Everyone hopes to land an interview or get an opportunity to show themselves to their future employers. What if you swapped roles and YOU conducted the interview? Don't wait for an invitation to interview, make your own! Learn the tactics involved in information interviewing. Source Employers, ask intentional questions to make the opportunity count and follow up like a professional to advance the relationship. If you can follow these simple steps, you are on your way to Information Interviewing your way to a job!

2. INFORMATION
INTERVIEW
YOUR WAY
TO A JOB
Presentation for The
Life After Westernu
Career Conference
January 21, 2017
Jeff Watson

3. 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 the
promotion 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

4. 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:

5. 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!
WHAT’S IN IT
FOR ME?

6.  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

7. 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.
?

8. Tactic 2.
Ask Intentional Questions
Develop 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. ”
““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.”

12. 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.

13. 1 Send a Thank you Email– 24 hrs after
2 Provide Progress Updates - Monthly
Inform your contact where you are in your
studies/training/job search
Reference advice they gave you and describe your follow-
through
Try 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Contact
Jeff Watson
Associate Director, Employer Relations
The Student Success Centre – The Student Experience
Email: jwatso72@uwo.ca
LinkedIn: Jeff Watson
Twitter: @jeffwatson99
www.toastmasters.org