By Cristina Scalzo
Once you have made connections with professionals, one way to make the most of those connections is through informational interviews. My freshman year, I was required for my Nursing 101 class to conduct an informational interview with two different nurses. The nurses I connected with did not live in the Portland area and so we did our interview sessions over Skype. By the time the interviews rolled around I had rehearsed the questions a million times, but I ended up sleeping in past my alarm! As I sprinted to the study room I had reserved, I was worried that I would seem flustered, unprepared and nervous. And honestly, I was all of those things. So here is why I am sharing these basic tips with you: so you do not feel anxious and unprepared like I did.
- Informational interviews can be formal or they can be casual. They can be in person or over Skype. You can have dinner, coffee or neither. The point is: there is no one way to conduct an informational interview. The important thing is to ask the right questions to get the information and wisdom you need to gain new insights into the field.
- Like I said above, informational interviewing is about gathering as much information as you can. Before you meet, brainstorm questions that will get you the information you are seeking. Some good questions to ask may be:
- How did you get into this field?
- Can you describe a typical day? Week? Project? Business trip?
- What kinds of people thrive in this industry? What character or personality traits would you say they have in common?
- What was different about this job than you expected?
- What advice do you have for a college student like me?
- Lastly, do not go into the interview without thinking about yourself first. Know your interests, strengths, and skills so that you are prepared to have a conversation rather than going in without direction.
Conducting informational interviews now, even when you may not be looking for a job, can help you to better understand what your future might look like and help you develop a sense of what your aspirations are for college. They might also reveal pieces of your potential future you do not like. Talking to people who are in specific industries makes what you are studying a reality.
So take a shot and schedule an informational interview with someone you know. It could even be a relative or friend’s parent. Whoever it is, I guarantee they have useful information for you right now.
And whatever you do, make sure you set a backup alarm so you don’t sleep through your interview.
Sources:
How To Get Any Job: Life Launch And Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30, by Donald Asher. Ten Speed Press: 2004.
There are informational interview resources available on the Career Services website and in the office. Stop by Orrico Hall (lower level) to find out more!