Networking Interviews

Everyone looking for work these days keep hearing about the “Informational Interview.” Job seekers are told that they are supposed to ask for informational interviews. They are told, call up a person working at one of your target companies and ask for an informational interview. Meanwhile, the person being called is confused when the job seeker asks for an informational interview. In people’s minds, interview equals job opening and if they don’t have any openings they cannot imagine what the interview is for.

Additionally, many job seekers are confused by the term and goal of an informational interview: “The purpose of an informational interview is to get information about a field of work from someone who has some firsthand knowledge.”  This is all well and good if you are just starting out looking for your first job or if you are changing careers. But, what if you already know a great deal about your field and you’re not looking to change careers. What other information are you looking for? That’s easy: job leads or names of contacts who may have job leads.

This is why I like the term networking interviews or networking meetings. There are some other things you want to do in these meetings.

1. Communicate your skills and abilities, i.e., what you have to offer the marketplace.
2. Share your ideal position in terms of the roles and responsibilities you excel at.
3. Ask if they know anyone or anything that could utilize  your skills and abilities.
4. Show them your “Target Company" list and ask if they have any contacts that they could refer you to.
5. While showing them your “Target Company" list ask them if there are any companies that are missing from your list. Then ask if they have any contacts at that company.
6. Thanks them for the time to took with you and tell them how much you appreciate their support and referrals.
7. Then follow up the next day with a phone call thanking them again, and share any updates regarding their referral.
8. Later send an email or call the person letting them know how their connections aided your job search.

These meeting should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes so you can rest assured that you’re not being a huge disruption to the person’s day. Additionally, many of my clients have reported that these meetings turn into interviews for a hidden or posted job. So whether you call it an informational interview, a networking interview, or a courtesy interview, it’s all about presenting yourself with the goal of getting a new contacts... leading to a job offer.

Networking at Parties and in Social Settings

   Ever been at a party or a wedding reception and you meet someone new? One of the first questions is “What do you do?” Isn’t that great when  you have a cool job that you love. We loving answering that question when we have a great job where we feel some level of excellence in. But what if you’re “between jobs” and someone asks you that question. For example, lets say Jim has recently lost his job and he meets Bill at the bar during a wedding reception.  The conversation  might go something like this.

Bill: Hi, my name is Bill (offering a hand to shake).

Jim: Hey Bill, I’m Jim. How do you know the happy couple?

Bill: Oh, the groom and I work together. You?

Jim: The bride and my wife went to college together.

Bill: So, what do  you do Jim? 

Jim: Oh my gosh, look at the time, I need to find my wife.

   Obviously Jim didn’t realize that this was a great opportunity to network and build his contact list. Bill just told Jim that he is currently working with the groom. Bill is employed, but Jim has no idea what Bill does. He doesn’t know if Bill’s company is looking for a person with his skills and abilities. Why did Jim shy away and not tell Bill that he was recently let go and that he was looking for new opportunities? There are lots of reasons that range from embarrassment to anger to thinking no one give a darn. Regardless of the reason, Jim missed one heck of an opportunity to network. So how would that conversation go?

Bill: Hi, my name is Bill (offering a hand to shake).

Jim: Hey Bill, I’m Jim. How do you know the happy couple?

Bill: Oh, the groom and I work together. You?

Jim: The bride and my wife went to college together. (Starts thinking, how can I bring up my job search?)

Bill: So, what do  you do Jim? 

Jim: Well Bill, I’m in transition now and I’m looking for an opportunity where I could work with a team to bring products to market. What do you do?

Bill: I’m the Marketing Manager for XYZ company’s Widget product line. Tell me more about what you did at your last company.

Jim: Gee Bill, I’d love to but I don’t want to take you away from the festivities. How about I set up a meeting with you so I can go over my skills and accomplishments with you and see if you know of anything where they can use someone like me?  Do you have a card? When’s a good time to call?

   Bill and Jim just met and Bill’s only goal is to make the contact and nothing more. If Jim goes on to pull Bill aside and learn more about his skills and abilities he should go with the flow. But, only if Jim want to continue the conversation. If Bill talks to two or three new contacts at this one party and then follows up with them at a later time, he’s made a great first impression. Additionally, he has also told folks that he was looking for a job without dying of shame. Bill may have just met a new boss or co-worker. 


   So be prepared with what to say at a party or social event. Smile and make good eye contact when you shake hands. And look for opportunities to share with people that you are conducting a vigorous job search.


   Good hunting!