How to Use Informational Interviews for Career Transition

Informational interviews are an excellent way for a lawyer who wants to transition to another career path to explore alternative jobs.

What Are Reasons to Have an Informational Interview?

Some people may want to have an informational interview because they are looking for a career change.

Others may use this as an opportunity to explore new industries or get feedback on their resume before deciding if it's worth investing time in applying for a job they're interested in.

Regardless of your reasons, you'll be ready when:

 ·      you have assessed your strengths, interests, and values;

 ·      developed a vision of your future; and

 ·      have determined what type of job function would best suit you.

 This information is necessary if you are looking for a career transition.

If you are looking for advice on how your career could change or any gaps in your skills that need to be filled, informational interviews can help answer these questions.

Informational interviews offer insight into different industries and careers outside of law you may not know much about.

They also help you compile a target list of employers who might be a good fit for you and provide practice in interviewing - always helpful!

So, What Is an Informational Interview?

An informational interview can be thought of as a "mini-trial run" for the job you're researching.

Informational interviews provide valuable insight into how someone in that position does their job and interacts with others while allowing you to get a feel for whether you want to pursue the role further.

How Do You Schedule an Informational Interview?

The first step is to find alumni of your law school. You can do this by going to your school's LinkedIn page and searching for people who work in a field that interests you. You can also contact family friends or family acquaintances.

Then send them an email message asking if they would give you twenty minutes of phone time. Indicate what topics you would like to discuss (job description, industry, company, etc.). Explain why it is important for you to speak with them.

Suppose they say yes - congratulations! It's reasonable to expect a 30-40% success rate if they are alumni of your law school. A little higher if you have another connection and lower if you have no connection to them.

What Questions Should You Ask at an Informational Interview?

You can ask the person anything you want, but questions related to what qualifications are most important in a potential job and how your qualifications and transferable skills fit the profile of a successful person in the position are most relevant.

To get a feel for the job, questions such as

"What is your typical week like?" "

What do you enjoy most about your job?" and

"How does the company culture affect you and others?"

can help you determine if you would be a good fit considering your strengths, interests, values, and vision.

The best way to start an informational interview is with pleasantries, a brief description of your background, and what you hope to get out of the discussion.

It also helps if you know someone who knows the interviewer - introductions by a third party add credibility, aside from providing contact information.

But even with no prior connection, many people are open and willing to have a conversation if someone asks to learn more about their skills and experience

Finally, informational interviews offer insight into different industries and careers outside of law you may not know much about.