PSA: don't ask your friends or contacts to take informational interviews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:am i the only one who's never heard of 'informational interview' before?

Yes. Are you very old?

I have heard of it but I never use this phrase while networking nor has anyone used it with me (I am in a field with a lot of upheaval right now so I do get these requests frequently).

I disagree with OP because I think plenty of people like or at least don't mind connecting with others this way and also people can say no if it's just a bad time or even not a fit or whatever.

But I think the term makes it sound like a bigger ask in terms of time and formality than what you really want - an opportunity to connect, general advice, and to keep an open ear for opportunities.

What phrase do you use? Do you just ask them to coffee to talk about their job? I think informational interview as a phrase might be helpful in making it clear this is not a social/dating connection.

I’ve never done an informational interview, but just out of curiosity- is there any expectation as to who pays? I’d guess normally each person pays for themself. But if I had asked the other person for the meeting, I’d want to show appreciation by paying. And on the other hand, if I were meeting someone very young like a student, I’d want to pay.

[Anonymous]

Thank God people early in my career had a better attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a nonprofit organzation and stopped doing informational interviews after my first few months on the job. Every student in North America (and plenty in Europe) will happily take some of your time and it will NEVER lead to a job (in part because for most of my career, I was not in a hiring role.) Now half the federal government is emailing to find time for a coffee.

I sympathize, really and truly I do. But it's not a great use of either of our time. Now I have to avoid clicking on LinkedIn messages, since they apparently tell the sender that you opened the message, which seems to persuade some young people that they should send yet ANOTHER message.

I'll also say that I don't think it makes sense for a student or new graduate to be asking me for early career advice. I mean, I wrote my first cover letters on a typewriter; these kids are going to have to outcompete AI! And now that I'm in management, it's quite different from anything that an entry-level staffer would be doing. I would suggest targeting people in their 20s or early 30s - they will have more flexibility and be able to give a better perspective on their role and the field, etc.

I'm suprised that so many PPs make time for informational interviews. I don't know about your workload, but my inbox and to-do list is endless. It is not a sign of good time management if you have endless time to speak to total strangers who are hoping for a Cinderella story. As a FT WOHM I have to be relentlessly practical about how I budget my own bandwidth.

OP - I'm guessing these people can take time because they HAVE time. I am in meetings from 9.30-10am until 6.30 or 7, at which point if I'm lucky I get 2h with my kids then have to get back online and work until usually 11.30.

I'll gladly take an informational if it's with someone who I think might be a fit for something I may have at any point in the remotely near future, but I dont appreciate being asked to do it just for the sake (this is usually the case) of someone else wanting to look helpful to their contact and making it my problem.

That's why I'm saying, if you want someone you know to do an informational for you, make it possible for them to decline with grace. Maybe they have a bunch of time and they like doing it but maybe like me they're an exhausted exec and parent trying desperately to keep their head above water and it's a bridge too far.

It's always possible to decline with grace because that's a function of your behavior, not their behavior. There is nothing wrong with saying no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is almost never a good idea. Successful people are wildly busy with zero time. Asking them to speak to someone for whom they have no existing job, is a waste of their time and a waste of the person's time. It also forces them to either be rude to you and say no, or feel over burdened and resentful. Please dont do this.

A better alternative is to ask someone if they ever have need for xyz service, will they let you know, as you have a great contact who you'd love them to meet. That allows them to either say 'sure thing' or say 'oh i'd love to meet them now'.

I disagree. This is part of networking.

Yeah totally. Just part of being in a community of life

+100

Informational interviews are very…informational! And, many times can lead to someone remembering a colleague or co-worker who does have a job opening in their department.

The last time I did informational interviews, each led to an interview.

I wouldn’t expect such great results in this climate, but now is definitely a time to be proactive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a nonprofit organzation and stopped doing informational interviews after my first few months on the job. Every student in North America (and plenty in Europe) will happily take some of your time and it will NEVER lead to a job (in part because for most of my career, I was not in a hiring role.) Now half the federal government is emailing to find time for a coffee.

