Informational Interview, your first step to the job interview

The number one rule of the informational interview: don’t talk about a job

The informational interview can serve a couple of purposes:

• Allow for insight into the company or industry that you would not be able to gain if you were left to do your research.
• This is an opportunity to network. Your contacts could range from others in the industry, the company you are interested in, to the decision-maker with a job opening.

If you are going to buy a car or a big-screen TV and know someone has purchased a similar model, you would pick their brain on the purchase. The informational interview is no different. You are about to make one of the most significant commitments of your life with a new job. Your job will provide for your family and take up most of your waking hours.  You should try to get the lowdown on the company/position.

Advice on landing and succeeding in the informational interview

The first rule of the informational interview:  You do not talk about a job at the informational interview.

Don’t make it something it isn’t. Even if you land an informational interview with a decision maker, you DO NOT talk about a job at the informational interview. You asked for an informational interview, not a job interview.

A few more rules of the informational interview:

1. Don’t ask for a job
2. Give the process and the person the same respect you would a job interview
3. You are not going to turn this into “the” job interview
4. See rule 1

The facts ma’am, just the facts

The informational interview is a fact-gathering mission. When I take an informational interview, I take it under the pretense that someone wants to learn about HR or the company/industry I work in.  I do not take it under the pretense that I will be asked for a job. Understand that no one wants to feel guilty or pressured to help them find a job. I should have been asked for that upfront if that were the case.

It is assumed that I know the candidate is looking for a job. This is an audition, and you can think of me as Simon Cowell from “American Idol.”  The informational interview is an opportunity for you to make such a good impression that help is offered. If you land an informational interview with a decision maker, they know they can provide you with a job interview.  You don’t ask them for one. (Have I told you how I feel yet?)

Treat it like an interview

It amazes me how casually the person ASKING for the interview can treat an informational interview. Remember, someone is taking time out of his or her day to help you. They probably take time from their work schedule and may or may not know you personally. Treat this time with respect.

Approach the informational interview as an audition to get the actual job interview. If I am giving an informational interview to someone, I want him or her to provide me with the confidence that they are not going to embarrass me when I make a referral to someone in my network. How they treat me is how I assume they will treat my network.  Trust me, I f***in protect the network because it IS my bread and butter. 

The rules of the informational interview

• Respect the time. Show up on time and end the meeting at the agreed-upon time. You can always ask for another meeting. Abuse this first meeting, and you probably won’t get another. Ask for 30 minutes; hope for a little longer.
• Demonstrate that you know how to present yourself. Arrive looking respectable and appropriate for the position or topic you will discuss.  A T-shirt and jeans are probably inappropriate if you have never met this person. Even if you know this person, show you are serious about presenting yourself. (The person they want to refer you to may be conservative and not appreciate the t-shirt/jeans attitude)
• Take notes. Nobody knows that you have a photographic memory. If you aren’t taking notes, you are giving the impression that what is being discussed isn’t worth remembering. Worse, you will forget.  It’s all about perception.

Make it easy on the person granting the informational interview

• Come prepared. An agenda, specific questions, and a goal for the meeting will help instill confidence that you can be productive.  (It would be impressive if there were a high-level overview before the in-person meeting)
• Do not ask for a job or expect to get a job.  I work in an HR department, and contrary to popular belief, I cannot just “get someone a job.” Most CEOs and owners of their own companies aren’t able to “give someone a job,” to be realistic about the expectations.
• Meet in a location convenient to the contact and at least offer to buy coffee. Most employed people usually try to pick up the coffee or lunch, but when the gesture isn’t even made, it is easy to feel taken advantage of. Advice and a free lunch????  WTF people!  When in doubt, buy!
• Send a thank-you note. It is a nice touch and a show of common courtesy that gives confidence that you will do the same for the person you are referring to.

Landing an Informational Interview

If you are looking for an introduction to meet someone who may be a second-degree connection, make it easy on your 1st-degree connection to make the introduction. Write the introduction email for them so they:

1. Don’t have to do any extra work.  
2. Don’t have to worry about you asking for a job and embarrassing them.

Let’s say you know Jack.  Jack knows Joe. Your goal is to meet with Joe.

Jack,

Hey there, how are Suzy and the kids?  I hope the Holiday Season treated you well. As you know, I am trying to break into the publishing business, and I saw on LinkedIn/Facebook that you know Joe Smith from Acme Publishing. Could you do me a big favor and make an online introduction so I could set up an informational interview? I know from experience that these things can be a little touchy. 

I promise to respect his time by limiting our meeting to 30 minutes. Don’t worry, I won’t ask him for a job.  I will also meet him near his work; of course, the coffee is on me. I am interested in learning more about what it takes to succeed at Acme Publishing and the company’s corporate values. If you want, you can just cut and paste the following:

Hey Joe,

I have a buddy who is interested in learning more about Acme Publishing.  I know this is a little out of the blue, but I promise he will make it easy for you. He will buy coffee, meet you near your work, and won’t take up more than 30 minutes of your time.  Lastly, he will NOT ask you for a job. He is a stand-up guy, and I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

• After you land the meeting, reinforce that you have some specific questions about “x,y, and z” so your contact can come to the meeting mentally prepared.  This also gets them thinking about other folks you could introduce them to.  You want to give AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE to think about this.
• Take just 3 minutes (hopefully less) to explain your background and your goal for the meeting.
• Ask for specific advice. Don’t be general or vague.
• Ask if you can connect with them via LinkedIn.
• Ask if they know anyone else you could talk with.
• Ask if there are any introductions YOU can make.  How can YOU help them?

No negativity

Regardless of how well you know this person, keep the questions and the session’s tone positive! DO NOT present any negative questions, assumptions, etc.  They may already know you are cynical, but show them you can be professional and REPRESENTTTT!

Common informational interview questions

• I saw the organization’s values on the website, but in your words, what does the company/department, manager, and team value?
• What is the culture of the company?
• Are there regularly scheduled reviews, or is this a self-managed culture?
• What attracted you to this position/company/department?
• I can only imagine that 100’s of folks applied for this position (yes, we are sucking up). Why do you think you were picked for this job over the other candidates?  (Trying to figure out what a successful candidate looks like)
• Does the team socialize outside of the office? (Some people want to hang out with their teams, others do not.  We don’t want to ask this question so that it comes off as a negative).
• Can you recommend other people in your field who worked at this company or are vendors to this company to whom I could speak?

Informational interviews are another way to make your job search more efficient and extend your network.  Just remember the first rule of the informational interview.

See you at the after party,
HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

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