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Informal
networking is one of the best sources of job
leads and opportunities. It gives you a way
to investigate a specific career field and
help you narrow your target job choices. And
while you get advice on where you might find
the best fit, you are broadening your network
of contacts for future reference. You can
easily develop an impressive network. Look
to this list for ideas of potential sources
for contacts:
-
Professors,
friends, relatives, and former employers—or
any professionals these people recommend.
-
Local
Employment Service office.
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Members
of professional associations.
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People
in the information business—resource
center directors or librarians.
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Human
Resource directors, public relations officials,
or public information specialists.
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Community
service agencies or area Chambers of Commerce.
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Alumni
which can be accessed through an appointment
with your school’s career consultant
or through your alumni association’s
web site.
Once
you have identified potential contacts, ask
for an informational interview. You can contact
these people by either phone, mail, or email:
By
Phone.
Before placing the call, it is a good idea
to write an outline of what you would like
to say on the phone. Not only will this make
you feel more confident, it guarantees that
you will ask all your questions, making you
appear organized and professional. If you
are calling someone by referral, make sure
you state that person’s name early in
the phone call. Also say right away that you
only need 20 to 30 minutes oftheir time. You
should mention that you would prefer to meet
in person instead of just by telephone.
When
scheduling an appointment by phone,keep these
points in mind:
-
Offer
a personal introduction.
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Identify
your purpose for seeking an appointment.
-
Arrange
a mutually convenient time.
By
Letter.
Follow proper business format when writing
the request letter. Double check for spelling,
grammar, and typing mistakes. Remember to
conclude the letter with a specific action—such
as a statement that you will call on a specific
date to arrange a meeting time convenient
for the person. This is usually a week after
you mail the letter.
By
Email.
When writing the request email the rules of
writing a letter still apply. Double check
for spelling, grammar, and typing mistakes.
Remember to conclude the email with a specific
action—such as a statement that you
will call on a specific date to arrange a
meeting time convenient for the person.
Similar
to calling for an interview, a letter or email
requesting an appointment should include:
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-
Your
purpose for seeking the appointment
Conducting
the Informational Interview
-
Learn
as much as you can about the organization.
-
Write
down the questions that you want to ask.
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If
possible,learn something about the person
you are interviewing.
-
-
Bring
copies ofyour resume (Distribute these only
ifthey are requested).
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Arrive
5 - 10 minutes before your appointment.
-
Restate
your purpose for speaking with this particular
person.
-
You
are the interviewer so be prepared to initiate
the conversation.
-
Keep
to the original time request of 20 - 30
minutes.
-
Ask
for referrals to other individuals in the
field or in related organizations.
-
Let
the individual you are interviewing bring
up the discussion ofspecific job vacancies.
-
Send
a thank you note and keep the individual
you have interviewed posted on your job
hunting progress.
-
Evaluate
your style ofinterviewing. Use what you
have learned for when you conduct your job
interviews.
-
Evaluate
all the information you received.
What
to Ask
Make a list ofquestions you would like answered
about a career field or organization.Your questions
will yield the most information ifyou use open-ended
questions to engage your contact in conversation.
Listed below are sample questions to help you
prepare for your interview.
Questions
about the Career Field:
-
What
types of positions are most often found
in your career field?
-
What skills will I need to perform responsibilities
(such as organizing, supervising, writing)?
-
What
specific skills do I need to do the job
(academic, experiential, or others)?
-
What
training or education is required to perform
this kind ofwork?
-
What
would you change if you could?
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What
is a typical entry-level position in this
field?
-
What
opportunities for advancement do employees
have?
-
What
are alternative methods to gain entrance
to this field (e.g.,part-time,mid-career
change, volunteer work or other kinds oftraining)?
-
What
is the future ofthis field in terms ofnew
and expanding opportunities?
-
What
other information may be helpful (e.g.,
critique of resume, job seeking tactics,
names of other professionals in the field)?
Questions
about the Organization
-
What
are the short and long-term goals ofthe
organization, such as growth, new products
or services, and expansion of facilities?
-
What
is the philosophy ofthe organization
and the types oftraining programs available?
-
Do
you have descriptions ofthe various
positions you have held between your
entry-level and present job?
-
Could
you describe your current job (as defined
in the job description as well as what
is done beyond the job description)?
-
What
is the typical career path from entry-level
to top management?
Informational
interviewing is an effective tool in your
approach to career planning. It can be one
ofyour most valuable strategies in gathering
information and establishing contacts as
you begin or continue to build plans for
the future. Like all other components ofcareer
planning,informational interviewing requires
planning and focus on your part. Consider
each informational interview a valuable
step towards beginning your career.
By
CESER, the Center for Employment Education
and Research
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| Inspiration
for You: |
| • |
We
lift ourselves by our thought, we climb
upon our vision of ourselves. If you want
to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge
your thought of it and of yourself. Hold
the ideal of yourself as you long to be,
always, everywhere - your ideal of what
you long to attain - the ideal of health,
efficiency, success.
-
Orison Swett Marden
|
| • |
The
choice is yours. You hold the tiller. You
can steer the course you choose in the direction
of where you want to be - today, tomorrow,
or in a distant time to come.
-
W. Clement Stone |
| • |
There's
no feeling quite like the one you get when
you get to the truth: You're the captain
of the ship called you. You're setting the
course, the speed, adn you're out there
on the bridge, steering.
-
Carl Frederick |
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