Many organizations have formed to serve the collective interests of individuals in certain career paths. Sometimes these organizations are national or international; however, they may have regional, state, or local chapters as well. Attending meetings of these organizations (when it is allowed under their rules, of course) is a great opportunity to stay up-to-date on developments in the field, and to make some excellent contacts.
The last section of the OOH includes information about these organizations; however, if you cannot find sufficient information there, you can turn to the Encyclopedia of Associations. This reference text is available at most libraries, and it is a great source for you if you are looking for information on organizations such as The American Mathematical Society, the Society of American Florists, or even the Dilbert fan club.
Many of these organizations will gladly provide you with information if you request it. That information can give you added insight into a field. Going to one of their meetings in person is even more valuable. These meetings can be a nonthreatening way to get to know people who are in the field. These people are a great source of information-far better than anything you can read about in a book. These meetings also serve as an important networking resource for the members. The meetings often include announcements about opportunities that are available in the field. These positions are also often listed in the organization's newsletter.
Informational Interviewing
When you are seeking information about what a career is really like, your best
source of information is someone who is actually in that job. These individuals
can provide you with timely information and can add dimension to the information
you have already gathered about a position. They are in a position to tell you how
the job has changed in recent years, what skills they use every day, how they perform
their day-to-day tasks, what the opportunities are for advancement, and what they
have heard about possible job openings within their organization or with other
companies in the field.
Some people are a little nervous about asking people to share this kind of information with them. At this point, let's just address the issue with this thought: What person would not feel flattered by someone's sincere interest in what they do and how they got to where they are today? Who doesn't feel a little bit more important when someone turns to them for advice on a very important topic?
How Do You Set Up an Informational Interview?
Informational interviews are usually arranged through one of your networking
contacts. You will either be contacting a personal friend or relative, or you will be
contacting the friend, relative, or business associate of a mutual acquaintance.
The request you will be making is a simple one. "I would like to meet you for
coffee, lunch, at your office, or at your leisure, as I am considering a career in your
field, and I would like to learn more about it."
It is important that you make it clear up front that you are only hoping to come away with information. If you imply that you have any expectation at all that this individual may be in a position to offer you a job, or that you may ask him or her to hire you, it may cause the individual to deny your request for the meeting.
What Topics to Cover in an Informational Interview
Most informational interviews last in the neighborhood of 30 minutes to an hour. That does not give you a great deal of time to gather the important information you are seeking. Depending on the individual you are interviewing and the information you have already gathered from other sources, you might want to use some of the following questions as a guide during your interview.
- What are the duties that you feel are most essential to your position? (This will be a very important question as you determine which, if any, duties will be impacted by your disability.)
- How different are those duties from someone performing this type of job at another organization?
- How did you reach this position-what was your career path?
- Was that the typical career path for this type of position?
- What skills/traits/background are employers looking for when they hire for these types of positions?
- Has there been a lot of hiring activity in this area?
- Is the field growing, stagnant, or in decline?
- This conversation has solidified my decision to pursue a career in this area. What suggestions would you have for me as I attempt to break into this field?
- Are you aware of any opportunities currently available in this field, or positions that could be seen as a possible stepping-stone to this field?
- Would you be willing to keep your eyes and ears open for me in the event that you hear about any positions for which I might be able to compete?
- Would you mind if I stayed in touch with you, contacting you every month or so to see if you have heard about anything, and to update you on my progress?
- Is there anything else you would suggest that I do?
- Is there anyone else that you would suggest I speak to about this field?
There is one question you should never ask in an informational interview: "Will you hire me?" This question violates the agreement established at the request for the meeting, and will make the person you are speaking with feel awkward, uncomfortable, and perhaps even angry. It will definitely make them less likely to help you in the future. It will also make it less likely that the individual will agree to this type of interview with anyone in the future. Nobody likes a pushy salesperson, and this is doubly true when the "customer" is not in a position to buy.