Genuity can go a long way, particularly when reaching out to a professional connection in the digital space. One often has to prioritize the inquiries that flood their email inbox, Slack/Teams messages, LinkedIn requests, etc., and some inquiries will inevitably be put on the backburner. If you take the time to review that connection’s LinkedIn profile, for example, you can learn a lot about the person: the progression of their professional journey, professional and personal interests, their values, and more. If there is something about the person that you relate to or that strongly aligns with your values/goals, leverage that in your request/pitch to make it stand out! Not only does this demonstrate your preparedness, it demonstrates why you think they’re the best connection to steer you in the right direction and may also open up the door to the start of a meaningful and lasting connection. BS Marketing ‘21
The first thing you need when conducting informational interviews is an interviewee. Here are some topics to cover in your initial communication to create interest right out of the gate: Why you are reaching out to that specific person? Is it interest in their role? Were you inspired by an article they wrote? Did they graduate from the same university as you? What are you hoping to gain from the conversation? An idea of the skills and experience needed to attain their role? A mentor? An understanding of what they do day-to-day? How much time would you like to schedule with them and what venue? Will you come to their office for a 30 minute meeting? Meet for coffee before they start their day? Be as flexible as possible. Don't leave the potential interviewee guessing about your intentions, so that if they are not the right fit to give you the information you seek, they could perhaps introduce you to a better fit. And finally, reach out to more than one person!
Informational interviews are essential to land your dream job, and the real work starts when you’re selecting someone to connect with. Blindly messaging a VP or high-level executive probably won’t garner many responses, so start with someone lower on the totem pole. These professionals were recently in your shoes and are more likely to respond, and you can gain insight into what your first role out of college would entail. If they are impressed by the initial conversation, they can introduce you to hiring managers and/or higher-level staff to pursue next steps with the company. Your outreach should display that you’ve done your research and are motivated to learn about them and their role specifically. End it with a personal touch, and wait for the responses to come in!
I believe the best thing to do is to show that you’ve done your research; on the career, the individual, their company, anything. Coming prepared in your knowledge will show the individual that you’re not only serious about wanting to learn more, but that you’re willing to do what it takes to make the most of their time. It would be good to research the latest trends and topics in the industry/career you would like to interview about such as, the general day-to-day operations within the field. With this, you can demonstrate your own experience in relation; just enough to show your level of proficiency and passion for the topic, and that accepting your request will be a good use of their time and expertise. Additionally, it would be good to show within the interview request that you’ve done the background research on the individual, the company they work for, as well as the content they produce. Certificate, Knowledge in Entrepreneurship & Innovation December 2015
When it comes to an informational interview, your mindset must change from self-promoting to self-growth. This is your time to gain the necessary tools to excel in your desired field. Take the time to listen and learn. Never ask for the job opportunity up front, ask your interviewer questions about their career path and how to maintain the career. Building your professional relationships takes time and effort. This will not only help yourself but will increase the amount of job opportunities you will receive as you grow. Julia Boutin May 2021 Sports Business
The biggest catalyst in my hunt for informational interviews was to fully play into people's egos. Managers, specifically those of a high rank, are infamous for wanting to tell their story about how they reached success. It is easy to grab the informational interviews that are parent's of friends, or their colleagues, but can be much more difficult to secure an informational interview with someone you have no true connection to. Hyping up a manager in your initial message or email is a great way to pique their interest right off the bat and get them excited to tell you about their journey to the top. Sports Business Degree - Graduated May 2022
For someone to respond to an interview request, it is essential to let the interviewee know what is in it for them. This helps their interest and motivation. Knowing what they can gain from an interview will help them understand how it can benefit them. It can also establish trust and respect between you and the subject and give them confidence in your ability to conduct an interview. It shows you value their time and expertize, and that you are willing to offer something in return for their participation.
One of my coworkers, a former consultant, is frequently asked about working at her business and her advice for getting started. Her approach was to write down her advice and finest ideas, save it as a programmed email response in Gmail, and send it whenever someone asked her for advice. Instead, you may send readers to a blog post, article, or FAQs section on your personal website that answers your most often-asked questions. Again, the initial outlay is substantial, but you'll end up saving a tonne of time. People will be happy that they don't have to take notes while you talk over coffee (and, hey, they will be).
Open with appreciation and zeal. You should start off by thanking the employer for the opportunity and expressing your excitement about the interview. A brief thank you and a remark like "thrilled" will do; there's no need to go overboard. Make yourself available. The majority of recruiters and hiring managers will present you with a few options for scheduling periods. Some people could ask you to recommend times. No matter what, be sure to specify the days and hours that suit you the most. Please feel free to offer other hours if none of the ones listed in the invitation email work for you. However, if you are serious about the chance, it is important to arrange your calendar around the interview times provided.