How to Prepare for an Interview

Most job candidates are focused on preparing for and attending specific job interviews. But there is another type of interview that shouldn’t be neglected, the informational interview. An informational interview is meeting with an influential person not about a specific job opening, but to discuss a company, an industry, a type of job function, etc.

Informational interviews are easier to get scheduled because you are asking for guidance, something that is easy to provide. Many individuals are more than happy to participate in this type of discussion. They want to help others be successful.

There are 4 important advantages that you can gain by participating in an informational interview. These advantages are:

1. Gain valuable insight about a company or an industry. This information will be most helpful when interviewing for a job because your competition is less likely to have it.
2. Learn the ins and outs of a specific job function. This will help you determine if that type of job is a good fit for your desires and skill sets.
3. Get specific suggestions about your own qualifications. If the interview has gone well, you can ask for some specific suggestions on how you can better position yourself for future employment. You should only ask if you feel that the interviewee will be receptive to such a request.




4. Secure an introduction to others. Again, if the interview has gone well you can ask for introductions to others that may be able to provide additional insight. The ultimate introduction would be to a hiring manager with a specific job opportunity.

You may not gain all 4 advantages in a single encounter but you should be able to get the first or second because one of those is probably the basis of the interview. In order to maximize the benefits of an informational interview you must prepare just as thoroughly as a job interview. See How to Prepare for an Interview – 8 Critical Steps for more detail.

Because the premise of the interview is not about you your preparation should emphasize; 1) research, 2) formulating questions to ask, 3) making a positive impression, and 4) practicing your interview skills. You still want to be prepared with your own success stories in case you are asked to describe yourself. While it doesn’t happen often, sometimes an informational interview will become a job interview. So you want to be prepared for that situation.

Seek out informational interviews because the advantages they provide can give you an edge over your competition when competing for a specific job you desire.

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