People will almost always give informational interviews to: (1) the acquaintance of someone they know (2) alumni from their undergraduate and graduate schools (3) members of the social and volunteer organizations they belong to (4) people who show real interest and enthusiasm Many people will happily agree to give you an informational interview, even if they don’t know you. Here’s why:
- Many people who offer informational interviews have been through one or more career transitions themselves, and they understand what you are going through.
- Many people like to talk about themselves, including their careers, what they do, what it takes to be successful in their positions, etc.
- Most people like to help others – as long as it doesn’t take a lot of time or isn’t too big of a request.
- Because informational interviews are short and a matter of simply asking for known information, it’s an easy way to help someone.
- Offering informational interviews helps people feel good about themselves. It makes them feel needed and important.
- Trust me on this — people who give informational interviews enjoy telling their friends, family and colleagues about how they’ve helped someone identify good career options or find a new job opportunity.
- They might be (secretly) looking for a new career or job themselves, and they may want to learn more about your approach.
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- People who have had successful careers often have one or more mentors who have given them career advice, so they naturally welcome opportunities to help others succeed in their career. (Many people say that mentoring is one of the most fulfilling aspects of success.)
By using the strategies revealed on this website and maintaining the mindset that many people will want to help you, you’ll quickly discover that informational interviews are fun and can make a huge difference in your career and job search!
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