There are many strategies you can use to find qualified people for informational interviews. One of those strategies is to look at your personal network. If you’re thinking, “I don’t have a network!” take a look at this list of potential contacts to see if it might be bigger than you realize:
- Athletic Teams (e.g., Golf League, Soccer Club, Softball Team, etc.)
- Chambers of Commerce Members
- College / University Classmates / Alumni
- High School Classmates / Alumni
- Clergy / Houses of Faith
- Conferences You Have Attended
- Elected Officials
- Email Address Book
- Family (e.g., Parents, God Parents, Spouse, Siblings, In-laws, etc.)
- Fellow Job Seekers
- Former Co-workers
- Former Customers / Clients
- Former Employers
- Former Supervisors
- Former Faculty / Teachers / Administrators
- Former Neighbors
- Fraternity / Sorority Members
- Friends
- Holiday Card List
- Lodges (e.g., Elks, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.)
- Mentors
- Neighbors
- Private Clubs
- Professional Associations
- Professional Colleagues
- PTA
- Service Providers (e.g., Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers, Banker, Hairdresser)
- Social Acquaintances
- Staffing Agencies
- Twitter Connections
- Volunteer Activities
