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Preparing for an Informational Interview

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Doing Research Before the Interview For an informational interview to be truly effective, you can’t just go into it blindly. A thorough agency/prospective employer research is an absolute necessity when you go on a regular job interview. You don’t have to do quite as much research for an informational interview but some degree of research will greatly enhance the quality of informational interviews. If you are informed about the agency/prospective employer, you will be able to ask more intelligent and relevant questions. You will respond thoughtfully to information and any questions the interview might put to you. You won’t ask questions that could easily have been answered by doing your homework. A number of great resources are available for agency/prospective employer research, many of them right at your fingertips on the Internet. Confirming Your Appointment Call on the day before the interview to confirm your appointment with the contact person. If you have questions regarding the location of the contact’s office, this is the time to ask. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early for the interview. Carry a small notebook and pen. Be polite and professional. Refer to your list of prepared questions; stay on track but allow for spontaneous discussion. Dressing Appropriately for an Informational Interview Be prepared to make a good impression and to be remembered by the employer. Dress as you would for a regular job interview. Bringing a Resume to the Interview Bring a copy of your resume along with you and be prepared to present a copy of it, if necessary. Try to find out about specific characteristics or qualifications that employers seek when hiring. Taking Notes During the Interview Pretend you are a reporter. You don’t need to write down everything but there may be names, phone numbers or other information that you may want to remember. Be enthusiastic and show interest. Employ an information dialogue during the interview. Be direct and concise with your questions and answers and do not ramble. Have good eye contact and posture. Be positive in your remarks and reflect a good sense of humor.