INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND THE JOB SEARCH Lynne Hollyer Associate Director Industry Alliances Office

What Are We Going to Cover Tonight? n What is the Value of Informational Interviews? n Getting Started n Asking Questions n Manners/Norms n Dos and Don’t n Practice n Wrap Up

Why do Informational Interviews? n To explore careers and clarify your career goals; n To expand your professional network; n To build confidence for job interviews; n To learn the most up-to-date career information; n To identify your professional strengths and weaknesses.

Steps n Assess your needs and wants n Research the companies in your target group n Write your interview plan n Conduct your interview n Follow up, both with yourself and the interviewee

Ask Yourself n What do you hope to learn through this interview? –Do you want to use the knowledge you’ve gained getting your education as a springboard for a career or do you want to continue the work you’ve already begun? –In science or on science? “Business of making scientific instruments is different than using scientific instruments”.

An Informational Interview is Not a job interview

Prepare for the Interview n Identify the person with whom you’d like to meet. n Send an introductory explaining who you are and the purpose of your request to meet. n Ask for minutes of your prospective interviewee's time. n Be flexible about when to meet-they are doing you a favor so meet when convenient with the interviewee (be prepared to meet at the beginning of the day). n Make sure you know where the office is and where you can park. Do a recon mission. n Write up your interview questions. It’s generally ok to take notes.

The Meeting n Learn all you can about the company and the person you’ll be talking to before the interview. n Be on time. n Dress as though you are going to a job interview, even if the worksite is a jeans and flip flops environment. n Good grooming is a must. Wear clothes and shoes you are comfortable in n Stay on track during the interview. Manage your time well. n Stay friendly, but not familiar. Do not gossip.

The Remote Meeting n If you can’t meet face to face, you can Skype or call. n Be on time. n If you videochat, still dress as though you are going to a job interview. n Stay on track during the interview.

Asking Questions n Ask open ended questions that allow the other person to explain and describe. n Ask a question and then stop talking, let the other person answer. n If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. n If the direction of the interview diverges from your set of questions, go with it unless you begin to lose focus. n Your list of questions is a guide only.

Information Interview Do’s and Don’t n Go in prepared. n Don’t ask for a job. n Don’t ask about salaries, or vacation benefits. n Don’t ask any personal questions (do you like your job or the company?) that will put the interviewee in an awkward position. n Do phrase questions positively. n Do show that you are listening to the other person.

At the End of the Interview it’s OK to Ask n Could you take a brief look at my resume (make sure you have it with you)? n Can you give me three names of people in the field I might also be able to talk with? n Can I have your card and is it ok for me to check back with you in a few months?

After the Interview n Send a thank you note or . n Follow up with the leads the interviewee provided. n Enter the interviewee information into you database, note book or what ever you use and make a note to follow up when you said you’d check back in.

Roleplay Practice n Select a partner. n One of you will be the post doc interviewer, the other will be the company representative n Spend 15 minutes preparing using the list of questions provided or your own questions. n Conduct a 20 minute interview. n Swap roles and repeat