An ‘informational interview’ is a ‘must have’ when it comes to making a successful career change and is something that I talk to my clients about every day. Whether they are trying to choose a course or considering a career change, it is a very valuable research strategy that can provide you with more accurate information than you can obtain from google searches or attending career expos.
For those who are not aware of the term, an informational interview is a meeting with someone from a particular company/industry for information gathering purposes. Unlike a more formal job interview, the informational interview is an opportunity for the candidate to ask most the questions in order to gather as much information they can about the role/industry/company of interest to them.
In my experience, one of the biggest obstacles to a successful career change is lack of knowledge and fear associated with making the wrong decision. However, the ‘informational interview’ is a strategy that can aid in overcoming both those obstacles as with greater information for decision-making there is less risk involved.
I recently provided comments to this SEEK article ‘Informational Interviews 101‘. This is a must-read if you are considering a career change in the near future or are seeking further information on careers in order to choose a university or TAFE course for future study.
If you have any questions about making a career change, then contact Leah Lambart or Clare Pickard to organise an initial discussion at: enquiries@relaunchme.com.au
