Don’t waste your interviewer’s time. Again, be sure that you’ve done your homework ahead of time so that you are not asking simple questions. This is your chance to get “inside information,” so take advantage of the opportunity!
Don’t forget that an interview is still a two-way dialogue. One common mistake in an informational interview is to treat it as an interrogation, instead of as a discussion. Even though you may have a limited amount of time to ask your questions, don’t cut the person off when you have the information you wanted from their answer. Recognize that you may not be able to ask all the questions you wanted to, but that there may be opportunities to ask additional questions in the future if you handle the informational interview well.
Ask if you can take notes during the interview, but don’t be so focused on your note-taking that you’re not engaged in the conversation. In most cases, the big picture is more important than the small details. But do jot down notes so you can fill in the details later.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The number one rule for informational interviews is that you do not ask for a job (or turn the informational interview into a sales pitch). An informational interview may lead to a job interview, but the quickest way to have your informational interview end abruptly is to direct your questions into how that person should hire you for the job you want.
Lastly, we’ll discuss what to do after the informational interview next week.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
New Leaf Career Solutions is a career consulting boutique that redefines individuals and small businesses professional brands. New Leaf partners with each client to provide quality résumés, cover letters, bios, brochures and much more. Visit newleafcareersolutions.com to schedule an appointment. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for tips. Call today to turn over a New Leaf !!
