Dear HPU Family Member,
The professional development journey of our students never stops, even during a global pandemic or while they’re on spring break. HPU is here, continuing to support the growth, development and opportunities for our entire study body. Today, let’s talk about how virtual informational interviewing is an important career development step that students can take part in now.
Learning from those who are established and experienced in a career field is an important opportunity for every student. We call it “Informational Interviewing” – an investigative conversation with a person who is doing what you aspire to do. We believe it is a critical part of a student’s personal and career development, and it is sure to enhance the chances of being gainfully employed upon graduation. Conducting informational interviews builds your professional network, which is the first step to starting a job search.
Professionals to consider contacting for the informational interviews are not limited to local professionals at one’s place of work. The interconnectedness of professionals around the world allows ease in reaching out to professionals via LinkedIn or personal leads. And with technological advances, informational interviews don’t just have to happen face-to-face. Conducting informational interviews over the phone or via video conference (like FaceTime or Skype) with professionals locally, across the nation or another part of the world can be just as valuable and advantageous.
Informational interviewing is NOT a job interview and should not be treated as such. In this exchange, typically about 45 minutes, students will ask questions about the professional’s career path and seek advice about the most effective strategies for entering the field. Students are asking professionals to tell their story, relate it to today’s job market, and offer to be a resource – a win for everyone. Most professionals are happy to do this and feel flattered when asked. They enjoy the chance to shine while offering valuable nuggets of information that otherwise may not be easily accessible.
Benefits for students who pursue informational interviewing:
- Help clarify goals and develop effective strategies for reaching them
- Build confidence while discussing interests, skills and goals; good preparation for future job interviews
- Expand network of career-related contacts – statistics suggest as much as 75% of jobs are developed and acquired through networking
- Find leads for conducting additional informational interviews/job shadowing
- Learn more about specific work settings or a specific employer
- Get advice about career search strategies within a specific industry; every industry has “insider” tracks which can lead to unadvertised internships and/or full-time jobs
Questions to ask during Informational Interviews:
- Can you tell me about a typical day at your job?
- How did you get started doing this type of work? How did you find your first job out of college?
- What advice would you give someone who wants to get started in this field?
- What specific education/training will I need?
- What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of your job?
- How do you see this industry changing? What are the emerging trends and specific jobs?
- What does your company look for when hiring? What strengths and characteristics do you value?
- Is there anyone else in the field that you would suggest I talk with? (this is networking)
As a parent, you can be a valuable resource for your student by sharing contacts and making suggestions about who to approach. You can also become familiar with our Informational Interviewing Guide. This guide explains how to identify people to interview, provides scripts of what your student can say in an email or phone call when initially reaching out, and includes tips for following up so that the professional connection remains fresh and useful (a well-written thank-you note is powerful).
A few additional steps that students can take to enhance the career exploration process:
- Embrace the fact that research, both internal and external, is key to identifying a career path and building your network.
- Attend career-related events on campus featuring successful HPU alumni and other outside guests; the HPU Access to Innovators series is a great place to start.
- Identify internships, volunteer opportunities, and summer experiences that will start the process of moving away from typical jobs that teens/college students hold and move the process towards building relevant, career-focused experiences.
As part of the BUA 1000 Introduction to Business Careers class, students are required to do informational interviews as well as a series of reflection assignments on various business careers. This paraphrased reaction to this assignment are testimony to the impact and value:
- “My interview with Ms. J was very rewarding, and I gained much more than just practical knowledge about her job. She told me that students should not get too hung up on their major, because your work and life experiences take you in so many different directions that you may end up falling in love with a career that you didn’t expect. Also, she stressed the importance of building your network. All the jobs that she had later in life happened because of her reputation, and most importantly, who she knew. Always be kind to those you meet; you never know who you may be talking to or who may positively impact your life down the road.”
The instructors of this class also hold panel discussions, bringing in community business leaders representing different business careers – accounting, finance, marketing, sales, project management, human resources, etc. The students write reflection papers after each panel, in the context of what might be a good career fit for them.
Any student who needs assistance with conducting an Informational Interview or identifying and developing their professional network can review the guide and reach out to schedule an appointment.