What Makes Informational Interviews Essential

Section 1: Lisa's Journey

Development: The Essential Guide for April

Picture Lisa, a junior developer at a busy tech startup, at a point in her career where the future isn’t so clear-cut. Excited to transition into a more strategic role she’s overwhelmed with options. Lisa is introduced to the world of informational interviews one day when speaking with a mentor about her career aspirations. Intrigued but a little unsure, she says she will explore this approach more, hoping it might light her way forward.

The stage is set beautifully for Lisa to navigate the waters of informational interviews, a concept that has the power not just to help her broaden her professional network, but that can also bring clarity to what she wants in her career. Little does Lisa know that there’s lifelong value in these conversations, which are shaping her professional path.

Bringing It Back to Life & Your Own Experiences

To gather insights into potential career paths, Lisa musters the courage and books her first informational interview with a senior developer she admires. And the routine is casual — a cozy coffee shop — in which they riff on the minutiae of the tech industry and the skill sets that translate to landing a job in product management. At first, Lisa was nervous — unsure what to ask or how to guide the dialogue in a meaningful way.

Lisa tries to navigate new waters with skepticism, her team in watchful observer mode. The first two loan interviews are tricky: there are awkward pauses, and she struggles to write down her question clearly, and she’s overwhelmed by new information. But with every conversation, she grows in confidence and learns how to refine her approach.

As Lisa reflects on her experiences, she comes to understand that the secret to informational interviews isn t just the information you gain, but the relationships you build. She enjoys the process of learning about the many diverse paths in your industry that the conversationalists have taken. This insight changes her way of thinking from looking for clear answers and quick fixes to embracing the journey of discovery and education.

Key Insights &Actionable Takeaways

Best Practices

As Lisa navigates her journey, she identifies several strategies to make her informational interviews more effective:

• Do your homework: One thing Lisa learned was to do her homework on the person and their role prior, so she could ask intelligent questions and show she actually cared.
• Ask open-ended questions: Whatever profession you might be in, questions that allow for longer answers enable richer conversations and lead to more valuable results.
• Follow up with gratitude: A thank-you note doesn’t just express thanks; it keeps the relationship alive for future engagements.

Common Pitfalls

But Lisa also fell prey to some common mistakes that she says job seekers should avoid:

• Too formal: Overly rigid interviews can inhibit natural flow. But keeping it conversational can be more effective.
• Expecting a job offer: Trying for a job offer in an informational interview is like going fishing with a hot dog: It’s effective if there’s nothing else to eat in the sea.
• Listening too little: It is easy to be on a quest to get our questions answered, and forget that we should be listening too. Active listening is key.

Victory or Effective Aha Moment

The big moment for Lisa is when she attends an informational interview with a product manager at a top tech company. As they cover the nuances of product development, an “aha” experience occurs for Lisa. Her technical background plus an increasing understanding of user experience mean she is well-placed to shift towards product management.

This realisation empowers her as well as channelises her direction in her career.

In this newfound clarity, Lisa starts to build up her skills and career around her product management focus, successfully transitioning to a product management role in her company. The effect on her career is astounding; the tangible benefits which can come from informational interviews.

Career & Interview Insights Informational interviews served the dual purpose of helping Lisa find clarity and giving her stories and insights she could use during job interviews. For job candidates, these conversations can be a treasure trove of information that gives them an edge over the competition. Here’s how:

(Lisa is not shy about disclosing her experiences from informational interviews, which I used as career developmental leverage, in interviews.) For instance, she could say, “When I recently had an informational interview with a product manager, I learned about the importance of aligning product features with user feedback, and I used that insight to improve the user experience of our app.”

Job seekers are told by experts to frame these experiences as examples of their ability to learn and pivot. Emphasizing and showcasing how learnings from these interviews were used in real projects can help to woo potential employers.

Conclusion & Engagement with Readers

Lisa's experience with informational interviews highlights how powerful they can be for your career! From these conversations, job seekers find the clarity in what the path may look like, how to articulate being the candidate of the hour. However, by accepting them, Lisa not only moved through one of the career roadblocks, but she also experienced career growth.

We would love to hear about any informational interviews you have had, as well as your thoughts or questions about the process — please share in the comments. Wondering how to use informational interviews to kickstart your groundwork? Contact OfferGenie or check out our resources for more help.

Interested in what that looks like for you in terms of career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or connect with OfferGenie!