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Informational InterviewsVicki S Berg, MBA
Woods Chapel Crossroads Career
Identify Your Target What companies do you want to
target?• Are they in your industry?• How will they help you?
Who within those companies can help you?• Hiring managers• People in a job you would like to do
Marketing PlanTarget list Initial list of 50 companies
Chemical Manufacturing• Ashfield Chemical Co.• J & J Biosciences• XYZ Chemicals, Inc.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing• Garden State Labs, Inc.• Merris Limited• R.P. Sloan Corporation
Consulting Firms• Chemicals Management, Inc.• Gilbert Sullivan Associates• W.G. Pierson Associates, Inc.
Sources:• Google “company listings” or “business
listings” to see a list of sources on the web. Check local libraries for free access to sites.
Source Web Address
Hoover’s Hoovers.com/lists
Dun & Bradstreet Dnb.com
Yahoo Biz.yahoo.com/p/industries.html
Kansas City Business Journal Kansascity.bizjournals.com
Zip Code 2 Business Zipcode2business.com
Information courtesy of Nancy McPheeters
Target Companies: Midwest Section PGA Brad Demo 1960 NW Copper Oaks Circle Blue Springs MO 64015
816-229-6565 www.midwestpga.com Catholic Charities - Catholic Community Services, Kansas Jan Lewis 2220 Central Ave
Kansas City KS 66102 913-621-1504 www.catholiccharitiesks.org American Red Cross, Wyandotte County Chapter Jason Williby 1600 Washington Blvd
Kansas City KS 66102 913-321-6314 www.kck.redcross.org Kansas City Shippers Association Ron Almos 333 N James St Kansas City KS 66118 913-
281-3337 Hotel and Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City Tom Holden 1600 Genessee St, Ste
603 Kansas City MO 64102 816-421-3646 www.kansascitylodging.org Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association Richard Hughes 1100 Main St., Ste 2200
Kansas City MO 64105 816-221-5242 www.visitkc.com American Institute of Architects Dawn Kirkwood 104 W Ninth St, Ste 101 Kansas City MO
64105 816-221-3485 www.aiakc.org Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation Kevin Gray 1308 Pennsylvania Ave
Kansas City MO 64105 816-474-4652 www.sportskc.org Catholic Charities of Kansas City Michael Halterman 1112 Broadway Kansas City MO
64105 816-221-4377 www.catholiccharities-kcsj.org Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Rae Jean McCall 1125 Grand Blvd, Ste 400
Kansas City MO 64106 816-474-4322 www.kcmba.org Legal Aid of Western Missouri Gregg Lombardi 1125 Grand Ave, Ste 1900 Kansas City MO
64106 816-474-6750 www.lawmo.org
Create Your Letter Has someone recommended you
speak to this person?• Be sure to mention that person’s name• Easier to get an interview with a
recommendation
Vicki S Berg, MBAPO Box 1015
Mission, KS [email protected]
918-629-5741 September 15, 2010
Nancy DuVallHope HousePO Box 577Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 Dear Ms. DuVall,
I had a wonderful visit with Bob Glaser last week who suggested I contact you. I am new to the Kansas City area and wouldlike to visit with you for about 30 minutes to get some advice about non-profits in the area. I have been working with non-
profitsin Oklahoma for twenty-five years but would like to visit with someone who has knowledge of the Kansas City area. I will callyou next Monday, April 12, to set a meeting at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and assistance.Sincerely, Vicki S Berg, [email protected]/in/vsbergwww.vickisberg.com
Create Your Letter (con’t) Create a list of target companies
• Create a generic letter that you can use as a mail merge or create for each company
• Be sure to have a target individual within each company
Vicki S Berg, MBAPO Box 1015
Mission, KS [email protected]
918-629-5741
September 15, 2010«CEO_or_Executive_Director»«Organization_Name»«Address»«City», «State» «Zip»
Dear «Last_Name»,
I am new to the Kansas City area and would like to visit with you for about 30 minutes to get some advice about non-profits and associations in the area. I have been working with non-profits in Oklahoma for twenty-five years but would like to visit with someone who has knowledge of the Kansas City area. My goal is to secure a mid-level position as director of administration, business manager or controller. I would appreciate hearing your advice on career opportunities in the non-profit industry, on conducting an effective job search, and on how best to uncover job leads.
Thanks so much, in advance, for any insight and advice you would be willing to share. I look forward to contacting you early next week to set up a telephone informational interview. Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Vicki S Berg, [email protected]/in/vsbergwww.vickisberg.com
Enclosure: Resume
Resume vs Marketing Plan Whether to attach a resume is a
personal preference• If you are being referred by someone, use
your own discretion• If you are sending to someone you don’t
know, add your resume but use your marketing plan when talking to them
Follow Up Always follow-up on time
• Look at this as a job interview
Follow-up the phone call with a confirmation email
Confirm your appointment a day or two before• Life changes for you and the person you plan to interview
Dress for Success Find out about the corporate culture
and appropriate dress• Is the typical attire jeans and company logo
shirts?• Is the typical attire business casual?
Dress one step above
Be Prepared Treat this as you would a first
interview• Research the company• Research the individual
Have your questions ready• Know the information you would like to find
out from them• You are not trying to get a job, just get
information
Sample Questions Are you optimistic about the company's future and your future with the company? How is the economy affecting this industry? How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started? What are the most important personal satisfactions and dissatisfactions connected
with your occupation? What attracted you to this industry, your company, and your job? What do you enjoy most about this industry, the company, and your job? What aspects of your career have you found most and least rewarding and why? Any
regrets? What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging? What do you like and not like about working in this industry? What things did you do before you entered this occupation? Which have been most helpful? Why did you decide to work for this company? What do you like most about this company? From your perspective, what are the problems you see working in this field? What are the major frustrations of this job? Do you have any special world of warning or encouragement as a result of your
experience? What do you see as possible next steps for you? How do you value/measure your results and effectiveness? What have been your biggest surprises in this field?
Critical Questions Based on our conversation today, can you
suggest other people who may be able to provide additional information or perspectives to me?
May I have permission to use your name when I contact them?
Have you heard of any events or developments that suggest a particular company might have a need for someone like me?
Follow-Up to the Interview Treat this as you would a job
interview• Send an email thank you as soon as you get
home• Send a hand-written thank you within 48
hours
Good Resources for Informational Interviews
What is an Informational Interview?• http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/infointerviews
/a/infointerview.htm• http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_i
nterviewing.html• http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/occupati
ons/a/info_interviews.htm
Good Resources for Informational Interviews
Informational Interview Questions• http://jobsearch.about.com/od/infointerviews/a/i
nfointervquest.htm• http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_inte
rview_questions.html• http://www.careerchoiceguide.com/informationa
l-interview-questions.html• http://www.careerchoiceguide.com/informationa
l-interview-questions.html
Good Resources for Informational Interviews
Tips, Tricks and Hints• http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_i
nterviewing-dos-donts.html• http://
www.vanderbilt.edu/career/students/getArticle.php?article=56
Contact Information
Vicki S Berg, MBA918.629.5741
www.linkedin.com/in/vsberg
