Have you ever thought you could create a network to help you land your most wanted role through Informational Interviewing? If not, it is the time. The job market is highly competitive. Thus, be precise and determined to get your favourite job.
Unlock the gates of the hidden job market with this natural but outstanding strategy and be at the place you deserve. Don’t know how to start networking through informational interviewing?
Don’t worry. Here you go!
What is Informational Interviewing?
Informational interviewing is a job hunt and networking approach that helps jobseekers do their due diligence on their preferred career path.
Or, it is a way to connect with professionals from the same field or organisation where you are looking for a job and get insights about the job through effective communication.
Informational Interviewing can be very helpful if you want to:
- Find mentors
- Boost your chances of securing a job interview
- Dive into the hidden job market, and
- Explore career options you haven’t considered.
The best thing about informational interviewing is it is a no-pressure and natural way to network with people.
You can follow these top 10 steps to benefit from Informational Interviewing to strengthen your network and land the job you desire:
1. Find Contacts to Create a Network for Informational Interviewing
If you want to join a company that interests you, find at least one individual working in the same industry or company. You can use your LinkedIn, old grad databases (if possible), and personal network to identify that person.
2. Connect with the First Contact
Post step one, it’s time to make your first move. Contact the person and ask them if you want 20-25 minutes for an informational interview because you want to ask them for career advice. Be careful and specific while requesting this favour. You are asking for advice, not a job.
3. Done Waiting? Follow Up
Wait at least for a week after your first message or email. If you don’t get any response in a week, try to reach them again. Cold calling is a better option if you have their contact number. If they still don’t respond, don’t get disappointed. Try reaching out to other people from your informational interviewing network.
4. Fix a Date
Direct or personal meetings are the best. Fix a date for a face-to-face interview because they are the most memorable. If a direct meeting is not possible, try for a video meeting. If that is not possible, don’t forget that the call interviews do wonders too. Now that they are doing you a favour, it’s your responsibility to work as per their schedule and availability.
5. Do Your Homework
Prepare and practise a brief self-introduction of about 1-2 minutes where you can tell them who you are and your reason for this meeting. Prepare at least 10-12 questions related to the job or niche (whether you could ask them all) that are not readily available online. For instance:
Q. Questions about the career path – what do they like or dislike about their job or company? What skills and qualifications are required to secure the job?
Q. Questions about the company, its hiring and working process, company culture, and relieving process, if applicable.
Q. Questions about the person you are meeting with, i.e., can you please tell me what you mean by – XYZ, written on your LinkedIn profile? (Pro tip: Individuals enjoy talking about themselves)
Q. Ask for referrals: is there anyone else you can recommend I can talk about this role?
6. Be Competent
Practicing professionalism from the beginning is always helpful. Be on time and dress professionally. Thank them sincerely for their time and efforts. Bring a hard copy of your updated resume if you meet them personally, but don’t hand it over to them unless they ask for it.
7. Value Their Time
Make this brief. You are not meeting them to get the answers to all your queries, but you are there to become likeable. You want to impress this person with your professionalism and decency so much that they can happily introduce you to other professionals in an exciting career path or company. If you still have additional questions, you can ask them for another meeting or send them via email.
8. Follow Up, Again
Don’t ghost them right after the meeting. Send them a thank you note within 24 hours of the meeting via email with your freshly updated professional resume. Also, be polite and direct while asking for referrals if you didn’t get time to do the same during your meeting.
9. Repeat the Process
Keep repeating this cycle, and impress everyone you meet. Someone will eventually introduce to you a person with high authority or directly to the hiring manager. Hiring managers have control over the hiring process. Hence, they can directly land you a job interview if you are recommended by someone they know.
10. Be Interview Ready
Usually, Informational Interviews can turn into job interviews typically for a role that hasn’t even been listed yet in their job search. So, be confident and don’t forget to bring your updated resume.
Your contact may want a copy of your resume and send it directly to the hiring manager or another connection.
Conclusion: Be Job Ready for the Interview
Getting a job in this competitive job market is difficult but not impossible. You only need to adopt the right strategy, like Informational Interviewing.
This strategy can help you connect with professionals in the same company or industry who can help you get closer to your dream job. Just like the Remark Jobs can help you land your dream job quickly.
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