In my last post, I was discussing the idea of setting up an informational interview. Basically, this is an interview or meeting with a professional who is successful in a career field you are interested in. This type of interview isn't something you should do in hopes of being considered for a job. Intstead, it is more of a fact-finding meeting with someone who is already doing what you want to do. This person can be a great resource for finding out what you need to do to enter the field and can even be a good source for job leads and other professionals for you to talk with.
So, you have set up an informational interview, and you have good ideas about what information you want to gain from the meeting. Be sure to write these down on paper before you head off to the interview. Unlike a job interview, it is perfectly acceptable for you to bring a notepad with questions and take notes during the meeting.
When you are writing out your questions, be sure to include some of these:
- What is a day in your job like?
- What do you like the most about your job?
- What do you dislike the most?
- Is your job typical of most of the jobs in your field/at your level?
- Can you tell me about the corporate culture?
- What are your hours and salary like? (be sure not to ask "how much do you make?")
- What is your toughest competition?
- How did you get into the field?
- How do you keep up-to-date with your education?
- What sort of training was required?
- What are most employers in this field looking for?
- Can you tell me about your job description?
- Is there room for advancement?
- What are the job prospects like? Is it hard to find a job in this field?
- Are there some related fields that use the same skills?
- Can you refer me to others in your field who I can talk to?
- Can I email or call you if I think of other questions later?
If you are serious about wanting to enter the new field, it doesn't hurt to ask for leads to others who may also be able to spare some time to give you information as well. It is a good idea to interview several people in the field in order to get a well-rounded idea of what a day in the life is like. Also, it can be helpful to know more than one person in the industry. These people can be invaluable resources for information, inspiration, guidance and even job leads.
Have you ever been on an informational interview? Let me know in the comments.
Are you looking for a job in Manufacturing? Be sure to visit ManufacturingWorkers.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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