INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND THE JOB SEARCH

1
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND THE JOB SEARCH

• Lynne Hollyer
• Associate Director
• Industry Alliances Office
• Lhollyer_at_berkeley.edu

2
What Are We Going to Cover Tonight?

• What is the Value of Informational Interviews?
• Getting Started
• Asking Questions
• Manners/Norms
• Dos and Dont
• Practice
• Wrap Up

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Why do Informational Interviews?

• To explore careers and clarify your career goals
  
• To expand your professional network
• To build confidence for job interviews
• To learn the most up-to-date career information
• To identify your professional strengths and
  weaknesses.

4
Steps

• Assess your needs and wants
• Research the companies in your target group
• Write your interview plan
• Conduct your interview
• Follow up, both with yourself and the interviewee

5
Ask Yourself

• What do you hope to learn through this interview?
• Do you want to use the knowledge youve gained
  getting your education as a springboard for a
  career or do you want to continue the work youve
  already begun?
• In science or on science? Business of making
  scientific instruments is different than using
  scientific instruments.

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An Informational Interview is

• Not a job interview

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Prepare for the Interview

• Identify the person with whom youd like to meet.
• Send an introductory email explaining who you are
  and the purpose of your request to meet.
• Ask for 20-30 minutes of your prospective
  interviewee's time.
• Be flexible about when to meet-they are doing you
  a favor so meet when convenient with the
  interviewee (be prepared to meet at the beginning
  of the day).
• Make sure you know where the office is and where
  you can park. Do a recon mission.
• Write up your interview questions. Its
  generally ok to take notes.

8
The Meeting

• Learn all you can about the company and the
  person youll be talking to before the interview.
• Be on time.
• Dress as though you are going to a job interview,
  even if the worksite is a jeans and flip flops
  environment.
• Good grooming is a must. Wear clothes and shoes
  you are comfortable in
• Stay on track during the interview. Manage your
  time well.
• Stay friendly, but not familiar. Do not gossip.

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The Remote Meeting

• If you cant meet face to face, you can Skype or
  call.
• Be on time.
• If you videochat, still dress as though you are
  going to a job interview.
• Stay on track during the interview.

10
Asking Questions

• Ask open ended questions that allow the other
  person to explain and describe.
• Ask a question and then stop talking, let the
  other person answer.
• If you dont understand something, ask for
  clarification.
• If the direction of the interview diverges from
  your set of questions, go with it unless you
  begin to lose focus.
• Your list of questions is a guide only.

11
Information Interview Dos and Dont

• Go in prepared.
• Dont ask for a job.
• Dont ask about salaries, or vacation benefits.
• Dont ask any personal questions (do you like
  your job or the company?) that will put the
  interviewee in an awkward position.
• Do phrase questions positively.
• Do show that you are listening to the other
  person.

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At the End of the Interview its OK to Ask

• Could you take a brief look at my resume (make
  sure you have it with you)?
• Can you give me three names of people in the
  field I might also be able to talk with?
• Can I have your card and is it ok for me to check
  back with you in a few months?

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After the Interview

• Send a thank you note or email.
• Follow up with the leads the interviewee
  provided.
• Enter the interviewee information into you
  database, note book or what ever you use and make
  a note to follow up when you said youd check
  back in.

14
Roleplay Practice

• Select a partner.
• One of you will be the post doc interviewer, the
  other will be the company representative
• Spend 15 minutes preparing using the list of
  questions provided or your own questions.
• Conduct a 20 minute interview.
• Swap roles and repeat