I often describe informational interviews as the secret sauce” in an effective job search.
Most of my clients are really intimidated by these meetings.
I’ll tell you what I tell them.
If someone approached you and said, “I really admire the work that you do. I am looking to enter into your field. Would you mind if I bought you coffee and asked you for some advice?”
“My guess is that if you had time you’d probably say “of course!” People generally really enjoy giving advice.
And that’s exactly what your asking for in an informational interview. ADVICE. Not a job.
But here’s the thing…when you land the meeting, you are going to build rapport and the person on the other side of the table will become invested in you. Company’s do not like to hire “strangers”. According to data from SHRM, internal sources ultimately produced 52 percent of hires in 2016.
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Founder of The Briefcase Coach, Sarah is an industry “insider” and job search expert. As a former corporate recruiter, Sarah got tired of seeing talented high-achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not have the right marketing documents or know how to position themselves in interviews. Since opening Briefcase Coach in 2016, Sarah has helped thousands of clients land top-tier jobs through the creation of executive documents and interview coaching. In addition to working one-on-one with clients, she also supports job seekers through her blog, social media posts and bi-monthly newsletter, Career Briefs. She has been named a LinkedIn Top Voice, one of HR Weekly’s Top 100 Most Influential People in HR, and a “top follow” by JobScan. Her company, Briefcase Coach was named “best resume writing firm for experienced executives” by Balance Careers.
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