can do something about your situation rather
than feeling powerless
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it can be combined with traditional techniques
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Disadvantages
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it takes as much (or more) time as normal job hunting
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it requires courage
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it can be expensive in 'phone calls, fares, etc.
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you need usually to be available during office hours
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You need not use all the aspects of creative job hunting outlined above.
Choose the techniques which give a powerful boost to the effectiveness of your
normal job hunting.
To sum up, creative job hunting may demand more time and effort than job
hunting the traditional way, but it could also prove to be a lot more fun
Follow the links in this link rack to access aspects of the employment
process:
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Here are books which may be of interest and use from Amazon.com.
Click on the cover image to go to more detail about each book.
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