I sympathize, really and truly I do. But it's not a great use of either of our time. Now I have to avoid clicking on LinkedIn messages, since they apparently tell the sender that you opened the message, which seems to persuade some young people that they should send yet ANOTHER message.

I'll also say that I don't think it makes sense for a student or new graduate to be asking me for early career advice. I mean, I wrote my first cover letters on a typewriter; these kids are going to have to outcompete AI! And now that I'm in management, it's quite different from anything that an entry-level staffer would be doing. I would suggest targeting people in their 20s or early 30s - they will have more flexibility and be able to give a better perspective on their role and the field, etc.

I'm suprised that so many PPs make time for informational interviews. I don't know about your workload, but my inbox and to-do list is endless. It is not a sign of good time management if you have endless time to speak to total strangers who are hoping for a Cinderella story. As a FT WOHM I have to be relentlessly practical about how I budget my own bandwidth.

OP - I'm guessing these people can take time because they HAVE time. I am in meetings from 9.30-10am until 6.30 or 7, at which point if I'm lucky I get 2h with my kids then have to get back online and work until usually 11.30.

I'll gladly take an informational if it's with someone who I think might be a fit for something I may have at any point in the remotely near future, but I dont appreciate being asked to do it just for the sake (this is usually the case) of someone else wanting to look helpful to their contact and making it my problem.

That's why I'm saying, if you want someone you know to do an informational for you, make it possible for them to decline with grace. Maybe they have a bunch of time and they like doing it but maybe like me they're an exhausted exec and parent trying desperately to keep their head above water and it's a bridge too far.

It's always possible to decline with grace because that's a function of your behavior, not their behavior. There is nothing wrong with saying no.

+1 They will be fine with no. I alway accept with a statement that there are no job openings unless there are publicly posted positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a nonprofit organzation and stopped doing informational interviews after my first few months on the job. Every student in North America (and plenty in Europe) will happily take some of your time and it will NEVER lead to a job (in part because for most of my career, I was not in a hiring role.) Now half the federal government is emailing to find time for a coffee.

I sympathize, really and truly I do. But it's not a great use of either of our time. Now I have to avoid clicking on LinkedIn messages, since they apparently tell the sender that you opened the message, which seems to persuade some young people that they should send yet ANOTHER message.

I'll also say that I don't think it makes sense for a student or new graduate to be asking me for early career advice. I mean, I wrote my first cover letters on a typewriter; these kids are going to have to outcompete AI! And now that I'm in management, it's quite different from anything that an entry-level staffer would be doing. I would suggest targeting people in their 20s or early 30s - they will have more flexibility and be able to give a better perspective on their role and the field, etc.

I'm suprised that so many PPs make time for informational interviews. I don't know about your workload, but my inbox and to-do list is endless. It is not a sign of good time management if you have endless time to speak to total strangers who are hoping for a Cinderella story. As a FT WOHM I have to be relentlessly practical about how I budget my own bandwidth.

OP - I'm guessing these people can take time because they HAVE time. I am in meetings from 9.30-10am until 6.30 or 7, at which point if I'm lucky I get 2h with my kids then have to get back online and work until usually 11.30.

I'll gladly take an informational if it's with someone who I think might be a fit for something I may have at any point in the remotely near future, but I dont appreciate being asked to do it just for the sake (this is usually the case) of someone else wanting to look helpful to their contact and making it my problem.

That's why I'm saying, if you want someone you know to do an informational for you, make it possible for them to decline with grace. Maybe they have a bunch of time and they like doing it but maybe like me they're an exhausted exec and parent trying desperately to keep their head above water and it's a bridge too far.

Ugh normal professionals can find 30 Mn. It’s part of being in a professional community

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a nonprofit organzation and stopped doing informational interviews after my first few months on the job. Every student in North America (and plenty in Europe) will happily take some of your time and it will NEVER lead to a job (in part because for most of my career, I was not in a hiring role.) Now half the federal government is emailing to find time for a coffee.

