COMM 202
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
T06 & T13
with Ingrid Bakke

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

THIS
WEEK WEEK 11 WEEK 12
• Tutorial: Informational
Interview
• Due: Resume and
cover letter due
November 6th at
11:59pm on Turnitin
AND COOL
• Lecture: Interview
Prep
• Due: Networking
Event – November
13th 6pm-8pm in
CPA Hall. Attend
your assigned
timeslot!
• Info Interview date
and time
confirmed
• Last tutorial:
Interview Questions
• Due: Networking
Reflection
Assignmnet –
November 22nd
11:59PM on Turnitin
• (Optional for bonus
mark): Interview
stream by Apr 2nd @
11:59pm
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S
COMING UP?

NETWORKING EVENT DETAILS
• Tuesday, November 13th in the
CPA Hall
•NOTE: New system this year
•If you are in Tutorial 1-10, attend
the networking even from 6PM -
7PM
•If you in Tutorial 11-20, attend the
networking event from 7PM – 8PM
•Delegates will stay for the
entire two hour duration Please attend your correct time slot, as we will check your
tutorial section during sign-in.

INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS

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

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

WHO CAN YOU ASK?
• Someone you met at a networking
event / company information
session
• Linkedin network (2nd or 3rd
degree connections)
•Alumni – leverage the BCC’s
network*
•*For the COMM202 assignment,
family members, professors,
faculty, current UBC students
are NOT allowed

STORYTIME! STELLA’S 202
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
EXPERIENCE

HOW TO NAIL
YOUR
INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEW

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.)
• 15 - 20 minutes of their time
• Close by suggesting two times you are available to
meet (vs. yes or no answer)
• Tell them you’re willing to meet them at a location
most convenient for them (near their work, etc.) –
do not expect them to come to you

SO HOW DID STELLA REACH
OUT TO LINDSAY?

HER RESPONSE:

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, etc
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual contacts/connections

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?

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

UPON ARRIVAL
• Arrive early! Better to not rush into the
meeting all frazzled because of time.
• Find a spot and wait, do not buy the
coffee first – wait for them to get there.
Don’t know what they prefer, if they
have allergies, etc.
• Be present. Don’t be distracted and
on your phone while you wait.

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, and why you wanted to meet in the first place
3. Bring a notebook, ask if it’s okay 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

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?

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 (DO NOT check
your phone)
o Asking relevant follow up questions to what they say

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
• ‘Now that you know a little more about me, do you
know anyone I can connect with for advice about
XYZ?’

MAGIC ‘I OWE YOU’
Offer them help in
some way, and they
will be more likely to
want to help you.

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

SAMPLE FOLLOW UP

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

THE REST OF THE STORY…
• When Stella landed her internship in Toronto, she updated her
LinkedIn headline (in March), and Lindsay saw it
• They caught up this past July in Toronto!

MAINTAINING YOUR
CONNECTIONS
• Keep them updated on things
you talked about during the
chat
• Comment on their activity on
LinkedIn (ex. if they got a
promotion)
• Setting up more coffee chats if
you have more questions in the
future

INFO INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT
Task: Conduct face-to-face info interview with industry professional
Deliverable: two-page summary covering:
• Contact details (name, company, title, phone, email)
• List of questions asked
• Major insights gained – What did you learn during your
informational interview?
• Did you request/receive any information regarding additional
connections?
• Follow up action – What will you do to maintain this connection?
• What are your next steps having conducted this information
interview?
• Screenshot of follow-up email
Two-page summary
Family members,
professors, staff, current
UBC students are NOT
allowed!
Due Dec.
14 11:59
PM on
Turnitin
Worth
7.5%

INTERVIEW STREAM

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
November 26th!
Optional
assignmen
t due Nov.
26th for 1
bonus
mark

REMINDERS
1. Networking Event: Next Tuesday
November 13th 6pm – 8pm* at CPA
Hall. Final Sign up on COOL. Final
reflection due November 22nd
11:59pm on Turnitin.
*Go in your assigned timeslot
2. Confirm informational interview date
and time.
3. See you in lecture next week
(Wed/Friday only)!

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH!
1. Email:
comm202.3@sauder.ubc.ca
2. Tutorials: feel free to approach
me before or after
3. Office hours: available
throughout the term as
assignments come up

QUESTIONS?
HAVE A WONDERFUL
WEEK!