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How to conduct a formal Interview
How to conduct a formal Interview
You may be nervous about doing such an interview, but just about everyone is. Here are some TIPS for you.
Step One:
Decide
Step One:
Decide
Decide what job or field of work you want to learn about.
Step Two:
Identify
Step Two:
Identify
Identify the people to interview. Call the business and ask for the name of the person who is in charge of the unit, department, or the occupation that you are interested in.
Step Three:
Prepare
Step Three:
Prepare
Prepare for the interview. Read all you can about the job or industry before going to the interview.
You can look at the sector website or a company website for information. Decide what information is important to know about the job, and prepare a list of questions that you would like to have answered. Take the list with you to the interview. There are some suggested questions below.
Examples of questions to ask in an Informational Interview
Examples of questions to ask in an Informational Interview
Occupation Specific Questions
On a typical day in this position, what do you do?
What training or education is required for this type of work?
What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job?
What are the ideal qualifications for someone in this job?
What kind of education/training is needed for this position?
What part of this job do you find most satisfying? Most challenging?
How did you get your job?
How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future?
Is there a demand for people in this occupation?
With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before I make a final decision?
Career Questions
What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
What are the salary ranges for various levels in this field?
What are the basic education/training/experience prerequisites for jobs in this field?
What special advice would you give a person entering this field?
Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
What do you think of the experience I’ve had so far in terms of entering this field?
From your perspective, what are the problems you see working in this field?
If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why?
Step Four:
Set up the Interview.
Step Four:
Set up the Interview.
Contact the person by phone, message, or email to set up a time and place for the interview. Some interviews will be face-to-face, but others may be conducted over the phone. Ask to meet with the person for 15 to 30 minutes at the person’s convenience.
How to Ask for Help
How to Ask for Help
If you are going to ask on the phone or in person, try one of these, but practice before you do it for real:
"I am interested in finding out more about __________ and I thought you would be a good person to ask because ________."
"I'm looking for ideas about __________ and I thought of you as someone who might know _____________."
"I know you might be able to give me some good advice about ___________ because you ______________."
Do the Interview
Do the Interview
Do the interview. Dress suitably and arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the set time. In short, prepare the same as you would for an actual job interview. Refer to your list of questions, but don’t be afraid to let the conversation flow or to ask follow-up questions. Use your “Interview Notes” Worksheet (next page) to make notes either during or immediately after each interview. You may ask the person to suggest the names of others who might be able to provide you with more information. Keep your meeting to the amount of time that you requested.
Record
Record
Record what you've learned. Immediately after the interview record any relevant information to your "What I Found Out" Worksheet for that occupation.
Thank Them
Thank Them
Send a thank you note to each person you interviewed.
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