Career exploration is an exciting adventure, and informational interviews are crucial for choosing your next best career move.
After you’ve done the hard work to narrow down your career options through self-reflection, career assessments, and/or career coaching, one of the best ways to learn about new careers, roles and work environments is to conduct informational interviews. Talk to people. Ask about their background, experience and credentials. Find out what they like about their job, and what they find challenging.
If you’re an introvert, our guess is that you would do anything to avoid reaching out to talk with people you don’t know. But it doesn’t have to be as daunting as you imagine. In fact, with the right mindset and a little practice, you may be surprised by how much you enjoy these conversations.
What Is an Informational Interview?
Informational interviews are career research conversations. An integral part of your career exploration, informational interviews are a great way for you to gain insights into different careers from an insider’s perspective.
By engaging in these conversations, you’ll increase your understanding and gain a wealth of knowledge about industries that interest you and roles within them. You’re listening and learning, asking questions about the person’s professional experience, and getting advice about how to break into the field.
When you ask for an informational interview, you are giving the person a great compliment. Let them know that you honor and respect their career journey and you’d like to ask a few questions to help you make important decisions about your next career move. People like to talk about themselves and give advice and rarely get the chance. They appreciate you asking!
Following is a small sampling of the questions you might ask during an informational interview:
How do you spend your time at work?
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What do you find challenging?
What’s it like to work for this particular company/organization?
What experiences best prepared you for your job?
Which trade or professional associations have you found most useful?
How does the future look?
What’s a typical entry level position?
What changes have you seen over the course of your career?
Has anything surprised you over the course of your career?
In addition to gathering information, these conversations create new pathways and expand your professional network. We had one client who decided to make a career pivot from retail sales to museum exhibition planning. During a 6-week period, he spoke with 30 professionals in the field, and even met with a Director at the Art Institute of Chicago.
How did he set these conversations up? By sending gracious, succinct, complimentary emails, asking for information and advice. People were happy to help him because they got the same kind of help and support when they started their careers. He stayed in touch with everyone and nurtured these trusting and respectful relationships. The beauty of this process is that after he completed his training, he let his network know. He found out about and interviewed for a job before it was posted and got hired. He couldn’t be happier.
The more people you know, the wider the net you cast when you’re actively searching for a job. One of the most important questions you can ask at the end of an informational interview is, “I’d love to continue exploring. Can you think of anyone it makes sense for me to talk with?” In this way, you always have warm referrals and can continue reaching out to professionals you’d like to meet.
Related post: Networking During a Pandemic
Remember – you are not asking for jobs. Instead, you are asking for advice and information. The people you meet during informational interviews may not know of any openings at their organization, and that doesn’t matter. When they hear of an opportunity (even if it’s three or six months later), guess whose name will come to mind? Yours.
Why Do Introverts Find Informational Interviews Challenging?
Contrary to stereotypes, introverts aren’t necessarily quiet or shy. And they don’t dislike people!
Introverts like meeting new people — at the right time and in the right doses. Compared to their more extroverted counterparts, they may appear more reserved, but that’s because they usually prefer collecting their thoughts before sharing them, especially in new situations.
They do, however, recharge their energy by spending time alone; spending too much time around people (even people they really like), drains their batteries.
By contrast, extroverts are energized by being around people and thrive on interpersonal interaction. They’re the ones who usually initiate conversations, and sustain them, too.
Awkward pauses? Extroverts fill them. Introverts may notice them, but often are too busy navigating their own thoughts to know how to handle them.
These factors combine to make informational interviews less than appealing to introverts. But these conversations don’t have to be uncomfortable. In fact, introverts can learn to manage — even enjoy — career research conversations.
3 Ways for Introverts to Approach Informational Interviews with Ease
1. Balance preparedness with flexibility.
It’s always a good idea to do your homework before engaging in an informational interview. Learn all that you can about the industry, company and person so you can ask targeted, informed questions. Everyone’s time is valuable; don’t waste it by asking questions you could’ve learned the answers to on LinkedIn or by doing a Google search.
If you’re an introvert, you might want to take it a step further. Based on what you’ve learned in your research, what specific (tailored) questions will you ask? Write them down. Use these notes to help you a) lead the conversation with purpose; b) maximize the use of your time together; and c) remember to ask all the questions you intended to.
You want these conversations to be enjoyable and authentic, so don’t use your questions as a fixed script. Be flexible and open to learning things you didn’t know that you didn’t know. See where the discussion naturally flows. And go with it!
2. Relax.
As an introvert, you might feel awkward about taking someone’s time. People generally like talking about themselves and their experiences, especially when it can help someone learn about a career, role or company.
What kinds of things do you do to relax before meeting new people or going to a big party? Engage in one or two of these rituals 15 minutes before your informational interview. Maybe you’ll do some deep breathing exercises, play with your dog or cat, take a quick walk around the block … or whatever else helps you relax. Some people find that the “power pose” that Amy Cuddy shares in her TED talks helps build their confidence and boosts their chances of success.
Keep the goal of the conversation in mind – to build a trusting professional relationship. You’re not asking if they know of any jobs. Rather, you are looking for advice, information, and referrals. Listen and learn. Make a new connection with another human being. Someday you might work together. You never know what the future will bring!
3. Build your extrovert muscle.
Introversion and extroversion are personal style preferences. And everyone has the potential to operate outside their natural tendencies.
Related: Let Your Natural Abilities Lead the Way
Incorporate self-management strategies to make the process easier. For example, as an introvert, you probably won’t want to book back-to-back meetings. Build a buffer into your schedule to replenish your energy between these conversations, whether they take place in person, by phone or over a video platform like Zoom.
Take advantage of this opportunity to skill-build around talking to new people. Informational interviews may feel awkward at first, but like any skill, the more you practice, the better — and more comfortable — you’ll become.
Leaving your comfort zone opens the door to new experiences and relationships. And who knows … that door may very well lead to your next career move!
A sound strategy is the foundation of a successful job search.
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