The power of informational interviewing
2008-02-25
I first heard about the term "informational interviewing" when Sarah Cooper, Professional and Life Coach, used it a few months ago at one previous INSPIRED workshop.

I seriously wonder how I had managed all this time in my life without "informational interviewing"!
Looking for a rewarding volunteering opportunity? Thinking of starting your own business? Interested in studying but not quite sure about what program to register for? Dreaming of reshaping your career? If you have this endless list of questions you ask yourself but do not have any answers yet, think "informational answering".

There are in Beijing many people who could help you make your project clearer and who could give you the most-updated information about the field you are interested in. Why? Because those people are already active in the field you are interested.
Why would they want to help you? People usually love to help other people and being considered as an expert in a field is quite flattering too!

I hope that you will find the following information helpful. Good luck!

One of the best sources for gathering information about what's happening in a field is to talk to people working in that specific field. This process is called informational or research interviewing. An informational interview is an interview that you initiate - you ask the questions. The purpose is to obtain information, not to get a job or a volunteer position or to be involved in a project.

REASONS TO CONDUCT INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:

to explore careers and clarify your career goals
to explore activities you are interested in and better define your interest
to discover employment opportunities that are not advertised
to expand your personal and professional network
to build confidence about your project
to access the most up-to-date information
to identify your strengths and weaknesses

CONDUCTING AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW:

Identify the Occupation or Industry or Activity You Wish to Learn About
Assess your own interests, abilities, values, and skills, and evaluate local conditions and opportunities to identify the best avenues to research.

Prepare for the Interview
Read all you can about the area prior to the interview. Decide what information you would like to obtain about the occupation/industry/activity. Prepare a list of questions that you would like to have answered.

Identify People to Interview
Start with lists of people you already know - friends, relatives, fellow students, present or former co-workers, supervisors, neighbors, etc... Professional organizations, the yellow pages, organizational directories, and public speakers are also good resources. You may also call an organization and ask for the name of the person whose job title interests you.

Arrange the Interview
Contact the person to set up an interview:
by telephone,
by an email followed by a telephone call
by having someone who knows the person make the appointment for you.

Conduct the Interview
Dress appropriately, arrive on time, be polite and professional. Refer to your list of prepared questions; stay on track, but allow for spontaneous discussion. Before leaving, ask your contact to suggest names of others who might be helpful to you and ask permission to use your contact's name when getting in touch with these new contacts.

Follow Up
Immediately following the interview, record the information gathered. Be sure to send a thank-you note or email to your contact the next day.