Informational Interviews
An informational interview should be an integral part of your career-planning strategy. An informational interview is an interview that you initiate — you ask the questions. The purpose is to obtain information, not to get a job.
Basically what this entails is talking to people who are currently working in a job that looks or sounds interesting to you. The benefits of doing this are many:
- You gain a better understanding of an occupation or industry
- You learn about the educational requirements for the job
- You build a network of contacts in that field
Ask the people you interview to explain what they really do and how they got to where they are now.
Start with these questions:
- Did you go to college?
- Did you go to graduate school?
- If yes, was it necessary?
- What was your major?
- What kind of jobs, internships, volunteer work or apprenticeships, if any, did you take on?
- How did you get your first job in your choice career?
- How long have you worked in this job?
- What are your primary responsibilities?
- What do you like most about your job?
- What frustrates you the most about your job?
- What are your long-term career goals?
- If you could go back and re-do your training for this job, how would you better prepare?
Lastly, ask them if you can join them for a day or more at their work to job shadow.
