Info Interviews-Helena

Welcome to

COMM 202!

Informational Interviews

Tutorial #3- Helena

COMM 202: Career Fundamentals | TA: Helena

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How was the networking event?


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The follow-up


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“So I met this really awesome person at the

networking event…”

Who do you follow up with?

How do you follow up? What do you say?

What are different ways to keep the relationship going?

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Informational Interviews.

Let’s talk about:

You set up a time to have coffee, now what?


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Ask for a job, get advice. Ask for advice, get a job.

An informational interview is a meeting with someone who

you want to learn from and/or get advice from. It is NOT for

you to ask for a job.

Activity: What are you interested in?


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The first step to setting up an informational interview is

figuring out who/what you want to learn about

Is there:

A job you want to learn more about?

A company you are interested in?

An industry you are curious about?

Someone you want to get more advice from?

A cool person you met at the COMM 202 Networking

Event/ UBCMA Gateways?

The steps to successful informational interviewing


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1) Know your contact

• Do your research

• Speak to mutual

friends/connections

• Use social media

2) Reach out with

intention

• Genuine messages

• Form of contact

• Use personal network

3) Professionalism

• You run the meeting

• Look the part

• Timing

4) Plan

• Prepare questions

• Know what you want to

know

• Know yourself

5) Give to get

Know your contact


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What to know

• Work history

• Accomplishments

• Associations

• Interests

How to find it

• LinkedIn

• Internet

• Twitter

• Mutual connections

Find 5-6 commonalities and a sense of what you can ask

the person about.

Reach out with intention


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Personal network

Referrals from your network

Cold-emailing/ messaging

Reach out with intention


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Most people are happy to share what they know, as

long as they know why you’re asking

Who you are

Why them

When

What

Your background, goals, interests

How you know them and why they fit the bill

What you hope to learn from them

20 minutes, choice between 2 positives


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Subject: Informational Interview Request from BCom Student

Dear Ms. Jones,

I hope you are doing well! It was great to meet you at the COMM 202

Networking Event last Thursday and learn a bit about your time at UBC.

As I mentioned, I am currently a second year student and at the end of

this term I will be selecting my specialization. I am particularly interested

in Transportation and Logistics and I understand that you currently work

in the industry.

I am writing to ask if you would be available to meet for coffee sometime

to answer few questions about your career? I am available on March 1

or 4 after 3pm, but can accommodate any time that is convenient for

you. Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

Sam Student

Plan

COMM 202: Career Fundamentals | TA: Helena 12

What can you ask

about?

Why this industry?

Philosophy to work

Interesting experiences

Advice

Day in the life

Skill sets

Many more!

How do you respond?

Relevant personal

experiences

Probe deeper into an

area of interest

Why their insight matters

Try to let them talk most

of the time

Be prepared with your

story

Plan out a roadmap for the conversation, be prepared to

steer it back on track

Professionalism

COMM 202: Career Fundamentals | TA: Helena 13

Look the part Act the part Value their time

• Business casual

• Padfolio with paper

and pen

• Confidence

• Smile, eye contact

• You are the host

• Arrive early

• Offer to pay

• Lay out the plan for

the meeting

• Take notes

• Keep an eye on the

time

• Ask before going

over time

• Say thank you

Give to get


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“I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a

catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw

something back.”

-- Maya Angelou

The Magic IOU

What it sounds like:

“Thank you for sitting down with me today, I just wanted to

ask, is there anything that I could help you with or provide

you? If not, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I really

appreciate all of the valuable insights you’ve given me.”

Keep in touch


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Set expectations for how you intend to keep in touch!

Touch base when you see fit

Have you had a new development?

Did their information help you make a decision?

Did they pass you on to someone else? What did you

learn from that person?

Season/Holiday Greetings!

The connection doesn’t end once you’re done your coffees.

What are your key takeaways?


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Your To-Do List


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Job Posting Research Assignment due TONIGHT

(Feb 13) on Turnitin

Skills Matrix- Feb 27 @ 2pm

Watch Cover Letter e-module before next tutorial

Have a great Reading Break!