November - 09 - 2017 Natiqa Babar

1. COMM 202:
Career Fundamentals
T18 & T19 with Natiqa Babar
Tutorial 6: Informational Interviews

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

3. THIS WEEK WEEK 11 WEEK 12
• Tutorial:
Informational
Interview,
Interview Stream
• Lecture:
Interview prep
• Due: Have your
informational
interview date and
time confirmed
• Last tutorial:
Employment
Interview questions
• Due (optional for
bonus marks):
Interview stream by
Nov 26th @ 11:59pm
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S COMING UP?

4. Informational Interviews

5. 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 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

6. STORYTIME! AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
EXPERIENCE

7. HOW TO NAIL YOUR
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

8. 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.)
• 20 minutes of their time
• Close by suggesting two times you are available to
meet
• Tell them you’re willing to meet them at a location
most convenient for them (near their work, etc.)

9. HOW TO REACH OUT?

10. THEIR RESPONSE

11. 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, Instagram(?)
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual contacts

12. 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?

13. 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
3. Bring a notebook, ask if it’s ok 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

14. 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?

15. 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
o Asking relevant follow up questions to what they say

16. 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?’

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

18. 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

19. SAMPLE FOLLOW UP

20. Interview Stream

21. 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 Nov 26th!
Optional
assignment
due Nov
26th for 1
bonus
mark

22. ACTION ITEMS
1. LECTURE - Next week
1. Set up informational interview (if
not done already)
1. Try Interview Stream for practise

23. Any questions?

24. Have a great
weekend!