| Informational interviewing can play a
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| | Gaining an Appointment:
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| pivotal role in building one's network to
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| | Contact the person with whom you wish to
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| assist in penetrating the hidden job
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| | meet either by letter or telephone.
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| market and unadvertised job prospects,
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| | Introduce yourself and explain the reason
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| but unfortunately is often a tool that is
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| | for your contact. If you were referred to
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| ignored in a job seeker's career and job
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| | this contact by someone else, remember to
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| search campaign.
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| | mention that person's name at the
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| Informational interviewing is a
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| | beginning of the call. Use the following
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| 'fact-finding exploration' that will
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| | script as a guideline:
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| assist a job seeker in identifying an
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| | "Hello, my name is [name]. I'm currently
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| optimal place of work that is conducive
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| | exploring career options in [industry
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| to their skills, motivation and talent,
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| | role] and was given your details by [name
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| thus positioning them for continued
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| | of person who referred you] for the
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| growth and fulfilment within their
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| | possibility of obtaining further
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| careers.
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| | information about this field and how you
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| Conducting informational interviews will
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| | got started in the industry. I'd love to
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| allow a job seeker to pinpoint their
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| | be able to meet with you briefly and will
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| strengths and requirements for further
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| | only take about 10-15 minutes of your
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| development, while also providing an
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| | time."
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| opportunity to build their confidence and
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| | If you are greeted with apprehension or
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| communication skills, both crucial for
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| | the comment "Is it possible to do this by
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| forthcoming job interviews.
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| | phone?" you may like to respond with
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| Neglecting to implement this critical
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| | "Certainly - although it would be an
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| research and screening tool within their
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| | honour to meet with you personally."
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| job search sadly can lead to a job seeker
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| | Remember, avoid being pushy - a telephone
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| discovering their discontentment after
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| | meeting will also allow you to gather
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| they have accepted a job offer, or worse,
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| | pertinent information.
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| are working within the role.
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| | The Informational Interview Meeting:
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| Therefore, if a particular role or
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| | Just as if you were attending a job
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| industry is of interest to you, go and
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| | interview, your appearance/attire and
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| check it out first by meeting with the
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| | your approach should be professional
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| people who are already performing in
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| | throughout the entire meeting.
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| these roles to establish whether or not
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| | Ensure you are well prepared bringing
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| this career path not only interests but
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| | with you your questions, a pen and
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| suits you.
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| | notebook to jot down the information
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| Benefits of Informational Interviewing:
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| | being offered.
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| It is important not to confuse
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| | Possible Research Questions:
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| informational interviewing with a job
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| | - What background do you believe is
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| interview. You are not interviewing for a
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| | necessary for people working in this
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| role, nor should you ever, under any
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| | field?
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| circumstances, ask for a job.
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| | - Could you outline current issues and
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| By conducting an informational interview
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| | trends associated with this industry?
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| you should:
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| | - Can you describe what you believe a
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| - Gain a deeper understanding of the job
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| | typical working environment is like for
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| specifications (beyond the job title);
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| | this industry?
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| - Enhance your awareness of the company's
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| | - Describe what a typical working day
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| culture and how you may/may not fit into
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| | involves for you.
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| the work environment;
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| | - Could you list some of the crucial
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| - Expand your network of contacts within
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| | skills required for this role/industry?
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| the industry thus optimising your
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| | - What would you say would be the top 5
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| targeting 'the hidden job market';
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| | aspects of your role?
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| - Strengthen your understanding of the
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| | - What would be the least favourable
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| company's structure and possible needs so
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| | areas about your role?
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| that in the future, should an employment
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| | - What advice would you give someone
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| opportunity present itself, you can
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| | looking to enter this industry/role?
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| better position yourself as a top
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| | - Could you recommend any industry
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| candidate;
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| | publications or articles where I could
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| - Network with professionals in a
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| | gather further information?
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| relatively low-stress setting to assist
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| | - Are you able to provide names of people
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| you in building your self-confidence
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| | I could talk to regarding the industry?
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| while gaining crucial information you can
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| | Would you mind if I used your name as a
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| harness during your job search campaign;
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| | referral?
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| - Screen the organisation to assist you
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| | You may consider bringing a copy of your
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| in your decision making process, should
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| | resume and request the person to review
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| you be extended an opportunity for
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| | it at a later stage to provide feedback
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| employment in the future.
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| | on its content and format. This will
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| Getting Started:
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| | provide you with another perfect
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| Begin by developing a list of people you
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| | opportunity to touch base with them.
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| would be interested in speaking to. These
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| | Leave your business card and request a
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| may include people already in your
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| | business card from the person you are
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| network of contacts, or even a company
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| | meeting.
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| you would consider working for. This is a
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| | Final thoughts:
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| great opportunity to expand your network
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| | Remember, be respectful of the person's
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| of contacts so don't be afraid to touch
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| | time and stay within your allocated time
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| base with people you are not yet
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| | guidelines. Do not ask for a job; nor be
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| acquainted with.
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| | too aggressive in your questioning
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| While in-person meetings are ideal,
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| | approach.
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| conducting informational interviews over
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| | Thanks you's:
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| the phone can be just as beneficial in
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| | Following the (in-person / telephone)
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| your research. Many people are governed
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| | meeting send a thank you letter,
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| by hectic schedules so a 10-15 minute
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| | expressing your gratitude for their time
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| phone call may not seem as potentially
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| | and valuable information he/she shared.
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| disruptive as a face-to-face meeting.
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| | Continued success!
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