Turn the Tables--You can Interview THEM

I know, for many of you just the word “interview” can send you running from the room in shear panic. However, an informational interview is completely different than a job interview, in that it’s a chance for you to learn something about your target company or a possible career move, without the pressure of having to win the job. Here’s how they work best.

Let’s say that you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, or are in serious need of a career change, but have no idea if your skills are in demand or even how to position yourself. You start by identifying some areas/companies that you’re interested in, and then getting the word out there among your friends and family that you’d like to investigate your career options. An informational interview is NOT about expecting that someone will get you a job, but it’s really just to give you some insight and a reality check about the feasibility of your plans. Here’s how to go about inviting someone to coffee or lunch and what to ask them once you’re there.

First, in order to meet people who could help you, tell anyone and everyone you know that you’re looking to make a career change and want to explore your options in XYZ industry. Tell them that you’re in the information gathering stage, and are looking to take people out for coffee or lunch who could give you some advice about transferring your skills, and even how best to position yourself on a resume. You may not get any firm leads the first few times you try this, but keep your options open and come across as someone who genuinely wants to learn about an industry, and it will pay off.

For example, when I spoke at UCLA a few weekends ago, I met a student with an accounting/finance degree who is doing an internship in New York City. He graduates next Spring, but considering the dicey financial sector at the moment, is doing everything he can to learn about his prospects. I recently redid a resume for a client with a similar background, so I introduced them. I had my student write an email of introduction about himself that I could forward to my client—along with his resume. In my email to my client, I put in a good word about the student and vouched for his genuine interest and good character. They’ll be meeting in a few weeks. It’s as simple as that. LinkedIn.com is a great place to start to look for people with those kinds of connections.

You should NOT expect a job lead from these informational interviews. If you do get one, that’s just the ultimate bonus, but if your guest suspects your hidden agenda, they are likely to turn down your invitation. Be considerate of their schedule, and let them know that coffee would only take a half-hour, and lunch no more than an hour, so they don’t get nervous that they’re going to have to entertain you for a whole afternoon.

You should definitely bring a list of questions to the interview, but keep in mind that it will feel most comfortable as a conversation, not an interrogation. You can ask questions like: What’s a typical day like? What skillsets make people successful in this field? My background is X, and I feel that my strength is my ability to Y. Do you think that skill would be valued in your industry? How did you get started working at the company? Do any of your colleagues have a unique/unexpected background? Are there specific degrees or accreditations that are necessary just to be considered for a position?

There are plenty more, but you want to ask questions that will help you decide if this field is for you, and if it is, what it would take to get in.

ALWAYS stick to the time that you allotted for the interview. If you see that you could be running long, be considerate and point it out to the person you’re meeting with. Chances are they won’t cut the interview short unless they have another appointment, but will appreciate that you’re mindful of the value of their time.

In this job market, many of you will need to reinvent yourselves to find a job in your area. Informational interviews are key to learning about your options and how to position yourself .