Informational Interviews

1. COMM 202 WEEK 10
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
T35 & T40

2. OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY
1. Course Timeline
2. How to Nail the Informational Interview
3. Interview Stream
4. Action Items

3. THIS WEEK WEEK 11 WEEK 12
• Tutorial: Informational
Interview & Interview
Stream
• Due: Resume and cover
letter due March 12th at
11:59pm on Turnitin
• Networking event: March
13th from 6-8pm in CPA
hall
• Lecture: Interviews
& Emotional
Intelligence
• Due: Networking
reflections due
March 21st at
11:59pm on
Turnitin
• Last tutorial:
Employment
interview questions
• Due (optional for
bonus mark):
Interview stream by
Apr 2nd @ 11:59pm
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S COMING UP?

4. FEEDBACK RECAP
Continue Start Stop
• Weekly emails & assignment
reminders
• Detailed explanation of assignments
and requirements
• Communication and clarity
• Use of personal examples
• Clear and concise slides
• Exercises with examples
• Relaxing, comfortable, fun class
• Approachability
• Music J
• Responding to emails quicker
• More transparency on
assignment grading
• More examples
• Post slides ahead of time
• Send out grading rubric for
skills matrix assignment
• Speak louder for attendance
• More office hours
• Give feedback on participation
• Encouraging even more
participation
• Sending emails out late
in the week

5. INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
(AKA COFFEE CHATS)

6. WHAT’S THE POINT OF INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS?
• Not sure what to option in?
Considering a double option?
• Want to know how to get into a
certain field?
• Want to learn what its ACTUALLY
like to work in a certain field?
Informational interviews are an
excellent way to explore
different career paths, jobs,
options and industries

7. WHAT CAN AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW LOOK
LIKE?
1. In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office
2. Over Skype, Google Hangouts
3. Over the phone

8. WHAT CAN AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW LOOK
LIKE?
1. In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office ß This course
2. Over Skype, Google Hangouts
3. Over the phone

9. STORYTIME! MY 202 INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
EXPERIENCE

10. HOW TO NAIL YOUR
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

11. THINGS TO INCLUDE IN THE EMAIL
• You’re a student
• How you heard about them or know them
• What you are looking to learn (their career
progression, advice on how to best leverage time at
Sauder, etc.)
• 20 minutes of their time
• Close by suggesting two times you are available to
meet
• Tell them you’re willing to meet them at a location
most convenient for them (near their work, etc.)

12. SO HOW DID I REACH OUT TO LINDSAY?

13. HER RESPONSE:

14. BEFORE THE MEETING: DO YOUR RESEARCH
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHERE TO FIND INFO
• Their company
• Know their major skill sets
• Work history
• Accomplishments
• Associations
• Common interests
• Internet search
• LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram(?)
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual contacts

15. BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE QUESTIONS
Examples:
• How did you get into the industry?
• What do you like most about your job and/or field?
• What is one challenge you’re currently facing at work?
• What do you need to do to become successful in this industry?
• What should I be reading?
• What advice do you have for someone starting out?

16. WHAT QUESTIONS DID I PREP?
Common interests (found on LinkedIn)
Relevant & specific Qs that show
interest and research
Job/role related

17. DURING THE MEETING
1. Thank them for their time
2. Take charge – you’re the one who called the meeting. Remind them why
they are here
3. Bring a notebook, ask if it’s ok if you take notes, take notes
4. Ask questions and listen to their responses fully – don’t feel like you
need to ask only the questions you prepared for. The best conversations
are those where questions flow naturally
5. 15 mins in ask if they are okay to continue

18. DURING THE MEETING: REMINDERS
• Eye contact, smile, handshake,
thank you
• Dress the part
• Pay attention to body language
• Bring a notebook and take notes
• Offer your opinions
• Be curious
• Respect their time
• Who pays?

19. DURING THE MEETING: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
• Watch out for signals – have they closed their book or checked their phone? This means
they may need to head back to work and you should ask them if they are okay to continue
• Acknowledge that they’re busy and you really appreciate them taking time out of their day
for you
• Active listening – essential for having a natural conversation. This looks like:
o Maintaining eye contact; not looking elsewhere while they’re talking
o Asking relevant follow up questions to what they say

20. TELL YOUR STORY
• What you would love to do for companies
• What problem have you identified that makes you
want to work in the industry
• Why you feel it’s important to talk to experts in the
field
• Use phrases like: ‘I like to…’, ‘I believe...’
• Keep it short, positive and focused

21. MAGIC ‘I OWE YOU’
“Is there anything I
can do for you?”
Offer them help in
some way, and they
will be more likely to
want to help you.

22. FOLLOWING UP
• Send a thank you email
• Thank them for their time
• Mention something you talked about
• Mention when you will follow up with them next

23. SAMPLE FOLLOW UP

24. THE REST OF THE STORY…
• I emailed Lindsay again two months later – Dec 2015
• Found out she decided to leave lululemon after 5 years and move back
home to Toronto
• We said we would keep in touch and I wished her best of luck
• We connected again over email in June 2016, updating
each other on our lives

25. THE REST OF THE STORY…
• When I landed my internship in Toronto, I updated my LinkedIn headline
(in March), and Lindsay saw it
• We caught up this past July in Toronto!

26. INTERVIEW STREAM

27. OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT & PRACTICE TOOL:
INTERVIEW STREAM
• Practice answering interview questions
• Go back and review your recording to
see what was good and where to
improve
• 5 general questions will pop up on the
screen and then your webcam will
record your answer
• Will NOT be graded and no one will see
your videos. But you can receive 1
bonus mark if used before Apr 2nd!
Optional
assignment
due Apr 2nd
for 1 bonus
mark

28. REMINDERS
1. Set up informational interview (if
not done already)
2. Next week is lecture
3. Networking event reflection due
March 21st
4. TA email:
comm202.8@sauder.ubc.ca