Fall semester is quickly coming to a close, which means that the holidays are upon us and your student will have almost one month off. Students can take advantage of this time to conduct informational interviews or engage in a day or two of job shadowing. Doing so is sure to enhance the chances of being employed or accepted into graduate school upon graduation, a target that I am sure you hope your student will hit.
Informational interviewing is basically an investigative conversation with a person who is doing what you aspire to do and usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes. It is NOT a job interview and should not be viewed as such. In this exchange, your student will ask questions about the professional’s career path and seek advice about the most effective strategies for entering the field. Professionals talk about themselves and their chosen path – something that most people really enjoy doing. Your student will have access to valuable nuggets of information that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn. Professionals “on the ground” can offer a real-time perspective of the job market and current hiring trends in their specific field, which is often more helpful than reading this information online. One way to think of this is that if a student or soon-to-be graduate asks a professional for an internship or job, they may get advice. But if they ask for advice, they may eventually get an internship or job out of the interaction.
Job shadowing takes the informational interview to the next level and allows the student to spend a half-day or an entire day observing a professional on-the-job, experiencing what it is like to work in a field or with a specific company. The student can observe meaningful work activity, the culture of the organization, and feel the flow of a typical workday. A request to shadow a professional should be made with adequate advance notice so that if needed, the professional has time to get approval to host a visiting student.
Specific benefits for students who do informational interviewing/shadowing include:
- Help clarify goals and develop effective strategies for reaching them
- Build confidence in their ability to discuss career interests/skills, and goals in preparation for future job interviews
- Expand their network of career-related contacts
- Find leads for conducting additional informational interviews
- Learn more about specific work settings or a specific employer
- Get advice about career search strategies within a specific industry
- Discover “hidden” internships and/or full-time opportunities
As a parent, you can be a valuable resource for your student by sharing your contacts and making suggestions about whom to approach. We encourage both students and parents to review the informational interviewing/job shadowing section of our website.
The Informational Interviewing Guide that is linked here is packed with information about how to identify people to interview/shadow, specific questions to ask, and tips for following up so the connection remains fresh and useful. Also, if your student would like to meet with a Career Advisor for guidance on how to conduct an informational interview over the holidays, please encourage him/her to schedule an appointment with us.