I hear the phrase “Informational Interview” used by people who are trying to get a specific job. Focusing on a specific job minimizes the potential of informational interviews.
Here is a better idea that can create significantly more value in your career transition.
Instead of a job informational interview, ask to have a conversation about business. If you want to use the word informational, then call this meeting an “informational meeting.”
If you are relying on an introduction to get the conversation, ask your contact to introduce you for a business conversation, not a job informational interview.
When you meet, use Dale Carnegie’s principle and make the conversation about the other person. Focus your questions on them, not on your needs. Use the time together to uncover information about topics like:
- The person
- What is their job like
- What do they like best about the business and industry
- Business culture
- Business growth plans
- Business & industry challenges
- New business ideas
- How can you help
Can you see the difference here? Make the conversation all about the other person and what is important to them. People love to talk about themselves and topics they are interested in.
As the conversation progresses the person you are talking with will likely ask you questions. Don’t, I REPEAT, DO NOT jump into the conversation asking for help finding a job.
Instead, speak to the information you are learning, as it relates to you. If you are experienced in supply chain and the conversation has broached this topic, share a story about supply chain. Immediately after your short story, return the conversation back to the other person with another question about them. Keep the conversation focused on your new contact.
Mostly all other folks in career transition are doing informational interviews and making the conversation all about “I need a job.” This will not work during informational interviews. Ignore all guidance to do informational interviews about a specific job. Instead, always make the conversation all about the other person.
Once your new contact begins to like and trust you they will always ask how they can help. Do not, I REPEAT, DO NOT, ask for a job.
Instead, thank your guest for a great conversation and ask “Who is the next person I should meet?” Remind them who you are (what your profession is, not what your individual skills are) and ask if they know of someone else you should meet as you continue looking for career or business opportunities relevant to your goals.
I prove this philosophy regularly in my career and business. I saw informational interviews fail time and again when I tried to drive the conversation into discussions of my needs. I regularly discover opportunities when I focus the conversation on the other person. Because I do this, often my new contact will turn the conversation back to me and open the discussions up about new business opportunities.
Make the conversations broad and open and don’t focus on a specific job. Open conversations are where great ideas come from.
Prepare for these conversations by having a great LinkedIn Profile and connecting with your new connection before the meeting.
If you don’t know the importance of Presenting a great LinkedIn Profile, Connecting broad and wide and Engaging deliberately, we need to talk. Let me help you Create Value With LinkedIn with my LinkedIn Coaching Program.
* This post was written by Career Confidential LinkedIn Expert Teddy Burriss of Burriss Consulting, Inc. Follow Teddy Burriss on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook to learn more about his Social Media Coaching and Career Transition services.