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Don't Ask for a Job During an Informational Interview
Q: If I get a 15- to 20-minute information interview, how should I
best use those minutes? And will people want to speak with someone they
don't know if they aren't hiring?
A: Information interviews are a way for you to gather details
about a profession, job or employer that can help with your career
transition or search and perhaps gain referrals to others you can
contact. When requesting this type of meeting, be clear that you aren't
asking to be considered for a job or expecting an offer.
"That increases your likelihood of success because you take the
pressure off of them and they know you don't expect anything," says Dave
Hilbig, president and chief executive officer of OCM Lee Hecht
Harrison-Utah, an outplacement firm based in Salt Lake City.
Try to gain referrals to the people you want to interview, since this
will increase the likelihood they'll speak with you. Be clear you only
want a few minutes with the person and be ready to leave when your time
is up, adds Mr. Hilbig. Don't ever do a "bait-and-switch" and tell them
you actually want a job instead of information, he adds.
Research the field, industry or company before the meeting, so you
will be perceived as informed about the topic. Prepare questions in
advance. Ask about a company's culture, environment and future
prospects, what it's really like to work there, the person's own career
path, trends affecting the field or industry, what companies look for
when hiring someone like you and any advice they might have to give you.
Also ask for referrals to other people who might help.
When considering a career switch to consulting, hospital executive
Pam Roman interviewed consultants to learn the pros and cons and
realities of the profession. Most people were happy to speak with her,
says Ms. Roman, who was a consultant for three years before accepting
her current role as executive director of Children's Memorial Hospital
at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill.
"The key is how you approach people," says Ms. Roman. "If you make a
non-threatening request, it's usually welcome."
If contacts refuse your request, don't take it personally and move on
to the next person, adds Ms. Roman. In general, people will agree to
help because they likely have been in your shoes before and know they
might need a favor from you in future, she says.
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