Informational interviews: useful at every stage of your career
Many people view informational interviews as a helpful activity at the start of their career. “I got the job talking to someone who works for my company” is not an unusual observation. And yet — it is a tool that professionals at every stage of their career can use, it is not limited to the early years.
Career paths are increasingly non-linear and “traditional”. Human beings change and so do their professional preferences. A former management consultant trains to become a teacher and several years later, joins a startup. A baker starts his own wedding cake business. The World Economic Forum, a Geneva-based think tank that hosts the annual leadership talks in Davos, predicts that 97 million new jobs will be created by 2025. Some of the jobs we know today will cease to exist.
I have changed professional roles often. I organized international high-level policy dialogues, worked as a management consultant for banks, created a fashion brand. Staying curious and reaching out to other professionals to collect information about a professional activity has helped me on my path. It helped me prepare for my next step. For example, prior to launching the fashion brand, I interviewed founders of brands to develop a comprehensive view on what could go wrong and what their success stories were.
This is why I recommend conducting informational interviews at every stage of one’s career. Let me rephrase: “Talk to people whose job you find interesting”. One may not want to work in that role right away, but mapping a job’s requirements in terms of skill set and professional stage is helpful.
Every time you feel boxed in in your current role, interviewing another professional who works in your dream job inspires you.
By conducting informational interviews when you don’t depend on your interview partner for a job, you interact in a no pressure zone. You get to expand your professional network and can tap into this later on, when the time comes for changing roles.
This type of behavior is the equivalent of “smart networking”.
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
While doing so, it is important to remember the principle of reciprocity. Thank the person that graciously agreed to talk to you for 20 minutes about their role (and career path). Ask them if and how you can return the favor. Be open to others who ask you for a professional favor.
This is how I go about setting up informational interviews:
I identify the type of professional role I might be interested in in the next 2–3 years
Talk to friends and professional acquaintances about my interest: are they able to recommend a contact who currently holds this role? Can they introduce me?
Research the professional contact that was recommended (“do your homework”)
If no recommendation ensued from your network, identify a suitable professional via LinkedIn or other platforms (your school’s alumni network)
Craft a personalised message and send it to the person you’d like to interview (that shows you have done your homework)
Prepare 3–5 questions to ask during the conversation
Send a thank you note upon completion of the conversation.
I currently implement my own advice. For the past four years, I have been interested in careers in venture capital. A former startup founder, I have been exposed to professionals in the VC industry. I recently started conducting informational interviews with female venture capitalists. There is no rush — I am simply mindful of expanding my network and developing a realistic take of what is required for this role.
What is your experience?
Did you only conduct informational interviews at the beginning of your career?
Or do continue talking to professionals on a regular basis about their job?
Sources:
Rebecca Knight: “How to Get the Most Out of an Informational Interview”. Published on February 16, 2016. Harvard Business Review. Link.
Victoria Masterson: “From medicine drones to coral cleaners: 3 ‘jobs of the future’ that are already here”. Published on 25 May 2022. World Economic Forum website. Link.