Conduct An Informational Interview

Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as you can about the industry and career you're seeking a job in from people who are already in that career.

Many job seekers don't conduct informational interviews because the purpose of this type of interview is NOT to ask for a job. But, when you talk with people in your area of interest, you establish rapport with them, get salary ranges for the position and hopefully, have your name passed along to the hiring manager when there is an opening in their company.

Conducting an informational interview can be a very powerful job seeking tool for you. As you conduct these interviews, you're:

  • Establishing several important contacts
  • learning more about the industry you want to work for
  • and getting your name out there before anyone else in case a job opens up.

    • You can also take the information you gathered from these informational interviews and apply them to a regular one-on-one job interview. For example, you'll be able to negotiate your salary better because you found out beforehand what the salary range was for the job you're seeking.

    The informational interview is almost like a hidden secret for job hunting success, since so few people use this technique. Get the advantage over other job seekers by adding this powerful tool to your job search.

    Michelle Roebuck provides job interview tips and resume writing advice at her website http://www.job-interview-and-resume-tips.com

    Sign up for her Free newsletter at http://www.job-interview-and-res ume-tips.com/newsletter.html

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Which Half Are You?

    When more than half of Americans were identified as overweight,... Read More

    How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews

    Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts... Read More

    Writing Powerful Resumes ? 10 Golden Rules

    Your resume is your sales letter. It may not get... Read More

    How to Survive in Business Long Enough to Win

    As a former human resources professional it has always intrigued... Read More

    Job Search: The End of the Line

    There is an end to the job search tunnel!It has... Read More

    Make em READ Your Cover Letter Using This Killer Secret!

    Got your attention? Great. That was my intention. Who wouldn't... Read More

    Are You a Nice Person? What Companies are Looking for in Recruiting and Retaining Great People

    Hal Rosenbluth, author of The Customer Comes Second, states; "In... Read More

    10 Tips For Writing A Professional Résumé

    1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics... Read More

    Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success

    Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment SuccessBefore... Read More

    The Surefire Way To Getting A Pay Raise

    If you are working for someone else, it is important... Read More

    Expose Lies on Resumes

    Purpose: Learn about the new Polygraph for management hiresHis heart... Read More

    Work Attitude Ethics For Progress

    This "fruit for thought" article is for all human beings,... Read More

    Sweeping Up Worms

    With the opening of a new venture and numerous reporters... Read More

    How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview

    Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More

    Self-Preservation Techniques For The Unemployed

    Looking for work can be difficult, frustrating, anxiety-provoking, and demeaning.There... Read More

    Integrity At Work - How Do You Show Up?

    As the business sections of today's papers and magazines read... Read More

    Telecommuting Cover Letters

    Question: How do I market myself online?Answer: With a stellar... Read More

    Recruiters for MSN or Data Miners?

    Is Kenexa recruiting for Microsoft or just mining for data?I... Read More

    The Night Worker

    In the process of musing about our perennially awake world... Read More

    Searching for a Federal Job

    Many years ago searching for a federal job was a... Read More

    How to Make Money as a Reflexologist

    Being a reflexologist is one of the top five career... Read More

    Career Job Satisfaction - Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!

    Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!We can... Read More

    Whats Stopping You from Getting Your Next, Good Job?

    This question comes up often when I'm working with someone... Read More

    Gray Hair, Black Prospects

    If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have... Read More

    7 Steps to Effective Communication

    The success of any business or organization depends largely on... Read More

    How to Overcome Being Overqualified

    Have you ever gone through the interview process, felt confident... Read More

    Why a Professional Resume?

    As a job search tool your Resume is your main... Read More

    Match, Meet, and Mesmerize at a Job Fair

    Are you considering another trip through the career maze? Attending... Read More

    60 Hour Work Weeks - Can You and Your Career Survive Them

    In the 80s while I was an account executive for... Read More

    How To Get That Promotion

    If you're looking for that promotion or pay rise then... Read More

    Job Search: Age-Proofing Your Resume

    Older job hunters fear interviews where their age cannot be... Read More

    What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job

    Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic and... Read More

    During Midlife Change: Are You a Jumper or a Clinger?

    Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife... Read More