Video:How to Request an Informational Interview
with McKenzie Lawyer DaviesInformational interviews can give you insight into a particular career, but you should know how to reach out to an employee that will help your job search. Watch this how-to video from About.com to learn how to request and informational interview.See Transcript
Transcript:How to Request an Informational Interview
Hi, Im McKenzie Lawyer Davies and in this About.com video, we'll discuss how to request an informational interview.
Decide Who You Want to Interview
If you want to learn about a career or company, an Informational Interview is a great way to do it, but where do you start? Of course, the first thing you want to do is figure out who you want to interview.
If you don’t have an idea what careers really interest you, you should talk to a career counselor at a school, university, or even the department of workforce services. There are even tests online that may help you find the careers that match your personality.
Career counselors can also help you find companies or individuals that might be good to contact concerning this type of interview. When you know the type of employee that you would like to interview, another good resource is your local network.
Use Your Network for Informational Interviews
Think about people you might know that could help you set up an informational interview. These are typically the easiest to set up.
Don’t hesitate to contact someone because you think they might say no. While that is possible, it doesn’t hurt to ask, and often, they will be happy and even flattered that you are interested in what they do.
How to Ask for an Informational Interview
You can call, but it is easiest to send an email since can easily send this out to several company’s at once. It’s also easier to carefully word an email rather than a phone call. If you are going to write an email to a business try to find a specific name to address it to. You should also do the following
- State your name
- Tell them why your are interested
- Tell them how you found them
- Ask them for a specific amount of time
- Suggest some dates and time
Understand that some people might not feel comfortable with this, but keep looking and each interview you do have will give you valuable information when it comes to deciding on a career.
Thanks for watching. See more at about.com