tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252490692885872543.post1516710381939831947..comments2024-01-01T07:04:11.949-08:00Comments on Career stuff you should know: Can We Talk? Informational Interviews.Darryl Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12700288103528352787noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252490692885872543.post-2124111302749589152009-03-26T10:36:00.000-07:002009-03-26T10:36:00.000-07:00Part of my adamant approach to the issue of interv...Part of my adamant approach to the issue of interviewing not being about networking is my personality... I tend to be adamant about everything. The other part has to do with the instrumentality of the interview itself. If one truly wishes to get information about an industry, then that is what they should do... get information. If they are simply trying to build a network, then they should say so. <BR/><BR/>So, instead of calling and saying, <BR/><BR/>"Hi. My name is Ernie Erstwhile and I have been thinking about the possibility of a career in banking and finance and would like to talk to you about your career and get more information."<BR/><BR/>They should say, <BR/><BR/>"Hi. My name is Ernie Erstwhile and I would like a career in banking and finance, but I don't know anyone in the industry, so I would like to visit with you and add you to my network in hopes that you can jump start my career."<BR/><BR/>Another piece of this is the fact that I would never advance the candidacy of an individual with whom my primary contact was a thirty minute informational interview. Likewise, I am not sure that I would trust anyone's recommendation of a person based on "I met this interesting candidate when he/she interviewed me. I've only met him/her once, but he/she seems like a nice person." <BR/><BR/>Life is beautiful when interviews turn into valuable network connection, but I am not sure that they are an efficient way of expanding one's contacts.Darryl Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700288103528352787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252490692885872543.post-63669537817263813032009-03-26T09:59:00.000-07:002009-03-26T09:59:00.000-07:00I find it interesting that you are so adamant that...I find it interesting that you are so adamant that informational interviews shouldn't be about networking when many many students/young alumni at many different institutions are told that informational interviewing is *the* way of networking and getting a job when starting out (I have been given this advice personally).<BR/><BR/>In my own life, nearly every informational interviewee that I've had has looked at my resume and several have given me leads about jobs in their companies. While the informational interview you mention sounds very awkward, I think there is a general understanding that it is about learning about the industry while trying to subtly sell oneself, at least in marketing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252490692885872543.post-24843662403657566242009-03-24T09:26:00.000-07:002009-03-24T09:26:00.000-07:00Thanks for the shoutout for my collection of infor...Thanks for the shoutout for my collection of informational interview questions and tutorial. Informational interviewing is such a fantastic technique, especially in these tough times. I don't totally agree with you about the interview NOT being a way to get a foot in the door or about not bringing a resume to the interview, but these are perfectly valid viewpoints that lots of professionals share. I think it's OK to ask an informational interviewee for a quick resume critique -- IF you've established excellent rapport with the interviewee.<BR/><BR/>Katharine Hansen, Author, A Foot in the DoorUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01399694144431374054noreply@blogger.com