How can you keep an informational interview flowing smoothly?

Come prepared with questions to an informational interview and plan to do a lot more listening than you do talking. Taking genuine interest in the other person is key, and always follow up with a thank you just as you would an interview.

In my opinion, doing prior research on your contact is the bare minimum - especially since they have already agreed to give you some of their precious time. You honor that by doing your due diligence and researching their background, passions, awards, hobbies, etc. Seek to build authentic connections! Showing a genuine curiosity in others will pay dividends in the future because you will be perceived as a good listener & as a respectful professional. These contacts will be more likely to be responsive to you and your needs in the future if you value their needs from the beginning and throughout the relationship.

If you want to learn more about a particular industry, company or role, then informational interviews can be beneficial. These types of interviews are always free-flowing! However, it's important that you prepare well before you attend one. While it is a safe environment to ask questions, you don't want to waste the expert's time by asking questions that you could easily find the answer to online. Therefore, it's important that you do your research beforehand, and familiarise yourself with the industry terminology, major players and important trends. This will help you to come across as knowledgeable and inspire others to help you.

Investigar a tu contacto antes de una entrevista informativa te permite tener una interacción más personalizada, efectiva y memorable. 1. Demuestra interés genuino: Investigar a tu contacto antes de una entrevista informativa te permite preparar preguntas relevantes y mostrar interés real en su experiencia y trayectoria. 2. Adapta tu enfoque: Conocer su puesto actual, educación e intereses te permite personalizar la conversación y conectar a un nivel más profundo. 3. Evita preguntas redundantes: Investigar online (LinkedIn, Google, sitio web de la empresa) te ayuda a encontrar información pública y evitar preguntar cosas ya disponibles.

There is a difference between a good question and a great question. Asking about "What are your challenges?" is a good question but anyone can ask. You can impress them by asking more targeted question like "I listened to the podcast of "someone senior organization" and he/she mentioned that one of the big challenges for the company is X. How is your team dealing with it? Now, with the question, you are also letting them know that you understand the company and it immediately sets you apart.

I think it is essential to clarify your questions from the beginning. Don't be shy! You don't want to end up in an environment where you don't fit in. Of course, you won't know everything, but by having your questions prepared you can clarify aspects that matter to you. If you feel you haven't got the answer you want, you can double check the information at any time.

Enfócate en: Preguntas abiertas: Día típico, retos, logros, consejos, tendencias del sector. Preguntas de seguimiento: Profundizar la conversación y aclarar puntos. Ten listo: 10-15 preguntas. Sé flexible: Adáptate al flujo de la conversación.

Escuchar activamente en una entrevista informativa es crucial para obtener información valiosa y construir una buena relación con tu contacto. Te permite: Comprender mejor la experiencia, perspectivas y consejos de tu contacto. Demostrar interés y generar confianza en la conversación. Identificar puntos clave y realizar preguntas relevantes. Formular respuestas que demuestren comprensión y empatía.

Listening requires effort, but that's the exact reason it is so important. For you to provide good output, you've got receive input. Of course, we cannot sometimes listen to every exact word and our mind wonders, but out of politeness give it your best to understand what the other person is saying. Nodding and connecting to statements and questions is a good way to show them you're listening.

Having undergone two career transitions, I have relied heavily on informational interviews to gain insights from individuals who have been through similar experiences. I have found that showing genuine enthusiasm in learning about the person and their career journey is highly effective during these interviews. People enjoy discussing themselves, so by asking tailored questions related to their career path, actively listening, and responding with enthusiasm, I have noticed that the informational interviews tend to be more productive and lead to longer, more fruitful discussions. This approach has also enabled me to establish long-term relationships with the individuals I have interviewed.

I consider informational interviews as a stage performance with you as the anchor of the show where you need to value the interviewer's time. It's advisable to come prepared with just three key questions and develop follow-up questions during the interview. It is crucial to jot down the most important information obtained in the interview to be able to delve deeper into those points. By showing that you are prepared and respectful of their time, the other person is likely to be concise and provide valuable insights during the conversation.

Respecting time and boundaries is crucial, so you should point out what is your expectation for the time that will be spent for the interview, and if there's a chance it will prolong that should for sure be mentioned to client for them to agree or disagree with it before you proceed. Understanding and empathy towards others as you would others to treat you in these cases. Schedules are schedules for a reason.

In my opinion it is so important to follow up with a thank you note, email or message, after an informational interview. In doing this it shows that you genuinely appreciate them taking the time out of their busy schedule to speak with you.

Don't hide details about yourself that may impact the recruitment process (e.g. you have a 2-month holiday planned, you no longer live in the city where the company has an office, you don't have the necessary papers to work in country X etc). In most cases, companies do not make exceptions (especially in large companies - corporate).