Informational Interviewing
Informational interviews are not job interviews, but rather are opportunities for you to spend a short amount of time talking to people who are in your desired field or organization. You obviously will need to network in order to locate people in your field or organization of interest before you conduct an informational interview.
When you conduct an informational interview, you have the opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and make contact with people who are extremely knowledgeable about their field or organization. In general, people usually enjoy talking about what they do and giving advice, and they are usually the best sources of information about what their job and organization is really like. Conducting informational interviews not only provides you with information about potential career opportunities, it also builds your network. If you conduct successful informational interviews and remain in touch with the people you talk with, they may also remember and refer you as they learn of new job opportunities. Conducting informational interviews is also a great way to practice your interviewing skills. Further information about conducting informational interviews is available on the GCCSO Web site.
Finding a Mentor
A mentor is someone who has goals and interests that are similar to yours, but is a few steps further along in his or her career path than you. This person may give you advice and guidance for achieving your career goals, and your interactions may be frequent. Although identifying the appropriate person to potentially serve as your mentor may be difficult, having someone with more experience who can help guide your career is invaluable. While conducting informational interviews, try to identify a person who could serve as your mentor. A relationship with a mentor can be very informal, but is generally a closer relationship than one you would establish from a typical informational interview.