Conduct An Informational Interview

Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as you can about the industry and career you're seeking a job in from people who are already in that career.

Many job seekers don't conduct informational interviews because the purpose of this type of interview is NOT to ask for a job. But, when you talk with people in your area of interest, you establish rapport with them, get salary ranges for the position and hopefully, have your name passed along to the hiring manager when there is an opening in their company.

Conducting an informational interview can be a very powerful job seeking tool for you. As you conduct these interviews, you're:

  • Establishing several important contacts
  • learning more about the industry you want to work for
  • and getting your name out there before anyone else in case a job opens up.

    • You can also take the information you gathered from these informational interviews and apply them to a regular one-on-one job interview. For example, you'll be able to negotiate your salary better because you found out beforehand what the salary range was for the job you're seeking.

    The informational interview is almost like a hidden secret for job hunting success, since so few people use this technique. Get the advantage over other job seekers by adding this powerful tool to your job search.

    Michelle Roebuck provides job interview tips and resume writing advice at her website http://www.job-interview-and-resume-tips.com

    Sign up for her Free newsletter at http://www.job-interview-and-resume-tips.com/newsletter.html


    More Resources

    Writing A Resume That Gets You Noticed
    As the old saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." In today's business world, of course, that first impression usually does not come from a face-to-face conversation, but from whatever you can tell your future boss about yourself on paper: your resume.
    Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?
    Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why do I want to make a career change" and you decide that what you actually want is not so much a career change as to stop what you've been doing altogether.This may be a good choice for some - those who can afford it - but not necessarily the right choice for all.
    Stand Out From the Crowd with Simple Marketing Methods
    Although today's job market can be very competitive, many job seekers overlook simple techniques that will catch potential employers' attention. Apply these eight ideas to stay ahead of your competitors and get hired now!1.
    Why Choose A Professionally Written Resume?
    Good question, considering that nowadays you can find manyuseful resources to help you write your own resume(including many located at http://www.impressive-resumes.
    A Career With The FBI
    Do you have what it takes to become an FBI special agent? Do you have a sincere desire to enforce federal laws and investigate crimes?This job requires hard work and can often times be dangerous and stressful. You'll undoubtedly be in close contact with crimminals and victims of crime.
    Telecommuting Resumes
    Your resume needs to outline your skills and experience, as most know. What some may not know is that employers want to know what you'll bring to the table.
    The Group Interview
    Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up in a situation where you are in a group interview. A group interview is where you are being interviewed along with several other candidates for the job.
    Retiring in Paradise
    I have to admit that I'm starting to slow down a bit. I am definitely in my final career - and quite comfortable working a 40 hour schedule.
    Defining Success Your Way!
    In my career advising practice, I often find that my clients are not clear about what success means for them. Our society defines success primarily around three elements: power, money and fame.
    Free Resume Examples: Untold Wealth In 10 Minutes!
    Doesn't every job search start with Google?Way back in another lifetime, I was looking for a job after one of my startups failed. Conveniently, everything went to pot in early 2000.
    Dynamic Interviewing Practices
    The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. If you're reading this article, you are finished with the pre-hiring process and are looking for tips that will guide you through the interview.
    Cracking the Connection Code: Networking for the Introverted
    We've all heard it before: "Just get out there and network!" If it was that easy, we would already be doing it. So why is it so hard? Well, you're an introvert, aren't you? Enough said.
    How to Track Your Right Career
    Are you lost in the wilderness when it comes to choosing a career? Once, we knew the way. As children, we played at different roles, but some became our favorites.
    Use Job Search Hacks to Get Hired Faster
    Job searching alone is like hitchhiking a scary ride with an unknown stranger on a 180-mile long deserted, no-exit road with hopes you'll make your destination. When you lack time or expertise to plan career moves carefully, sometimes the loss of ground is not apparent until years later.
    The Five Most Common - And Most Avoidable - Résumé Errors
    Writing an effective résumé can certainly be challenging. There are numerous rules and none of them apply 100% of the time.
    The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done
    Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will the expense of office space and the tremendous burden of employee benefits be a thing of the past for modern day businesses?The reality is, for thousands of people, this change has already occurred. Internet based 'Service Auctions' now abound where businesses can post their ongoing jobs or one-time projects to a global market of freelance professionals, a.
    What You Should Know About A Medical Billing Specialist
    Whether you are a person who is thinking about becoming a medical billing specialist or a company looking for a medical billing specialist, then this article is for you. There are several things that you should be aware of in the medical billing industry and I will walk you through them so that you will have the background information that you need to help you make a decision that will best suit your needs.
    The Recruiting Truth...Time Is Not On Your Side
    In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are the needs of just about each and every organization. Whether your company is growing organically or inorganically, whether your company is growing domestically or internationally or for one reason or another you just have pain, your organization must be in a position to attract top talent and attract it quickly! But attracting it is only the first part of the equation.
    Interview Tips, How to Get the Job You Want
    Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate.
    Goal Setting - Road Map To Achieving Your Career Goals
    Goal Setting & ResearchYou can only set informed career goals if you acquire plenty of information about the career choices open to you. This will require research which can be conducted online or through a local library.

