This document provides an overview and timeline for Week 10 of the COMM 202 course. It discusses informational interviews, including how to set them up, what to ask, and how to follow up. Key points include: 1. The timeline shows upcoming tutorials on informational interviews and interviews, as well as assignment due dates for resumes/cover letters and networking reflections. 2. Informational interviews are informal meetings to explore career options and industries. They can be done in person, by phone or video call. 3. Proper preparation includes researching the contact, coming up with relevant questions, and following up with a thank you. Strong communication and active listening are important for a successful meeting. 4

1. COMM 202 WEEK 10
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
T21 & T31
with Ingrid Bakke

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

3. HOW WAS YOUR WEEK(ND)?! (PLS GET THE JOKE)

4. THIS
WEEK WEEK 11 WEEK 12
• Tutorial: Informational
Interview & Interview
Stream
• Due: Resume and
cover letter due March
12th at 11:59pm on
Turnitin
• Networking event:
March 13th from 6-8pm
in CPA hall
• Lecture:
Interviews &
Emotional
Intelligence
• Due: Networking
reflections due
March 21st at
11:59pm on
Turnitin
• Last tutorial:
Employment
interview questions
• Due (optional for
bonus mark):
Interview stream by
Apr 2nd @ 11:59pm
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S COMING UP?

5. INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS
(AKA COFFEE CHATS)

6. 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

7. 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

8. STORYTIME! STELLA’S 202 INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE

9. HOW TO NAIL
YOUR
INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEW

10. 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.)
• 20 minutes of their time
• Close by suggesting two times you are available
to meet
• Tell them you’re willing to meet them at a
location most convenient for them (near their
work, etc.)

11. SO HOW DID STELLA REACH OUT TO
LINDSAY?

12. HER RESPONSE:

13. 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, Instagram(?)
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual contacts

14. 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?

15. WHAT QUESTIONS DID STELLA PREP?
Common interests (found on LinkedIn)
Relevant & specific Qs that show
interest and research
Job/role related

16. 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
3. Bring a notebook, ask if it’s ok 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

17. 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?

18. 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
o Asking relevant follow up questions to what they say

19. 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?’

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

21. 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

22. SAMPLE FOLLOW UP

23. 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

24. 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!

25. INTERVIEW STREAM

26. OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT & PRACTICE
TOOL: INTERVIEW STREAM
• 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 April
2nd!
Optional
assignmen
t due April
2nd for 1
bonus
mark

27. REMINDERS
1. Networking event reflection due
March 21st at 11:59pm on Turnitin
2. Set up informational interview (if not
done already)
3. Next week is lecture
4. TA email:
comm202.3@sauder.ubc.ca

28. QUESTIONS?
HAVE A WONDERFUL
WEEK!