COMM 202 - Tutorial 6 - Networking and Informational Interview

1. COMM 202
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
T27 & T29
with Ingrid Bakke

2. OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY
1. Course Timeline
2. Feedback
3. Networking
4. How to Nail the Informational Interview
5. Action Items

3. THIS
WEEK WEEK 10 WEEK 11
• Tutorial: Networking
and Informational
Interview
• Tutorial: Resume
and Cover Letter
pt. 2
• Networking Event:
March 14th 6pm-8pm
in CPA Hall. Attend
your assigned
timeslot!
• What’s Due: March
15th Resume and
Cover Letter Peer
Review
• Lecture: Interview
Preparation
• What’s Due:
• Final Resume and
Cover Letter March
22nd @ 11:59PM on
Canvas
• Interview Sign-up
March 22nd
@11:59PM
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S
COMING UP?

4. FEEDBACK

5. NETWORKING

6. NETWORKING EVENT DETAILS
• When: March 14th, 2019 from
6:00PM to 8:00PM
• IMPORTANT NOTE: There will
be two waves for the event,
with students attending
during the time slot they
signed up for. Please attend your correct time slot, as we will check your
tutorial section during sign-in.

7. NETWORKING REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT
Your paper needs to include:
1. Your goals in attending the event:
- What is your purpose in going? What do you want to know about Sauder
- Define SMART goals beforehand – how will you define the success of your evening?
2. How did you prepare for the event? (Research potential delegates)
- What was it about these delegates that motivated you wanting to talk to them?
3. Summary of who you spoke with and what you learned
4. Reflection in lessons you have learned about the networking process
5. Next steps you will take to continue building a relationship with you new contact (if you
plan to)

8. RESEARCHING DELEGATES
1. Check out delegate info on course blog
2. Skim Linkedin profiles of delegates you’d like to
speak to
- Note any interesting topics
- Hone in on similar experiences or shared groups
- Think about questions to ask
BE INTERESTED WITHOUT BEING CREEPY!

9. DRESS CODE
BUSINESS CASUAL
Business casual means less formal than business formal but still
professional. Generally speaking, business casual includes:
• Professional dresses or skirts, dress pants, chinos or khakis (but not
jeans or athletic pants for example).
• Sweaters, blouses, collared shirts with or without ties.
• Patterns and colours are acceptable as business casual (but not
hoodies, t-shirts/tank tops, or tops with slogans).
• Clothing should be crisp and not wrinkled.
• Footwear should still be professional for an office setting such as
loafers, dress shoes or boots, heels/pumps, or flats (e.g. not flip flops
or running shoes).

10. STARTING A CONVERSATION
Enter the
Circle
Ask
Questions
Introduction
Let Others Join
In

11. ENDING A CONVERSATION
Thank them
for their time
Be polite and
gracious
Ask to
connect after
the event
Leave with a
handshake

12. INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS

13. WHAT’S THE POINT OF
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS?
• Not sure what to option in?
Considering a double option?
• Want to know how to get into a
certain field?
• Want to learn what its
ACTUALLY like to work in a
certain field?
Informational interviews are an
excellent way to explore
different career paths, jobs,
options and industries

14. WHAT CAN AN INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEW LOOK LIKE?
1. In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office  This course
2. Over Skype, Google Hangouts
3. Over the phone

15. WHO CAN YOU ASK?
• Someone you met at a networking
event / company information
session
• Linkedin network (2nd or 3rd
degree connections)
•Alumni – Leverage the BCC’s
network*
•*For the COMM202 assignment,
family members, professors,
faculty, current UBC students
are NOT allowed

16. THINGS TO INCLUDE IN THE
EMAIL
• You’re a student
• How you heard about them or know them
• What you are looking to learn (their career
progression, advice on how to best leverage time at
Sauder, etc.)
• 15 - 20 minutes of their time
• Close by suggesting two times you are available to
meet (vs. yes or no answer)
• Tell them you’re willing to meet them at a location
most convenient for them (near their work, etc.) –
do not expect them to come to you

17. STORYTIME! STELLA’S 202
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
EXPERIENCE

18. SO HOW DID STELLA REACH
OUT TO LINDSAY?

19. HER RESPONSE:

20. HOW TO NAIL
YOUR
INFORMATIONA
L INTERVIEW

21. BEFORE THE MEETING: DO
YOUR RESEARCH
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
WHERE TO FIND
INFO
• Their company
• Know their major skill sets
• Work history
• Accomplishments
• Associations
• Common interests
• Internet search
• LinkedIn, Twitter, etc
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual contacts/connections

22. BEFORE THE MEETING:
PREPARE QUESTIONS
Examples:
• How did you get into the industry?
• What do you like most about your job and/or field?
• What is one challenge you’re currently facing at work?
• What do you need to do to become successful in this
industry?
• What should I be reading?
• What advice do you have for someone starting out?