    More Careers & Employment Information:

    Related Articles

    Get Beyond Your Tasks
    Ever hear the story of the two masons working side by side at a building site? They're doing the same work under pretty much the same conditions. Then, one day a stranger comes along, approaches one of the men and asks him, "What are you doing?" "I don't know and I don't care," replies the man, his voice brimming with irritation.
    References: Choose Wisely
    Sophisticated job seekers know and understand that sometime during the interview and hiring process you will be asked to supply references. With this in mind, here are five concepts to focus on in developing your reference list.
    Job Tips For The Frustrated Job Seeker
    There is nothing more frustrating and depressing when you are out of work and trying to find a job and your job search is going no where. Don't feel bad, you are not alone and there is a good reason why searching for a new job can be so difficult.
    From The WorkWise Collection: Ten Ways to Win the Job Search Mind Game
    Are you one of the thousands of job seekers who question their sanity, marketability, and capacity to make smart decisions-just because you've lost your job? Are you wondering how to overcome these psychological challenges, rebuild your self-confidence, increase your marketability, and regain your sense of sanity?In today's competitive job market you need more than a killer résumé and great interviewing skills to survive. Twenty-first-century job seekers must be able to deal with ambiguity, maintain a winner's mindset, demonstrate customer focus, and have a blow-your-socks-off résumé and excellent interviewing skills.
    Get Off Your Butt and Out of the Rut
    It's amazing to see so many people who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their careers.I'm sure you know of someone like that.
    Is A Career a Calling or Choice?
    How much of our career path is destiny and how much is free will? In my opinion, it is 50/50. We are given a life map at the beginning of our lives, and there are things we are meant to learn, people we are meant to meet, work we are meant to perform.
    3 Creative Job Search Tactics
    It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition. So it pays to do whatever you can to stand out as a persistent, creative candidate, one that any sane employer would love to hire.
    21st Century Career Success
    When it comes to modern career development, one thing we can all count on is change. With the advent of technology, telecommuting, and E-commerce, how work is performed is in a state of reinvention.
    Corporate World: Jungle Or Paradise?
    The road to the top is not easy, it is bumpy and dirty. Along the way, we meet interesting creatures.
    Drive Your Career Change - A Direct Approach
    If your career has gone off the road, take control and drive back to job satisfaction with a direct approach.When you're looking for that new job or a career move it's easy to think that 'they' hold all the cards.
    Resumes and First impressions
    Hunting for a position in a new career field? Trying to take your new education or skills and transform them into a job with a future?I've spent the last few weeks working in a placement service trying to help people find that first "career" job; trying to help them make the transition from student to employee. I see the same mistakes over and over again.
    Hello Work World, Im Un-Retiring
    For many years, you looked forward to that day when you would bid the world of work a fond farewell and ride off into the sunset of your golden years.Initially, it felt wonderful not to have to go somewhere each morning.
    Seven Tips to a Job-Winning Interview
    These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The Call, make the most of your time -- and go for it!1.
    Back to School for a Career Change
    Q. I hate my job as a computer consultant.
    Why Employers Want an Employee with a Degree
    You wake up in the morning, head to work, and find out your company is downsizing and you are being laid off. No big deal you think, you have experience, you've worked at the same company for years.
    How to Reach Your Next Job Faster with Fewer Potholes, Roadblocks
    Complacency damages your career more than lack of qualifications. The most obvious roadblock you'll encounter on the race to find your next job is usually regrets about skills, education, and professional knowledge.
    How To Receive Payment as a Freelance Translator?
    A problem most freelance translators are facing with is how to receive payment. In particular: How to receive payment for small jobs.
    Ten Things About Your Career Development
    There are some tactics you can action whatever you wish for from your career. Whatever you might think right now, you have all the tools you need for a career which give you joy and fulfilment.
    Make Your Resume Keyword Rich and Scanner Friendly
    If you haven't looked for a job recently, there are new tactics that hiring professionals are using that you should be aware of before updating your resume.Employers and recruiters increasingly rely on electronic resumes, resume posting boards and job banks to find job candidates.
    Unemployment Survival: Creating a Sense of Security
    In a time of economic downturn, international turmoil, company restructuring and corporate mergers run amok, thousands of people are either out of work or fearful of losing their jobs.Is there, then, such a thing as job security?No job, in itself, is totally secure.