Informational interviews

Last week I conducted my first informational interview and it was a great experience. An informational interview is a short meeting that you have with an experienced professional when you want more information about a field or company. It is best to get started by asking people you already know: friends, past colleagues, schoolmates, etc. about their experiences. You could also ask them about how they came to be where they are today or what it is like to work for the company and where they think it is going in the future. Informational interviews are also helpful for building your network because can ask them who else they would recommend you talk to. If you are relocating or the person you want to talk to is always busy, call them and ask if you can e-mail them a short list of questions. Don't forget to be professional: dress nicely, be punctual and have a business card ready.