INFORMATION INTERVIEWYOUR WAY TO A JOB

Presentation for The Life After Westernu Career ConferenceJanuary 21, 2017 Jeff Watson

ABOUT ME, JEFF WATSON Associate Director, Employer Relations with The

Student Success Centre Helps Employers recruit and hire extraordinary

talent Services include: Job Postings, Fairs, Employer

Information Sessions, Interviews and thepromotion of internship, co-op and practicum opportunities

Served 9 years as a Recruiting, Hiring and Training Manager

VP Public Relations for Toastmasters International, 8 year Member, ACS, ALB

Active CrossFitter

Tactic 2.Ask

Intentional Questions

Tactic 3.Deliver

professional follow-up

that advances the relationship

Tactic 1.Source

Employers

Information Interviewing involves going to a professional with a company you would like to work for and asking intentional questions

Content inspired by: The Student Success Centre and The 2 hour Job Search, by Steve Dalton.

This job search strategy includes these tactics:

INFORMATION INTERVIEWING

Get Insider Information on hiring, training & development, core values, future projects

This intel informs your research preparation & application

You are in control No high stakes at play Puts your face to a future

resume Differentiates you from the

competition You could get a Job!

tWHAT’S IN IT

FOR ME?

Search contacts by company, industry and many other fields

Mine contacts by industry specific LinkedIn groups

Utilize the alumni function

Tactic 1.Source Your Employers

Leverage the network of Western alumni sourced specifically to talk to you.

Go to tenthousandcoffees.com

Students: sign up with your @uwo.ca email;

Send, receive and schedule coffee chats

Meet in-person or online with alumni and students

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

1 Contact the person by telephone or email

2 Mention how you got their name.

3 Emphasize you are looking for information NOT a job

4 Ask for a convenient time to have a 20-30 minute appointment.

?

Tactic 2.Ask Intentional QuestionsDevelop a one minute overview to define

the context of the meeting Thank them for meeting with you Build on key points from your original

meeting request Acknowledge who you are and why

you arranged the meeting Your overview should include a

condensed elevator pitch including your name, interest in the company, education and relevant professional experience

Ask your pre-selected questions

THEORY OF RECIPROCITY   People should repay, in kind, what another person has provided for them.

Since you are taking an interest in them by asking questions, they will do the same.

Have soundbytes ready, elaborate on your training, skillsets, experiences and education

Share relevant and short success stories Demonstrate your ability to actively listen.

Build off points they give in their responses

ASK PAIN POINT QUESTIONS   

What are the challenging components of your job?

What do you wish your company could do better?

What experience do you look for in candidates that you find difficult to get?

What qualities or characteristics does an individual need to thrive in this field?

What contract or internship opportunities exist at your organization?

These questions provoke responses revealing areas of need, opportunity, growth, frustration and truth.

”““It sounds like your company struggles

finding candidates who can translate complex technical information to end users. I provided technical service to

customers with Rogers as a member of their telephone support team that I believe would be relevant to your

needs and the needs of your customers.”

ASK PAIN POINT QUESTIONS   

They are great for follow-up purposes They demonstrate you were listening by

repeating the pain point and then positioning yourself as the solution.

When you effectively follow up on a pain point question, you show the contact how you can add value which helps them visualize you working for their company

This makes you relevant and memorable

These questions provoke responses revealing areas of need, opportunity, growth, frustration and truth.

1 Send a Thank you Email– 24 hrs after2 Provide Progress Updates - MonthlyInform your contact where you are in yourstudies/training/job searchReference advice they gave you and describe your follow-throughTry to add value to them. Refer clients to their business, suggest industry conferences they might be interested in, identify Linked In groups they may want to join.

Tactic 3.Deliver Professional Follow-up that advances the relationship

Apply for Positions with the Company referencing your information interview   

Inform your contact that you applied for a position with their company

Lean on your contact’s name in your cover letter or email related to the application

Bring up the Pain Points you heard from the information interview and position yourself as the solution

Tactic 2.Ask

Intentional Questions

Tactic 3.Deliver

professional follow-up

that advances the relationship

Tactic 1.Source

Employers

Start information interviewing your way to a job today!

This job search strategy includes these tactics:

Information Interviewing involves going to a professional with a company you would like to work for and asking intentional questions

Contact

Jeff WatsonAssociate Director, Employer RelationsThe Student Success Centre – The Student Experience

Email: jwatso72@uwo.caLinkedIn: Jeff WatsonTwitter: @jeffwatson99www.toastmasters.org