Page 26 - Carlson School GBCC Career Guide

Informational Interviews (continued)
• What you are seeking – state the amount of time you’d like to
talk, how you’d like to meet, suggested location, and times.
It is helpful to include a statement such as, “I recognize this may be a busy time for you, so if I don’t hear from you by [insert date], I’ll try to reach you again.” That takes the pressure off them and ensures you will not feel that you are bothering them. For ideas on how to request a meeting through email, see the samples
on page 30.
A face-to-face meeting is always preferred, though for an out-of- state contact you may request a phone conversation instead. If you meet over the phone, be sure to specify how much time you will take (generally 20-30 minutes is a good guide).
3 PREPARE for meeting
• Refine resume and positioning statement
• Research your interviewee, including his or her LinkedIn profile • Prepare questions
• Clarify goals
• Pack your portfolio, resumes, business cards, pens, etc.
4 EXECUTE meeting
An informational interview generally consists of five sections:
1 Build rapport. Before anything else, engage in some small talk with the contact. Be sure to thank them for their time.
2 State your purpose. You’ll want to provide more information about yourself, why you want to meet, what you hope to gain, and remind them of the length of the meeting. Take responsibility for managing the time so your contact doesn't need to try to end the conversation.
3 Ask focused questions. Learn about the industry, the company, and the contact. Be curious and thoughtful with your questions (see a suggested list on the next page). You are encouraged to take notes during this time.
4 Ask additional questions. End each meeting by asking who else your contact would suggest you approach to build your network, and always ask if it’s appropriate to mention that this person referred you.
5 Wrap-up the conversation. At the end, thank your contact again for his or her time and advice. Offer a brief summary
NETWORKING
of what you heard, and agree to any follow up tasks you’ve discussed. This would also be a good time to ask your contact if it would be acceptable for you to follow up in a few months to stay connected.
5
FOLLOW UP
Be sure to send at least one formal and substantive thank
you message after meeting a new contact. A hand written thank you card or formal business email is appropriate. Your message should include something specific you learned during the meeting, rather than a generic note. If you have agreed to forward your resume to the contact, now would be the time to do this. You should also request to connect on LinkedIn if you are not already.
6
While it may not be possible to re-engage with all contacts regularly, it is important to keep genuine and relevant contacts “warm.” This means reaching out to them on a regular basis— every three to six months—with an update, question, or resource.
Reasons to follow up with a contact:
• You followed their advice
• Sending an article of interest
• You have an upcoming interview and would like to
ask their advice
• Update to your situation
• You read or heard something about them or their company
• It has been a while and you just want to touch base
• You could be of use by offering something (time to volunteer on
a project, research using your access to university databases, student perspective on a product or idea, etc.)
STAYING
in touch
GET STARTED EARLY
It is even more important for international students to start their job search early in their first year of the program. Many students make the mistake of delaying their search until later. With the restricted number of opportunities available to international students, it’s important to get out early to land your ideal job or internship.
24 Carlson School of Management