Getting the Most Out of an Informational Interview
Informational interviews are a great way to learn about potential opportunities at your company. They give you the chance to get an insider’s perspective on what it’s like to work at a particular company, which is invaluable information when making a career decision. According to entrepreneur Alexander Djerassi, here are some tips on how working professionals can get the most out of an informational interview.
Prepare for the interview.
When you’re going into the interview, be prepared to answer any questions that your interviewer may have. The more information you can provide, the better you’ll set yourself up for success.
When you’re preparing for the interview, take some time to research the company and come up with questions that will help you gauge if it fits you in terms of what you want from your next career move.
Get your questions in order.
It’s important to have questions in mind before going into the interview. It will help ground you as you speak and make sure that you ask the right questions. It would be best to prepare for any possible curveballs that may come up in the interview. Have a list of questions to ask about appropriate topics for the job. Make sure to have a few open-ended questions, too.
Use your time wisely.
You have a limited amount of time for your informational interview, so make sure you use it wisely. As much as possible, plan out the questions you want to ask and stick to those. Be careful not to waste time on small talk and chit-chat that doesn’t relate to your project or career goals.
When meeting with your interviewer, try to be as prepared as possible. Set up your laptop with the materials you’ll need, and don’t forget any important papers or documents that might come in handy. Bring a list of questions and follow up with them during the interview if needed.
Make sure you know what your interviewer wants from you.
According to entrepreneur Alexander Djerassi, this is the first step to having a successful informational interview. Knowing what your interviewer wants helps you have a productive conversation that will result in the most information to use.
There are several questions that an interviewer might ask you, like what your current job is and what your long-term goals are, but it’s essential to know precisely what sort of information they’re looking for.
Start with a positive lead-in.
A great way to start an informational interview is to have a positive lead-in. You must start the conversation with a friendly tone and make the other person feel comfortable. Otherwise, it can be challenging to open up and share information. If you’ve done your research on the company beforehand, make sure to bring up some of their accomplishments or work experiences that are relevant to your job search.
Be punctual and make sure you arrive on time.
This is a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning. You’ll want to set up an informational interview that would best benefit you in advance so that you’re able to be punctual and arrive on time.