Information Interviews

I have always wanted to meet Oprah Winfrey. She is remarkable in so many ways. She is creative, smart and has an unbelievable work ethic. I would love to ask her a few questions, like “How do you stay motivated?”, “How do you keep your life balanced?”, “Do you still love what you are doing?” and many more. While we may not have the opportunity to meet Oprah Winfrey or our favorite sport or movie star, there are fantastic people, right in our networks, or perhaps one degree away from us, whose answers to questions like these would be valuable and extremely helpful to our careers.

Think about who you know now, or who could connect you to someone in your industry, profession, or a person who has a job you aspire to. Ask the person to meet you, with the objectives of learning more about the person and getting advice for your own career. Information interviews with successful people can be extremely illuminating. The key is to be prepared by doing some research about the person and her or his work in advance and consider the questions that you want to ask. Here are a few to get you started:

• Tell me about your career path.
• How did you get your current job?
• What is your industry/sector like to work in?
• What are your greatest challenges at work?
• What do you love the most?
• What does a typical day look like?
• What kinds of decisions do you make?
• How does your position fit within the organization/industry?
• How does your job affect your general lifestyle?
• What current issues and trends do you see?
• What are some common career paths in your industry/sector?
• What kinds of accomplishments are valued and rewarded?
• Do you have advice for me on how to get into this industry?
• Is there anyone you think I should speak to?

Find opportunities to connect with people who can share their knowledge, insight and perspectives with you. You will be enriched by each conversation you have. Happy interviewing!