100 Interviews In Less Than 100 Days

F rustrated w ith sending out hundreds of online applica ons and not g e ng any responses?

Put yourself on a path to successful em ploym ent by using the hig hly effec ve m ethod of

inform a onal interview s.

Are you still applying online - page 3

What Are Informational Interviews? - page 5

It All Starts With Research - page 6

Finding the Right People - page 8

Connecting 101 - LinkedIn - page 9

Connecting 101 - Cold Calling - page 10

Connecting 101 - Locking Down the Meeting -Connecting 101 - Locking Down the Meeting - page 11

Preparing for your Meeting - page 12

Questions We Like to Ask - page 13

The Big Meeting - Checklist - page 14

The Power of Referrals - page 16

A Note From the Authors - page 17

a step by step guide on how to rock informational interviews

for more employment advice visit: www.roadtoemployment.ca

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T h e old expression h olds tru e, it’s n ot w h at you k n ow, bu t w h o you k n ow . O n average only thirty percent of available jobs are posted online. T h e m ajority rem ain in w h at is k n ow n as th e h idden job m ark et. B u t even m ore distu rbin gly, m an y jobs th at h ave been posted on lin e are ALREADY FILLED. In th ose cases th e job ad is ju st a form ality.

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The truth hurts. L ook ing back I am bi er at the m e I’ve w asted on resum es and cover le ers that w ere never read and the silence I endured w hile I w aited to hear back from em ploy ers.

We do not claim that the advice in this document is a silver bullet to solving all your employment issues. Informational interviews are the first step and an indirect method to finding employment. Trust me. This approach is a hell of a lot more effective than firing out application, after application, after application. To find meaningful work you have to be prepared to play the long game and not give in to the instant gratifi-cation of sending online applications.

This document is a step by step guide that will show you how to reach out, set up and conduct profession-al informational interviews.

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Inform ational interview s w ill:

1. Give you insigh ts into jobs and in-dustries

2. Expand your professional netw ork

3. Get you noticed by key decision m akers

4. H elp you realize w h ere your inter-ests lie

5 . M igh t just land you a job

Time and time again employers tell us that they are looking for “the right fit”

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D id you k n ow tha t appro xim ately 98% o f em plo y ers in Can ada are co n sidered sm all bu sin esses w ith less tha n 100 em p loyees. You w ou ldn ’t w a n t to m iss ou t on a ll those op p ortu n i es w ou ld you ? So m a ke sure to resea rch sm a ll a n d m ediu m sized loca l orga n iza on s a s w ell. The resea rch p ha se is the m ost im -p orta n t p a rt. It is the fou n da on on w hich everythin g rests so ta ke your m e iden fyin g orga n iza on s you ’re legi m a tely in terested in .

Don’t just stick to the Coca-Cola’s and GM’s

Your next step will be to begin making connections by reaching out to key professionals so make sure that you are prepared to do so before you continue.

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Do you have a completed LinkedIn profile?

Use your existing network as a starting point.

They will be your springboard to connect with your targeted

professionals.

LinkedIn is Your Best Friend

did you find someone who has piqued your interest?

Let’s move on to the next step. How do you get a hold of them?

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M a n y w ork phon e n um bers ca n be foun d on the “C on ta ct us ” pa ge of com pa n y w ebs ites. W hile, s om e profes s ion a ls w ill dis pla y their phon e n um ber on their L in kedIn profiles. D id yo u m anage to get their pho ne num ber? A w es om e! Thos e digits a re a b s olute gold! N ow pull tha t s m a rt phon e out of your pocket. You kn ow, the on e tha t ca n text, s en d fa cebook m es s a ges , tw eets , ta ke pictures , s en d em a ils , a n d pla y ga m es ? D id you kn ow it ca n a ls o m a ke phon e ca lls tha t ca n im m edia tely con n ect you to your m ost

A lo t o f the m e yo u w ill have to leave a vo icem ail. Pers on a lly, I ha te voicem a ils but they ha ve o en re-s ulted in return ed phon e ca lls ! So w hen you hea r tha t beep, ta ke a m om en t to ga ther yours elf, then s pea k con fiden tly, clea rly a n d m ost of a ll - keep it brief.

Don’t forget to leave your phone number or another way that they can get a hold of you.

