Informational Interviews

1. COMM 202: Career Fundamentals: Tutorial 7
Theo Guevara
T08 & T15

2. 10% of your
course mark

3. 1. Nailing the Informational Interview
2. Interview Stream
3. Action Items
Agenda

4. Tutorial:
Informational
Interview
What’s due:
• Final Draft of
Resume & CL: Nov
6th 11:59pm on
Turnitin and COOL
Lecture:
Interview Prep
What’s due:
• Networking Event:
Nov 13th 6pm – 8pm
in CPA Hall. Attend
your assigned
timeslot!
• Info Interview date
and time confirmed
Last Tutorial:
Interview Questions
What’s due:
• Networking Reflection
Assignment: Nov 22nd
11:59pm on Turnitin
• Interview Stream by
Nov 26th for bonus
marks
Course Timeline
WEEK 10 WEEK 11 WEEK 12

5. Networking Event Details
• Tuesday, November 13th @ CPA HALL
• NOTE: New system this year
• If you are in Tutorial 1-10, attend the
networking event from 6PM – 7PM
• If you are in Tutorial 11-20, attend
the networking event from 7PM –
8PM
• Delegates will stay for entire 2 hour
duration.
Please attend your
correct time slot, as
we will check your
tutorial section
during sign-in.

6. Nailing the Informational Interview

7. What’s the Point?
• Not sure what to option in?
Considering a double option?
• Want to know how to get into
a certain field?
• Want to learn what it’s
ACTUALLY like to work in a
certain field?
Information interviews
are an excellent way to
explore different career
paths, jobs, options and
industries

8. What Can an Informational Interview
Look Like?
• In person at a coffee
shop or the
professional’s office
• Over Skype, Google
Hangouts
• Over the phone

9. What Can an Informational Interview
Look Like?
• In person at a coffee
shop or the
professional’s office
• Over Skype, Google
Hangouts
• Over the phone

10. • Someone you met at a
networking event /
company information
session
• LinkedIn network (2nd or 3rd
degree connections)
• Alumni – leverage the
BCC’s network*
Who Can You Ask?
*For the COMM202 assignment, family
members, professors, faculty, current
UBC students are NOT allowed

11. Story Time!
• Going through CPA recruit in second year
• Met a Deloitte recruiter
• Got really nervous, thought I made a bad impression
• Connected via email to get coffee anyway

12. Didn’t get the
position, but got a
really good
friend/mentor

13. • 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 the email 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
Things to Include in the Email

14. Activity Time!
You thoroughly enjoyed the COMM 202 networking event!
Specifically, you are happy because you had a great conversation
with Sally, who is a Financial Analyst working at TELUS. Sally
shared a lot about the job and what the culture is like at TELUS
and you two bonded over playing recreational volleyball. Sally
gave you her business card.
Partner up with the person beside you (or alone!) to draft a
Coffee Chat request email to Sally and include what you would
say.
I’ll be picking a couple people to share what they have. ☺

15. Activity Time!
Sally agreed to have coffee with you next Friday.
Partner up with the person beside you (or alone!) to draft a 5
different questions you want to ask her.
I’ll be picking a couple people to share what they have. ☺
Job/Role
Related
Common
Interest
Industry, and
or Company
Advice

16. BEFORE THE
MEETING

17. Do Your Research
• Their company
• Their major skill sets
(job title)
• Work history
• Accomplishments
• Associations
• Common interests
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• Internet search
• LinkedIn, Twitter,
Instagram (?)
• Their personal
website
• Ask mutual
friends/connections
•
WHERE TO FIND INFO

18. Prepare Questions
Job/Role
Related
Common
Interest
Industry/Co
mpany
Advice

19. Sample Questions
• 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?
• How did you get into the industry?
• What is PepsiCo doing to adapt to increasingly health-conscious
consumers?
• What advice do you have for someone starting out?
• Who do you look up to?
• If you could change one thing…what would that be?
• I noticed on your LinkedIn you were part of Leaders of Tomorrow
Program last year. I’m in the program this year. How was your
experience?
Job/Role
Related
Company/Industry
Advice
Common
Interests

20. 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.
• If you know what they want,
then feel free to buy the coffee!
• Be present. Don’t be distracted and
on your phone while you wait.

21. DURING THE
MEETING

22. During the Meeting
• Thank them for their time.
• Take charge – you’re the one who called the
meeting! Remind them why you wanted to
meet in the first place.
• Bring a notebook, ask if it’s okay to take
notes.
• 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.
• 15 mins in, ask if they are okay to continue.

23. Reminders During the Meeting
• Eye contact, smile, handshake, thank you
• Dress the part
• Pay attention to body language
• If you are taking notes, make sure you’re not too focused on the notebook.
• Offer your opinions!
• Be curious
• Respect their time
• Who pays?

24. 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:
• Maintaining eye contact; not looking
elsewhere while they’re talking (DO
NOT check your phone)
• Asking relevant follow up questions

25. 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’d like to…’, ‘I believe...’
• Keep it short, positive and focused

26. “I Owe You”
“Is there anything
I can do for you?”
Offer them help in
some way, and
they will be more
likely to want to
help you.

27. AFTER THE
MEETING

28. Follow 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

30. LinkedIn – Kind Stranger Story
This is after she’s accepted my invitation.

31. Outside of Network
• Search up those who…
• Has previously done the same
job
• Works in the same company
• Works in the same
department
• Be flexible
• Acknowledge they may be
busy
• Offer phone/Skype/email as
options
Just reach out! The worse thing that
can happen is the person doesn’t
Kind stranger

32. What if they say no?
• Judge the situation…
• What position are they?
• What type of
relationship/rapport have
you developed so far?
• Offer the option to stay in
touch and reach out later
• Be patient and think about
the long term! VP of HR for Joey Restaurants

33. Rest of the story…
• Ena got the Sales Co-op job at PepsiCo Sept
2016
• Ena kept in touch with Belinda
• Belinda re-joined PepsiCo HR January 2017
• Ena reached out for HR shadowing (as prep
to apply internally)
• Ena + Belinda becomes co-workers 4
months later

34. 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

35. 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 Dec. 14
11:59 PM on
Turnitin
Worth 7.5%

36. 2. Interview Stream

37. Interview Stream – Optional
• Good practice tool for interviews
• Practice answering interview
questions
• Go back and review your recording to
see what was good and where to
improve
• 5 general questions will pop up on
the screen and then your webcam will
record your answer
• Will NOT be graded and no one will
see your videos. But you can receive 1
bonus mark if used before November
26th!
Optional
assignment
due Nov 26th
for 1 bonus
mark

38. Action items for next week
1. Final Resume and Cover Letter: Due November 6th @
11:59pm on Turnitin and COOL.
1. Networking Event: Next Tuesday November 13th 6pm –
8pm* at CPA Hall. Final Sign up on COOL. Final
reflection due November 22nd 11:59pm on Turnitin.
*Go in your assigned timeslot
1. Confirm informational interview date and time.
1. See you in lecture next week (Wed/Friday only)!

39. Let’s stay in touch!
1. Email: comm202.10@sauder.ubc.ca
1. Tutorials: feel free to approach me before
or after
1. Office hours: available throughout the
term as assignments come up
Call me
maybe?

40. Questions? Have a great day!