I sympathize, really and truly I do. But it's not a great use of either of our time. Now I have to avoid clicking on LinkedIn messages, since they apparently tell the sender that you opened the message, which seems to persuade some young people that they should send yet ANOTHER message.

I'll also say that I don't think it makes sense for a student or new graduate to be asking me for early career advice. I mean, I wrote my first cover letters on a typewriter; these kids are going to have to outcompete AI! And now that I'm in management, it's quite different from anything that an entry-level staffer would be doing. I would suggest targeting people in their 20s or early 30s - they will have more flexibility and be able to give a better perspective on their role and the field, etc.

I'm suprised that so many PPs make time for informational interviews. I don't know about your workload, but my inbox and to-do list is endless. It is not a sign of good time management if you have endless time to speak to total strangers who are hoping for a Cinderella story. As a FT WOHM I have to be relentlessly practical about how I budget my own bandwidth.

OP - I'm guessing these people can take time because they HAVE time. I am in meetings from 9.30-10am until 6.30 or 7, at which point if I'm lucky I get 2h with my kids then have to get back online and work until usually 11.30.

I'll gladly take an informational if it's with someone who I think might be a fit for something I may have at any point in the remotely near future, but I dont appreciate being asked to do it just for the sake (this is usually the case) of someone else wanting to look helpful to their contact and making it my problem.

That's why I'm saying, if you want someone you know to do an informational for you, make it possible for them to decline with grace. Maybe they have a bunch of time and they like doing it but maybe like me they're an exhausted exec and parent trying desperately to keep their head above water and it's a bridge too far.

Ugh normal professionals can find 30 Mn. It’s part of being in a professional community

People at different points in their professional lives and family lives will be able to find the time for different amounts and types of "being in a professional community." Just because someone wants to talk to you doesn't mean you're obligated to do it, and it doesn't even mean it's going to be useful to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:am i the only one who's never heard of 'informational interview' before?

Yes. Are you very old?

I have heard of it but I never use this phrase while networking nor has anyone used it with me (I am in a field with a lot of upheaval right now so I do get these requests frequently).

I disagree with OP because I think plenty of people like or at least don't mind connecting with others this way and also people can say no if it's just a bad time or even not a fit or whatever.

But I think the term makes it sound like a bigger ask in terms of time and formality than what you really want - an opportunity to connect, general advice, and to keep an open ear for opportunities.

What phrase do you use? Do you just ask them to coffee to talk about their job? I think informational interview as a phrase might be helpful in making it clear this is not a social/dating connection.

I’ve never done an informational interview, but just out of curiosity- is there any expectation as to who pays? I’d guess normally each person pays for themself. But if I had asked the other person for the meeting, I’d want to show appreciation by paying. And on the other hand, if I were meeting someone very young like a student, I’d want to pay.

"Would love to connect to hear about your role / industry / career / etc."

I'm a 40+ yo married mom of two kids, been in my field a long time. No one thinks it's dating/social. That part made me chuckle, PP.

[Anonymous]

Pp here/VP at Fortune 500.

I generally don’t give them to random people who try to connect with me on LinkedIn.

I do give them to people I know who are within the company who ask me, or former colleagues from other companies where I’ve worked, etc. I have to have some kind of connection to them beforehand.

Also, I probably do maybe 2 of these a month maximum? Not a lot of time. Also, I find the older I get in my career, the more I’m declining some day to day meetings or delegating them to others because I know they’ll be a waste of time.

Whenever I’ve had roles where I’m in 8+ meetings a day, I’m miserable.

If I’m ever in a project where I have no time for say, three or four months, I definitely won’t do the interviews or I will push them out about a month or so.

It’s a matter of priorities. I’d rather do a one on one with a junior colleague, then go to a 20 person meeting where I’m just listening and can get an email update afterwards.