1. Intro duce yo urself

2. State w hy yo u’ve reached o ut to them and ho w

yo u go t their co ntact info rm a o n - B e a uthen c.

3.3. Have a co nvers a o n - In evita bly they w ill ha ve

q ues on s for you a n d you w ill ha ve q ues on s for

them . If you ca n ’t ca rry on a con vers a on over the

phon e w hy w ould they ta ke their m e to m eet you

in pers on ?

4 .4 . The A s k - “I’m lookin g to lea rn m ore a bout

(bla n k). W ould w e be a ble to m eet for a brief in for-

m a on a l in terview ? I w ill on ly ta ke 15 m in utes of

your m e.”

5. Thank them for their m e a n d schedule a m e to

m eet or follow up.

Cold Calling

Some basic rules to making successful calls

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W hether you ’ve con n ect on lin e or over the p hon e m a ke sure to con firm :

Reaching out to people can be toug h. You’ll either love it or hate it. B ut it’s just part of the g am e. In order to achieve your g oals you have to ally yourself with people who can help you g row. That m eans m ee ng new people. The g ood part is that it only g ets easier.

W here you are m ee ng . – N ote the a ddress.

W hen you are m ee ng . – N ote how lon g your con ta ct ha s to ta lk .

Fram e the conversa on – W ha t top ics w ou ld you like to cover.

M ak e sure to exchang e contact inform a on in case of em erg ency. S om em es techn ology lea ds you to

the w ron g street or b u ildin g or you ru n in to a n u n forseen circu m sta n ce. (It ha p p en s!)

Locking Down the Meeting

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How did you get to where you are?

What did you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Are there any misconceptions about your job or industry?

What are the joys of the job? The stresses?

What is the one thing that if delegated could make your workday easier?

What is the job mobility like in your industry?

WhWhat keeps you up at night? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Are there any questions I’m not asking?

Is there anyone else you would recommend I reach out to?

Look professional (this includes personal hy g iene, g room ing and clothing)

E nsure y ou’re on m e by leaving early to allow for unforeseen events lik e w eather, traffi c or rapture

Pack a notebook , w ri ng instrum ents, business cards, y our list of ques ons and research m aterial

before the meeting

S hak e hands and exchang e business cards

O ffer to buy y our contact a coffee. B e g rateful if they buy y ou a coffee.

F ram e the m ee ng by le ng them k now y ou have ques ons

D ouble check how m uch m e they have to talk today. If they have less m e ask y our m ost im portant ques ons first.

Starting the meeting

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M ake sure to build so m e rappo rt

A sk yo u r qu es o ns and fo llo w up w ith o nes yo u co m e up w ith o n the spo t

Listen! Really Listen!

Understand – If yo u do n’t, ask fo r clarifica o n.

Take N o tes - K eep track o f addi o nal so u rces o f info rm a o n, advice, o r referrals yo u r co ntact reco m -

m ends.

H ave fu n!

During the meeting

Thank yo u r co ntact by nam e

A sk fo r feedback , any reco m m enda o ns and referrals

Before saying goodbye

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B u t don ’t let u s rom a n cize in form a on in terview s too m u ch. Rem em ber, in form a on a l in terview s a re

a bou t curiosity a n d kn ow ledge sha rin g. If your con ta ct thin ks you ’re ju st ta lkin g w ith them to get a job or

a ccess to their n etw ork they w on ’t recom m en d you to a n yon e.

W hen n etw orkin g - n othin g is gu a ra n teed. The con versa on shou ld be its ow n rew a rd. A n y op p ortu n i es

tha t a rise from it a re ju st bon u ses.

W hile in terview in g p eop le for our film Roa d to Em p loym en t w e rin sed a n d rep ea ted this p rocess dozen s

of m es. Over the course of over 100 con versa on s w e ha ve lea rn ed a n in credible w ea lth of kn ow ledge

a n d m a de som e in credible con ta cts a ll a cross C a n a da . This ha s op en ed m a n y doors for u s tha t w e didn ’t

even con sider before.

You have to be authentic with yourself, honest with your contact,

and if they believe in you, they may be able to open some doors.

take an active initiative to set up Informational Interviews you have NOTHING to lose and so much to gain

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