If you are transitioning from the military soon and looking for a civilian career, informational interviews are a great way to research a new career path. Read on to learn more about informational interviews, including how to set them up, the best questions to ask, which ones to avoid, and the benefits of conducting an informational interview.
What are informational interviews?
Informational interviews are informal conversations between job seekers and professionals in their desired field. They are used to gain insight into a particular industry or job role and can also be a networking opportunity. Informational interviews are not job interviews, and they are not designed to look for opportunities within the specific company. Their objective is to help you perform preliminary research in a specific career or field.
What are the benefits to informational interviews?
Informational interviews are extremely beneficial. For military job seekers who may have very little or no civilian experience, they allow you to gain an understanding of a particular field or career. They can help you gain insider knowledge that can help you with writing your resume and cover letter, as well as giving you pointers when interviewing for similar roles. Informational interviews can help to initiate a professional relationship, expand your network of contacts in a specific career field, and help you meet people who may in turn send you job opportunities in the future.
How do you set up informational interviews?
When setting up informational interviews, think about the goal in your approach. If you are more interested in a particular company, it would make sense to reach out to professionals at the specific company. If you are interested in a specific job type or field, research people who have experience in your career path or industry.
The best way to conduct this particular research is to utilize LinkedIn. Send a respectful, professional, and polite private message or email requesting an informational interview. If you have mutual connections or contacts, you can even have that person introduce you to the connection to make the initial contact. Check out our blog post for more tips on how to leverage LinkedIn in your job search.
What are some good tips when conducting an informational interview?
Keep in mind these specific tips when conducting your own informational interviews:
Be prepared
Even though informational interviews are informal, it doesn't mean that you should go in without preparing anything. Do your homework and study up on industry trends, certain lingo, company leaders, and more. Don’t waste your time asking questions that you could just have easily asked Google!
Keep it short
This is not the time and place to launch into a lengthy description of your own industry experience or goals. Be respectful of the person’s time and try to keep the interview between 15 to 30 minutes. While it’s important to introduce yourself and your career aims, keep it simple and succinct.
Be polite
The goal of an informational interview is to present yourself in a positive light and to open yourself up to new opportunities. Be sure to thank them for their time in talking to you about their career, and as mentioned before, be respectful of the person’s time. Remember that the person isn’t meeting out of professional obligation, but as a favor to you.
Follow-up
Just as you would write a thank you letter to an interviewer for a position, it’s equally important to write a thank you note or email to the person you met with for your informational interview. This should be sent very soon after the interview; typically by the end of the day or the next day at the very latest. Be sure to thank the informational interviewee for their time and valuable insight.
What are the best questions to ask in an informational interview?
Some of the best questions to ask in an informational interview include:
- How did you come to pick this occupation?
- How did you get your start in this field?
- What is your typical day like?
- Is this position fairly typical, or is it different in any way based on the size of the company or in this particular industry?
You’ll also want to discuss the potential negatives, as well. Don’t shy away from asking sensitive questions such as:
- What are the worst parts of your job?
- What didn’t you know before you got into this industry that you wish someone had told you?
If you feel that this specific industry and career is a good fit for you, ask questions that could potentially position yourself for a job in the industry, including:
- Based on what you know about my background, what do you see as my weaknesses?
- What do I need to do to allay concerns for a potential hiring manager?
Which questions should you avoid in an informational interview?
There are some questions that should be avoided in an informational interview setting:
Don’t ask about their salary
Typically, delicate topics such as salary should be avoided. If you’re very curious, you can phrase the question to something like, “I’ve done some research online, and it seems like that the typical salary range is this,” which seems like you’re confirming public knowledge, instead of boldly asking for a number.
Don’t ask if the employer or company is hiring right now
The goal of the informational interview is to gain information, not a career. If you turn around and ask for a job, the person may feel as though you set up the meeting under false pretenses.
Job search resources from Orion Talent
An informational interview is a great way to start your job search, especially if you are transitioning from the military into a civilian career or a veteran looking for a career change. It can help you figure out which direction you’d like to pursue as a career path and which industry would be the best fit for you. Once you’ve established a good career fit with an informational interview, the next step is to start preparing for the next step in your career.
Orion Talent offers a comprehensive transition resource library to help you make the bridge from your military life to civilian employment. We offer step-by-step guidance and instructions on every aspect of the process, from planning for your transition, resume writing, interview prep, and beyond.
If you’re ready to begin your search for a new career, register on our site today to get started.
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