As we all navigate the ‘new normal’ that 2020 has thrown up, it’s clear that for many of us, our professional lives may never be the same again. You may be one of the almost 1 million people that has lost their job during the pandemic. You may currently be on furlough and wondering what will happen when the furlough scheme ends in October. There will be many people actively job hunting or thinking about career change options. It may be that you worked in retail but now feel it’s time to pivot into another area. You may have even been planning a career change before the pandemic.
Whilst the pandemic poses some challenges for job hunters and career changers, it is not impossible. Whilst many industries have been hit hard, many industries are actively hiring. Indeed there have been reports of people actually changing careers during the pandemic, forced to do so as a result of losing their jobs.
Whether you are looking for a new job as a result of losing your job or want to change career, the same rules apply. Make sure you update your CV, research the industry and brush up on your interview skills.
However if you are hoping to start a new career or move into a new industry, the informational interview should be part of your plan.
What is an Informational Interview?
The informational interview is a great way of find out more about a particlar job role, company or industry. It gives you a great opportunity to find out as much as you can about a particular role or industry in a relaxed and informal way. This is important if you want to move into a new role or industry but need more background on what it entails before making the leap. As well as being relaxed and less informal, they are also a great way of building your network. Ii will give you the opportunity to ask questions that you would not normally be able to ask in a regular interview.
Finding Interviewees
Once you have acsertained what you want to find out, the next thing to do is find people to interview. The first thing to do is look at your own network. You will probably have more contacts than you think you do. Speak to friends and family members. They may be able to connect you to relevant people. Or know someone that does. Look at your social media contacts, specifically Linkedin. If you are looking at a specific company, think about following that company online. You maybe able to connect with an employee and arrange an interview.
What Should You Ask At An Informational Interview?
Before your interview, really think about what you want to find out. Your aim is to find out more than you would get by an online search of the company. You are looking for ‘inside information’ on the role/company. So you need to make sure you are asking the right questions. Below are some examples
- How many hours does your interviewee work?
- What do they like the least about the role?
- What is the career progression path for this role?
- What are their responsibilities?
- What advice would they give to people taking this role?
- Are there any required qualifications for this role?
- What are the best and worst parts of the role/industry?
- What is the typical starting salary?
- How many years do people stay in this role before moving on?
This is not an exhaustive list and the questions will really depend on who you are talking to and what you are trying to find out. Make sure you reach out after the interview and thank them for their time. Don’t forget that this is also a chance to grow your network and make contacts.
Have you ever had an informational interview? Let us know how it went below!
