Informational Interviews
These are a great idea because they allow your student to shadow someone in that specific position in which he or she is interested, as that person is doing their job. This will allow your student to see what it’s actually like to work in that position, in that field –to learn what one really does, and this gives insight into whether your student would really like that career.
The purpose of an informational interview is to get information about a field of work from someone who has some firsthand knowledge. This is NOT a job interview, although it could lead to a job offer, as it helps your student build networks as well.
Who Should Your Student Interview?
Your student needs information; therefore he or she should find someone who has that information. Anyone is fair game as long as that person is knowledgeable about the field in which he or she is interested. Ask friends, relatives, fellow students, teachers, and neighbors if they know someone who works in the targeted field. People love to talk about themselves and what they do.
What You Need to Know Before the Interview
Questions
As previously mentioned, your student should research the career of interest in order to ask intelligent questions. Was there something mentioned in the occupational information she didn't fully understand? The informational interview is a good forum to get that clarified. Here is a small sampling of questions your student should ask:
- Describe a typical day at work.
- How many hours do you normally work in a week?
- What do you see as the potential for growth in this field?
- What can I do now to help me find employment in this field?
Remind your student that this is not a job interview; it’s an information gathering exercise. Still, he or she needs to be friendly, serious, and polite because this is also an excellent chance to make connections and build networks that may come in handy later, should he or she choose to pursue this field.
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