You want to expand your network. How can you use informational interviews to do it?

Informational interviews are very fascinating. These are like casual conversations between the job seeker and someone who works in the company of which applicant wants to be a part of. These interviews provide insights about the experiences gained, struggles and hurdles encountered on the path to success by someone who is already working in the desired company. These interviews are good for networking and allow us to learn more.

Informational interviews are informal chats with professionals in your target field. They're not job interviews, but a way to learn & build connections. By researching & reaching out to people, you can schedule chats to ask about their career path, company culture, and industry insights. This widens your network and exposes you to valuable contacts!

In my experience, informational interviews are a good to conversation starter. For example if you are interested in a new company or would like to explore more opportunities. Then it’s best to reach out to people who have walked this path. Identify them and reach out to them for an informational discussion. I cab share that one of my key role happened because I was interested in the organisation and reached out to the right person for the information discussion, that opened new doors. Having said that, I acknowledge that it’s not easy to have a conversation with a any person. But I do believe that if we don’t move out of comfort zone then how will we continue to learn each day.

I've used LinkedIn with great success to get informational interviews. I identify the people I want to talk to, then find which of my network connections can help me connect. Just remember that these are all busy people (just like we all are). If you want your connection to send an introductory email, have a template ready for them. When you reach out to an interviewee, ask for no more than 15-30 minutes. And finally, don't take it personally if they don't respond or can't find time to talk. Just thank them for considering it and start looking for others you could speak to. If you're polite, considerate and grateful, you will likely find plenty of people willing to help.

1. Identify Potential Contacts: Look within your existing network, including colleagues, mentors, alumni, and friends, for potential contacts who can offer valuable insights. 2. Utilize Online Platforms: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or industry forums to find and connect with individuals who match your criteria. 3. Be Polite and Clear: When reaching out, ensure your message is polite, concise, and transparent about your intentions and what you hope to gain from the informational interview.

Informational interviews are one-on-one chats with professionals in your desired field. They're not job interviews, but a chance to learn and build connections. To expand your network, research & reach out to interesting people. Finding interviewees? Tap your existing network! Ask friends, family, or past colleagues for introductions. LinkedIn is also great - search for professionals by company or title and connect!

Informational interviews are conversations with professionals in your target field to learn & grow your network. They're not job interviews! To prepare, research the person's background and their company. Craft thoughtful questions about their career path, industry trends, and advice. Keep it concise - 30 minutes is ideal. Afterward, send a thank-you note reiterating your key takeaways and mentioning any connections they suggested. This builds rapport and strengthens your network!

We should note that the interview request was from us and that person or organization did not declare a need for recruitment, so it is very important to thank that person in that organization. But more importantly, we should not thank the head too much if that person or organization has a different perception of our behavior. In short, to keep the balance

The best follow-ups after an informational interview do 3 things: ? Convey gratitude for the meeting ? Synthesize and repeat back key learnings unique to that person ? Add value back to the person you’ve interviewed It can be helpful for your follow-up to clearly and succinctly deliver on each of these points. When conveying gratitude, acknowledge the gift of time someone gave you and how it impacted you. When synthesizing learnings, make sure you focus on what you learned that’s unique to that person. This shows you paid attention and value their insight. Find a way to offer something back of value based on what you learned. It might be as simple as sharing more about how you were impacted so the other person can keep growing.