Most of those I have coached in the past said they have never heard of this networking tool. An informational interview is a very short business meeting between two professionals. Its purpose is that of learning about a specific role, position, or about a certain organization.

Why is this useful? Because it provides information that’s specific to a certain geographic area and it speaks to a particular and unique life experience. This type of meeting can be arranged by a third person (by referral) or directly between two professionals: one seeking information and the other one able to provide it. The informational interview is normally short, around fifteen minutes, and its purpose needs to be clearly outlined in advance. For example, an internationally trained engineer may want to conduct at least ten informational interviews with professionals working in various engineering roles in the location he or she has moved to. In addition to the typical licensing process, there are so many things s/he might find rather different and their success really depends on understanding those differences.

An Informational Interview can also help new graduates get answers from someone who’s seasoned in a specific role or a certain industry. This is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about next steps directly from the source. Before the end of this meeting, ask the person you’re interviewing to refer you to talk to other people they know in the same industry, it’s a great way to learn more and also grow your network.

How can I schedule such a meeting? By all means, there are a few ways to go about it, but before booking a meeting, identify what you want to get out of it. Conduct extensive research on the organizations and professionals you are targeting. Analyze your intentions. This is not a job search activity, you need to be careful and not mention your job search. These are meetings meant to help you create a professional network and build strong relationships, while developing an understanding of your next career steps. To schedule an appointment, you may contact the selected interviewee by telephone or someone may introduce you. If you’re making a cold call, it’s preferable to avoid leaving a voice message, especially if you did not have a chance to meet this person before, but rather try calling at a different time. LinkedIn direct messages or email may be other options for a first contact.

What are the steps? If you’re calling, please ensure you’ve practiced that elevator pitch and have the purpose of your request clearly outlined. Be flexible in terms of setting the time of the meeting around the schedule of the professional you’re going to interview. Make sure to specify that this would be a very short meeting, 15 to 20 minutes max, and can be easily done during a virtual or face-to-face coffee break. The preferred location would be at the workplace of the interviewed professional, as this will help you learn even more about the workplace, but if this is not possible, a coffee shop or cafeteria nearby may work as well. Sometimes people agree to do a video meeting and you may conduct your interview this way.

What’s next? More research and preparation. Based on the information you gather, you will need to list around 12 to 14 questions to ensure you stay on topic. If you’ll be meeting in person, print them off. Stay focused on topic and respect the time you’ve agreed upon as this will speak to your own time management skills and your ability to reach a target. As you know, time is life’s most precious commodity, as one cannot regain it after spending it. The questions you ask may vary from being role specific to being organization and workplace specific, or even industry specific. It’s a good idea to look at other resources available on this topic or seek advise from a certified career coach.

Value. You will gain invaluable information on the role or occupation you’re targeting and, depending on how you’ve built your questions, you’ll end up with data you cannot find online. Organize and use this information well, this data will help you tremendously in the long run. Remember, knowledge is power. For example, at a certain point in the future, you may have a job interview with that same organization and, as a candidate, you will have inside information and the advantage of knowing firsthand what other candidates may not know. In addition, you’ll be able to keep in touch with people in your field and expand your connections. Building trust takes time, those connections will not become your trusted network overnight. Set realistic long-term goals and follow your strategic career development plan step by step. My grandma use to say – big things don’t happen overnight, there is always an incubation time, so be patient.

Why do it at all? Spending all this time and energy to conduct informational interviews will help you gather facts as well as multiply your existing connections, which will pay in the long run. Abraham Lincoln’s words come to mind right now: “if I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend 6 sharpening the axe.” Based on the current labour market reality, finding a position that matches your personality and skills may take extensive preparation, don’t start with chopping down a tree if you don’t even have a proper axe.

Magdalena Mot