There is nobody better to teach you how to cook than your grandmother. She’s baked those Christmas cookies for so long that she doesn’t need the recipe or even the right measuring cups. She just knows, so learning from her is the best.
Likewise, informational interviews with seasoned professionals in your field are a fantastical tool. They provide insight into the nature of the industry, inspire new ideas and can even jumpstart a career with an internship or job.
Informational interviews can be incredibly useful but must be done right for maximum impact. Following is a list of 10 tips – from how to dress to key questions – for the interview.
1. Be selective, but don’t be selective.
Interviewing just anyone is not helpful. As you analyze people in your circle and decide whom to chat with, you must be intentional. Choose people with similar interests as yourself. But do not limit yourself by only talking with “the perfect professional.” Engage people who think differently than you, learn about people in a parallel but different field. Being uncomfortable is a way to learn, and ultimately, that is what these interviews are about.
2. Do your research.
Do NOT come unprepared. Look up the professional you will be talking with; connect on LinkedIn. Learn the outline of their story. Research the key impacts their company has made recently. Most likely, you will not discuss this information in detail in the interview, but having background knowledge will be dreadfully apparent – for better or for worse.
3. Dress like you are interested.
Don’t prepare as if the meeting is an interview for a job – no suit and tie are needed. But do not approach this as a mundane occurrence. You have a fantastic opportunity to learn from a professional and, additionally, to impress them. Dress business casual – treat this as an opportunity to grow.
4. Build your 60-second pitch.
Start your interview with a quick word about yourself. Tell the professional who you are, what you love and why you are interested in this field. This gives the professional some background on where you are coming from, and they can talk more directly to your situation. But you must keep this quick! 60 seconds at the max, and then immediately turn the focus back to the professional – after all, that’s who you are here to see.
5. What’s your story?
Ask this question first. Human beings are creatures of stories – stories that are meant to be told. You should already know the general outline of this narrative but listen for the critical points. Also, this provides a great transition from your pitch: “I’ve told you a little bit of my story, but I really want to hear yours.”
6. What are your mistakes?
As I’ve written elsewhere, failure breeds improvement. Without failure, errors are difficult to see and correct. Ask the professional where he or she has failed. But do not end the question there. Further, how have they overcome their mistakes?
7.What is important?
Each niche of an industry requires different skills. Ask the professional what skills they look for when hiring young workers. Further, ask what they would recommend doing during your college years to position yourself best for success.
8. Where are you going?
This is both personal and corporate. In the first sense, learn where professionals are going. What are their dreams? What are their aspirations? What are their goals? Learn to think as extensively as they do. In a larger sense, ask where the industry is going. Wayne Gretzky, the best hockey player ever famously said: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” Business is the same. Prepare yourself for where economics or engineering or literature will be, not where it is.
9. Why?
Ask why people should care about this industry. Not in a critical way, but in a passionate way. Why is this industry important? Why is it vital? This will delve into the heart of the professional’s career and bring out their passion and purpose for their craft.
10. How do I get involved?
One purpose of these interviews is to learn; another purpose is to open opportunities. Ask how you can get involved with the company through an internship, job or volunteer work. This demonstrates your interest and can lead to open doors down the road.
