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The purpose of an informational interview is to expand your understanding, not to ask for a job or internship.  \nConducting an informational interview will help you actively:  \nSecure firsthand information about industries, jobs, work responsibilities, career paths, work settings, and organizational cultures  \nBuild contacts and referrals for your personal network (increasing your chances of securing employment in the future)  \n Increase your self-confidence and interviewing skills  \n Gather insight for stronger career decisions  \nWays to conduct an informational interview:  \n In-person (ideal)  \n Phone  \n Skype  \n*Make sure to ask your contact for the most convenient way to conduct the interview. *  \nImportant Tips to Remember:  \n1. This is not the time to ask for a job or internship – Focus on gathering information  \n2. Most Informational Interviews last 20-30 minutes – Keep the conversation brief and friendly  \n3. Professionalism & Reliability are essential  \na. If you must cancel your interview, call or email 24 hours prior and reschedule at that time.  \nb. Arrive early – Prepare for traffic and parking  \nc. Begin and end the interview with a “thank you” and a handshake  \n4. Dress appropriately – Business Casual is ideal 5.Conduct several informational interviews – patterns about the industry, occupation and/or career field  \nGator Network  \nOrganizational websites/literature Professional/trade association chapters Chamber of Commerce directories Gator CareerLink Employer Directory  \nUF CAREER  \nCONNECTIONS CENTER  \nStep I: Getting Started – Finding Contacts to Interview  \nThe first step is to find people to interview. The goal is to find someone in a desired industry, organization, job, or career field. Typically, the best place to start is with your personal network. This may include family, friends, roommates, past employers, and/or professors. Ask these contacts for the names of people within occupations or organizations that interest you.  \nAdditional resources to help you secure contact names include:  \nLinkedIn Alumni Feature – Search for UF alumni by organization, major, location, industry, job, and/or skills.  \nAfter identifying the person to contact, request an appointment via email, telephone, or through the source who helped you secure the contact. If calling or emailing, use professional language, state who you are (including that you are a student), why you are contacting them, clearly state that you are not seeking a job at this time, but gathering career information, and ask if they are available to talk with you for 20-30 minutes.  \nActivity: Create your network web-Friends, professors, or relatives, can help introduce you or arrange an informational interview for you. Start by identifying who is currently in your network  \nList those in your network to initially contact:  \n\n| 1 . |\n| --- |\n| 2. |\n| 3. |\n| 4. |\n| 5. |\n| 6. |\n| 7. |\n\nGather facts in order to formulate intelligent questions  \nCareer choice and goals  \nOrganizational culture o Day-to-day responsibilities  \nUF CAREER  \nCONNECTIONS CENTER  \nStep II: Prepare for the Interview  \nAlways prepare before an informational interview to ensure that you make a professional first-impression. Prepare by:  \nConducting preliminary research on the respective field or organization:  \nAvoid asking questions easily answered on the company’s website or LinkedIn profile  \nDeveloping a list of open-ended questions, avoiding yes/no answers that often fail to stimulate more response and discussion. Topics to consider include:  \nEducation o Work/life balance and their career progression  \nTechnical skills o Making informed career decisions  \nPreparing for  \n In-Person Interview: Consider issues related ","cbCaiclHoK68HjIz","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiclHoK68HjIz","pdf",345560,"English","# Informational Interviewing\n## Purpose and Benefits\n## Ways to Conduct an Informational Interview\n## Important Tips to Remember\n## Step I: Getting Started – Finding Contacts to Interview\n## Step II: Prepare for the Interview\n## Step III: Conduct the Interview\n## Step IV: After the Interview\n# Sample Questions","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of an informational interview?\",\"answer\":\"An informational interview helps you expand your understanding of a career field, job, or employer. 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