Informational Interviews

1. COMM 202: Career
Fundamentals
Amanda Bamford
Tutorial 6
T02 & T16

2. Our Agenda for Today
1. How to Nail the
Informational Interview
2. Interview Stream

3. Course Timeline
Week 10
Nov. 5 - 9
Week 11
Nov. 13 - 16
Week 12
Nov. 19 - 23
Tutorial:
Informational
interview
What’s Due:
Resume and cover
letter assignment
due on Nov. 6th @
11:59pm on Turnitin
and on COOL
Lecture:
Interview prep
What’s Due:
Have informational
interview time and
date confirmed
Networking event
Nov. 13th @ 6pm –
8pm in CPA Hall
FINAL Tutorial:
Interview prep
What’s Due:
Networking Reflection
Assignment: Nov. 22rd
@ 11:59pm on Turnitin
Interview Stream by
Nov. 26th for bonus
marks

4. Networking Event Details
When: November 13th, 2018 from 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Location: CPA Hall
• For students in Tutorial #1-10, please attend the
event from 6:00PM – 7:00PM.
• For students in Tutorial #11-20, please attend
the event from 7:00PM – 8:00PM.
We will check tutorial numbers during sign in.
• Delegates will stay for entire 2-hour duration
How to shake hands
when you don’t
have hands

5. How to Nail the
Informational
Interview

6. What’s the Point?
• Not sure what to option in? Considering a
double option?
• Want to know how to get into a certain
field?
• Want to learn what it’s 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?
• In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office
• Over Skype, Google Hangouts
• Over the phone

8. What Can An Informational Interview Look Like?
• In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office
• Over Skype, Google Hangouts
• Over the phone

9. 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*

10. Story Time: Ena and PepsiCo!
• Career exploration between Marketing + HR
• Friend introduced Ena to a contact who used to work in HR at PepsiCo
• Around the same time, got an interview from PepsiCo
• Ena connected with the contact and scouted for whoever she could find
on LinkedIn

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.)
• 15-20 minutes of their time
• Close the email 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

12. Activity Time
• You thoroughly enjoyed the COMM 202 networking event! Specifically,
you are happy because you had a great conversation with Sally, who is a
Financial Analyst working at TELUS. Sally shared a lot about the job and
what the culture is like at TELUS and you two bonded over playing
recreational volleyball. Sally gave you her business card.
• Partner up with the person beside you (or alone!) to draft a Coffee Chat
request email to Sally and include what you would say.
• I’ll be picking a couple people to share what they have. ☺

13. How Did Ena Reach Out to Belinda?

14. Before the Meeting

15. Do Your Research
• Their company
• Their major skill sets (job title)
• Work history
• Accomplishments
• Associations
• Common Interests
• Internet search
• LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram?
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual
friends/connections
What To Look For Where to Find Info

16. Prepare Questions
Job/Role Related Common Interest
Industry/Company Advice

17. Activity Time!
• Sally agreed to have coffee with you next Friday.
• Partner up with the person beside you (or alone!) to draft a 5 different
questions you want to ask her.
• I’ll be picking a couple people to share what they have.
Job/Role
Related
Common
Interest
Industry/
Company
Advice

18. Sample Questions
• 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?
• How did you get into the industry?
• What is PepsiCo doing to adapt to increasingly health-conscious
consumers?
• What advice do you have for someone starting out?
• Who do you look up to?
• If you could change one thing…what would that be?
• I noticed on your LinkedIn you were part of Leaders of Tomorrow
Program last year. I’m in the program this year. How was your
experience?
Job/Role
Related
Company/
Industry
Advice
Common
Interests

19. 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

20. During the Meeting

21. During the Meeting
• Thank them for their time.
• Take charge – you’re the one who called the
meeting! Remind them why you wanted to
meet in the first place.
• Bring a notebook, ask if it’s okay to take
notes.
• 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.
• 15 mins in, ask if they are okay to continue.

22. Reminders for During the Meeting
• Eye contact, smile, handshake, thank you
• Dress the part
• Pay attention to body language
• If you are taking notes, make sure you’re
not too focused on the notebook.
• Offer your opinions!
• Be curious
• Respect their time
• Who pays?

23. 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:
• Maintaining eye contact; not looking
elsewhere while they’re talking (DO NOT
check your phone)
• Asking relevant follow up questions

24. 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’d like to…’, ‘I
believe...’
• Keep it short, positive and focused

25. “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

26. After the Meeting

27. Follow 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

29. Outside of Network
• Search up those who…
• Has previously done the same job
• Works in the same company
• Works in the same department
• Be flexible
• Acknowledge they may be busy
• Offer phone/Skype/email as
options
• Just reach out! The worse thing that
can happen is the person doesn’t
respond

30. What If They Say No?
• Judge the situation…
• What position are they?
• What type of relationship/rapport
have you developed so far?
• Offer the option to stay in touch and
reach out later
• Be patient and think about the long
term!
VP of HR for Joey Restaurants

31. Rest of the (Ena’s) Story
• Ena got the Sales Co-op job at
PepsiCo Sept 2016
• Ena kept in touch with Belinda
• Belinda re-joined PepsiCo HR
January 2017
• Ena reached out for HR shadowing
(as prep to apply internally)
• Ena + Belinda becomes co-workers 4
months later

32. 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

33. Informational 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, and
current UBC
students not
allowed!

34. Interview Stream

35. Interview Stream – Optional
• Good practice tool for interviews
• 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
assignment
due Nov 26th
for 1 bonus
mark

36. Action Items for Next Week
1. Submit Resume and Cover Letter
Assignment by Tuesday, November 6th
@ 11:59PM via Turnitin and COOL
2. Networking Event – Tuesday, November
13th from 6 - 8PM. Final reflection due
on November 22nd @ 11:59pm on
Turnitin.
3. Confirm informational interview date
and time
4. See you in lecture next week
(Wed/Friday only)!

37. Questions?
Have a great day!