The Job-Ready Guide by Anastasia de Waal

Author:Anastasia de Waal [Anastasia de Waal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kogan Page
Published: 2019-04-16T11:08:19+00:00

Effective networking: informational interviews and one-to-one meetings

One-to-one meetings with those working in your target industry can be invaluable sources of advice, connections and even opportunities – if you set yourself up for them well. Whether it’s an informational interview with an employer – where you get the chance to ask for advice, for example, on getting into the industry – or whether it’s a more informal chat over a coffee with an industry insider, being fully prepared is essential.

Good preparation for one-to-one meetings is about ensuring that you get the most out of it by having a clearly thought out and well-defined aim. Before the day of your meeting, make sure you’ve done your homework. You don’t want to waste any time asking questions you could have found the answers to on the organization’s website, and you want to capitalize on the opportunity to get an insider’s informal perspective. You also want to make sure that the person you are meeting thinks that your questions are worthwhile. You are aiming to give them a good impression, and how well you utilize the meeting will give them an insight into how you approach your work.

When the meeting starts, it’s helpful to begin by finding out how much time the person you are seeing has available for you. This indicates both that you understand the value of their time and will also help you to prioritize your questioning accordingly. Next, briefly summarize your education, work experience and career goals, going on to specify what advice you are after. Outlining exactly what you are trying to get out of the meeting will make it more productive, as the industry insider will have a better idea about what to focus on. Ideally, you will have been clear about what you want to discuss in your initial phone or email approach, but it’s always worth reiterating at the meeting itself. The other practical point to add is to bring a pen and notepad and write down any advice you are given. Not only will this help you remember what you need to for follow-up, it will show that you are taking the meeting seriously and making the most of the thought being put into answering your questions. Finally, when the meeting finishes, be sure to say thank you and follow this up with an email.

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