23. WHAT QUESTIONS DID STELLA
PREP?
Common interests
(found on LinkedIn)
Job/role related
Advice

24. UPON ARRIVAL
• Arrive early! Better to not rush into the
meeting all frazzled because of time.
• Find a spot and wait, do not buy the
coffee first – wait for them to get there.
Don’t know what they prefer, if they
have allergies, etc.
• Be present. Don’t be distracted and
on your phone while you wait.

25. DURING THE MEETING

26. DURING THE MEETING
1. Thank them for their time
2. Take charge – you’re the one who called the meeting. Remind them
why they are here, and why you wanted to meet in the first place
3. Bring a notebook, ask if it’s okay if you take notes, take notes
4. Ask questions and listen to their responses fully – don’t feel like you
need to ask only the questions you prepared for. The best
conversations are those where questions flow naturally
5. 15 mins in, ask if they are okay to continue

27. DURING THE MEETING:
REMINDERS
• Eye contact, smile, handshake,
thank you
• Dress the part
• Pay attention to body language
• Bring a notebook and take notes
• Offer your opinions
• Be curious
• Respect their time
• Who pays?

28. DURING THE MEETING:
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
• Watch out for signals – have they closed their book or checked their phone? This
means they may need to head back to work and you should ask them if they are okay
to continue
• Acknowledge that they’re busy and you really appreciate them taking time out
of their day for you
• Active listening – essential for having a natural conversation. This looks like:
o Maintaining eye contact; not looking elsewhere while they’re talking (DO NOT check
your phone)
o Asking relevant follow up questions to what they say

29. TELL YOUR STORY
• What you would love to do for companies
• What problem have you identified that makes you
want to work in the industry
• Why you feel it’s important to talk to experts in the
field
• Use phrases like: ‘I like to…’, ‘I believe...’
• Keep it short, positive and focused
• ‘Now that you know a little more about me, do you
know anyone I can connect with for advice about
XYZ?’

30. MAGIC ‘I OWE YOU’
Offer them help in
some way, and they
will be more likely to
want to help you.

31. AFTER THE MEETING

32. FOLLOWING UP
• Send a thank you email
• Thank them for their time
• Mention something you talked about
• Mention when you will follow up with them
next

33. SAMPLE FOLLOW UP

34. THE REST OF THE STORY…
• Stella emailed Lindsay again two months later – Dec 2015
• Found out she decided to leave Lululemon after 5 years and move
back home to Toronto
• They said they would keep in touch and Stella wished her best of
luck
• They connected again over email in June 2016,
updating each other on our lives

35. THE REST OF THE STORY…
• When Stella landed her internship in Toronto, she updated her
LinkedIn headline (in March), and Lindsay saw it
• They caught up this past July in Toronto!

36. MAINTAINING YOUR
CONNECTIONS
• Keep them updated on
things you talked about during
the chat
• Comment on their activity on
LinkedIn (ex. if they got a
promotion)
• Setting up more coffee chats
if you have more questions in
the future

37. INFO INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT
Task: Conduct face-to-face info interview with industry professional
Deliverable: two-page summary covering:
• Contact details (name, company, title, phone, email)
• List of questions asked
• Major insights gained – What did you learn during your informational
interview?
• Did you request/receive any information regarding additional
connections?
• Follow up action – What will you do to maintain this connection?
• What are your next steps having conducted this information
interview?
• Screenshot of follow-up email
Two-page summary
Family members,
professors, staff, current
UBC students are NOT
allowed!
Due Apr. 5
@ 11:59
PM on
Canvas

38. ACTION ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK
1.Final Resume and Cover
Letter: Due March 22nd @
11:59PM on Canvas
2.Resume and Cover Letter
Draft: Peer review due March
15th 6PM - 8PM* at CPA Hall.
3.Confirm informational
interview date and time.
4.See you in tutorial next week!

39. QUESTIONS?
HAVE A WONDERFUL
WEEK!