Overview
Please provide a 2-page summary with the following information:
Page 1: 1) name of the person interviewed and organization/company they belong to; 2) reason why you selected that person/organization/company; 3) summary of key insights emerging from the interview/ lessons learned.
Page 2: 4) script of your interview questions and responses (see 6. Above)
Format: 2 pages, Times New Roman 12, double space (page 2 can be single space, tableformat).
Industry interviews allow you to gather information about a certain industry, organization, career path, or skill. Industry interviews is about building relationships with people who can provide information and advice, and may lead to future opportunities. An informational interview is a meeting where you ask for information and advice rather than employment. The job seeker gathers information on the field, finds employment leads, and expands his or her professional network. Basically, introduce yourself, ask questions, obtain referrals, and close.
- Identify Individuals in your immediate networks. School/student groups, work/internships, family/friends, activities/hobbies.
- Expand your list. School/regional career fairs, company presentations, Professional associations/conferences Industry meetups, community groups , Online groups: LinkedIn, Facebook.
- Assess your goals. What are you hoping to get out of your interview based on the professional development planning you have completed?
- Set a meeting. Modify your elevator statement and request a short meeting/interview with
relevant person.
Here's an example: “Hi, my name is Robert Robertson. I’m graduating soon from San Diego State with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. I’ve been looking at jobs in__________industry because…. and was wondering if I could interview you for 15-20 minutes about….
- Prepare. Prepare for opportunities like you would for a job interview: do research in advance on the person, company and/or industry, and show up dressed to impress with a list of questions to ask. You may even decide to practice answering some basic interview questions so you feel more confident.
- Interview script.
Introduction. Develop an elevator statement to introduce yourself to people. State the goal of the interview: are you looking for a job? researching an industry or organization? building a relationship? This helps identify the information it will be essential to convey. You'll likely want to include your major and year of graduation, as well as your relevant interests and experiences. Mention accomplishments, your top skills and, if possible, anything unique that will help you be remembered. It's ok to credit or compliment the other team members from any group projects you might mention.
Warm up. It can help to end your introduction with a question to engage your listener and start a
conversation. Get the conversation going by asking your contact something about his or her experiences thus far—something he or she knows all about. You should also be prepared to chat about yourself, your past experiences, and your career goals.
Request advice and insight. Ask questions such as “How did you choose this company or position over others in your field?” and “What is the most rewarding thing about working in this industry? The most challenging?”
Networking tapping. Try to end informational interviews by getting the names of more contacts.
The more you network, the more you learn and the more opportunities you can create.
- Follow Up. Be sure to follow up with an email or letter thanking the person for his/her time. This professional courtesy goes a long way.
- Reflect. Keep networking notes. Keep track of who you speak with and when, and set reminders to follow up if you want to nurture the relationship.
Resources
How to plan for an information/networking interview: https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources...
Steps to take during the interview: https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-steps-to-a-perfec...
Get the most out of the interview: https://hbr.org/2016/02/how-to-get-the-most-out-of...
Background about me: Im doing a marketing internship with a small start-up company called Originere. I focus on making content and email marketing. My major is Marketing at SDSU and I graduate this year.