Job Search
Interviewing for information is a process of gathering facts about people, activities, and occupations related to a particular career field.
Begin by identifying the organizations and people that appear to do what you want to do. You can get names from many sources including the Yellow Pages, business directories, chambers of commerce and newspaper articles. A personnel department may be helpful, especially if you want to find out about a particular field within an organization. However, they are sometimes not current regarding who is performing what duties and can be a little suspicious because they will assume you are looking for a job. You may find a department or job title that sounds intriguing. Be a bit wary of titles; they can mean quite different activities in different places, but they can offer clues. You may already know someone who can answer your questions. Who do you already know? A conservative guess is about 200 people including friends, family members, teachers, and people with whom you have professional relationships, such as doctors and bankers. Membership lists from your college's alumni association, fraternities or sororities, service organizations to which you belong, and membership directories from professional associations are sources of potential contacts. Another way to establish contacts is to look for people whose interests are similar to yours. Cut out interesting newspaper and magazine articles and put them in a file folder or desk drawer. Also take notes as you watch television and listen to the radio. These articles and notes contain the names of people who are doing what you want to do; go talk to them.
You may want to begin with a telephone call to the person you want to interview. Your conversation might start like this. "Hello, my name is your name, I am interested in learning more about the job name, and I would like to make an appointment to talk with you about what you do and the field in general." Remember to state your business clearly. If you are asked about whom you are representing, reply that you represent only yourself. Another approach is to go to the place of business, explain to the secretary or receptionist that you are seeking information (NOT A JOB) about a particular career, and ask to speak to the appropriate person. This has worked quite well for many people. At some point, you are likely to encounter a very protective secretary who will refuse to let you see the person you want. Do not become angry; always be polite. Try asking the secretary the questions you need answered. He or she may have the answers. If not, chances are that he or she will then suggest that you talk to the person you wanted to see. A busy appointment schedule may preclude the possibility of a face-to-face interview. It is perfectly all right in such cases to do your information gathering over the phone. Another possibility is to include your questions in a letter. If you decide to write a letter, be sure to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
It is important to make it clear that you are not looking for a job. You are looking for information to aid you in making career decisions or in locating future employment possibilities. The key to the whole process is your enthusiasm. If you are truly interested in the topic, the person with whom you are talking will usually respond positively. The following are some suggestions for information interview questions.
Some of the following supplies might prove helpful:
An information interview can sometimes be a disaster. If you have a problem, it can probably be attributed to one or more of the following factors.
Do not hesitate to discuss any problems with a career counselor. He or she will help by going over your stumbling blocks with you and by making suggestions for successfully conducting your next interview.
Ask yourself the following questions after each interview:
If you can answer most of these questions, you have gathered some valuable information and developed a clearer picture of the kind of work you want to do. This information will help you make a better decision about what you want to do with your career. After you have written a resume directed toward a specific career or job, you may want to communicate with your contact to ask for advice about who might be able to use your skills. You can either send your resume or go in person. You may find that your contact or someone he or she knows needs a person with your skills. This kind of interview is the most interesting and exciting method of collecting information on which to base a career decision. Nevertheless, it is not unusual to be apprehensive or nervous about initiating and conducting an interview. If you follow the suggestions outlined in this handout, you should have few problems. Remember to prepare adequately and to let your interest and enthusiasm show.
