Using informational interviews as a way of trying to get a job is misleading, and will possibly have the opposite effect
I entered the workforce a few months ago, and took an entry-level job to get my feet wet. I’m starting to think about what I want to do long-term, and have been looking into a few options. A few people have suggested conducting informational interviews with people working in different companies that interest me. To me, it sounds like a way to try to get into a company by pretending to be friendly with someone who works there. That just feels wrong. Also, even if this is a normal thing to do, I have no idea how to conduct an interview. Can you please explain to me how it works?
Looking for honest career growth
You are absolutely correct; using informational interviews as a way of trying to get a job is misleading, and will possibly have the opposite effect. The goal is to actually learn more about a job so you can decide if you’d like to pursue it.
Of course, many of us have conducted informational interviews without knowing there is an official term for it. You may have done this informally throughout your life. Making a choice using this informed process can easily help you bypass years of confusion. But I’ve seen many people make career choices without this easy step, simply because they don’t know how to go about it. Let’s demystify the process, so that you start off your career well-informed.
When I first heard this term, I pictured a small room with two people sitting in armchairs, conducting an official recorded interview. Instead, it’s more likely to be a phone call to a friend of your parents, where you’re getting to know more about what they do at work. It’s just a conversation you have with someone about a career path you’re considering, as part of your decision-making process.
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