1. Getting to Know Both You and Me:
The Key to Successful Informational
Interviews
Angelique Torres
May 14th
, 2011
The Career Place, Woburn, MA

2. Introductions
 What is your name?
 What has been your experience with
informational interviews?
 What would you like to get out of the
workshop today?

3. Learning Objectives
 Understand that informational interviews are
a part of your overall job search strategy
 Define informational interviews
 Apply techniques to conduct successful
informational interviews in your job search
 Commit to at least one action as a takeaway

4. Job Search Box
Online Job Boards
Career Fairs
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking
Networking

5. Outside the Box: Networking
 Career Centers
 Informational Interviews
_______________________________________
 Internships
 Professional Organizations
 Social Networking Sites
 Temporary Positions
 Volunteer Opportunities

6. Definition: Informational
Interviews
 An informational interview is an
interview with the purpose of gaining
information about an industry, company,
career path, and/or yourself.

7. Guidelines
 You are not asking for a job

8. Guidelines
 Always make an appointment

9. Guidelines
 Do your homework

10. Guidelines
 Prepare questions and take the lead

11. Guidelines
 Dress professionally

12. Guidelines
 Respect your contact’s time

13. Guidelines
 Ask for referrals

14. Guidelines
 Thank them

15. Guidelines
 Keep in touch

16. Exercise: Informational
Interview Role Play
In pairs, please do the following:
- Using the sample questions provided,
ask you partner some questions for 10
minutes then switch roles.
- Report back to the group one key
takeaway you learned from the other
person.

17. Key Takeaways
 Informational interviews should be a
part of your overall job search strategy
 They are a great way to learn about
potential employers and yourself
 They can lead to job prospects

18. Thank You!
Questions?