Do you have a target date for when for providing ___________(state the product or service)? What is innovative about your business? Probe questions: Who is leading the innovations? What resources do you need to continue __________ (state the innovation that the employer has described.) How are you making improvements at your business? Probe questions: Who is leading the improvements? What resources do you need to continue __________ (state the improvements that the employer has described.) What do you have to grow your business? Probe question: What is your biggest barrier to growing your business? How can the barrier be removed or reduced? What are the stressors that you or your employees are experiencing? Probe question: Can you think of ways that the stress could be reduced? VCU would like to credit Cary Griffin for the informational interview questions in this table QUESTION: Do you have any other ideas on how to prepare for an informational interview? ANSWER: Employment specialists can learn about a business in many different ways before conducting an informational interview. Obviously, if someone has recommended a company, then asking that person questions about the business operations is a good idea. Researching information online is also another way to learn more about the business’s products or services. Appearing interested and knowing something about the company before going there can make everyone more at ease in an unfamiliar situation. In addition, an employer may be impressed if the job seeker and employment specialist can discuss the business in a knowledgeable way. One participant talked about how he/she liked to learn more about a business before conducting an informational interview. Before I do my informational interview, a lot of times I like to go in kind of as a secret shopper, to actually go in as a customer if possible. I think the businesses always appreciate you buying their goods or using their services. Also, it really kind of gives me an idea of what’s going on in the business and if there are maybe places where they could improve..... I would know it first hand and be able to talk about that in the informational interview or to ask questions about those specific tasks that maybe I didn’t see getting done or that needed more attention. QUESTION: How do you move from an informational interview to job development?
Do you have a target date for when for providing ___________(state the product or service)? What is innovative about your business? Probe questions: Who is leading the innovations? What resources do you need to continue __________ (state the innovation that the employer has described.) How are you making improvements at your business? Probe questions: Who is leading the improvements? What resources do you need to continue __________ (state the improvements that the employer has described.) What do you have to grow your business? Probe question: What is your biggest barrier to growing your business? How can the barrier be removed or reduced? What are the stressors that you or your employees are experiencing? Probe question: Can you think of ways that the stress could be reduced? VCU would like to credit Cary Griffin for the informational interview questions in this table QUESTION: Do you have any other ideas on how to prepare for an informational interview? ANSWER: Employment specialists can learn about a business in many different ways before conducting an informational interview. Obviously, if someone has recommended a company, then asking that person questions about the business operations is a good idea. Researching information online is also another way to learn more about the business’s products or services. Appearing interested and knowing something about the company before going there can make everyone more at ease in an unfamiliar situation. In addition, an employer may be impressed if the job seeker and employment specialist can discuss the business in a knowledgeable way. One participant talked about how he/she liked to learn more about a business before conducting an informational interview. Before I do my informational interview, a lot of times I like to go in kind of as a secret shopper, to actually go in as a customer if possible. I think the businesses always appreciate you buying their goods or using their services. Also, it really kind of gives me an idea of what’s going on in the business and if there are maybe places where they could improve..... I would know it first hand and be able to talk about that in the informational interview or to ask questions about those specific tasks that maybe I didn’t see getting done or that needed more attention. QUESTION: How do you move from an informational interview to job development?
Q_and_A_Informational_Interviewing2.docx