Job-hunting is rough. Most people, completely comfortable putting themselves out there for their clients or company , turn tongue-tied and awkward when trying to represent themselves (that's actually what keeps headhunters in business). But when you start contacting people, you’ll be amazed at just how many folks who want to help.  The trick is to not ask for a job – just ask for opinions. Make the call, topline your experience, identify where you think you might be heading next, and then ask for advice. Once they realize that you’re not hitting them up for a job you’ll actually hear them relax (listen for the exhale and the squeaking chair as they settle in to talk with you. If you’re physically with them, you can see them shifting their positions to get more comfortable – the pressure’s off). They’ll double their efforts to help once they know they’re not going to have to come up with excuses about why they can't bring you on.

 

 

Candidates have been telling me about the informational meetings they’ve been able to secure. We’re both taken with how generous people have been, during these tough economic times, in giving their time for informational meetings. Maybe they’re trying to amass great karma in the event of their own layoff one day. More likely they’re genuinely interested in offering whatever help they can. Either way, an informational interview is a fantastic opportunity to further assess the market and find out what’s going on from someone else’s perspective.

 

Do Your Homework, For Heaven's Sake!

 

And yet, you KNOW, (don’t you?) that an informational conversation is never just informational. Every single time you have an opportunity to sit with someone and talk about work, it's a chance to position yourself as a quality candidate in your contact’s eyes. I don’t care if they say, “Sure I’ll meet you, but you know I’ve got nothing available, right?” Or “I can only give you 10 minutes.” Or “I may be in a meeting, but just drop by and I’ll see you if I can.”  Go into that meeting completely prepared. Know hot topics in the industry, key work in which the company has been involved (you’ve been on their web site, haven’t you? You’ve read their most recent press releases, right?), and specific examples of relevant work for which you’ve been responsible. Don’t try to sell yourself, just talk about the business, the industry, where you see it and you heading. Be positive, keep up your eye contact, ask for advice and suggestions.

 

One client, learning this post was being written, emailed me his pet peeve: candidates who show up in his office for an interview (for a position or informational, it doesn’t matter) and know absolutely nothing about his company. They haven’t done an ounce of research and have given no thought at all to how or why they’re a fit. What did they think … they’re going to get hired because they’re witty? Cute? Connected? The market is tough, times are hard. Possibly in the past you might have been picked up because of your sparkling personality, but now, if that personality isn’t coupled with a demonstrated intense interest in the business, that informational interview will last a polite 20 minutes and you’ll be out the door.

 

Don’t try to prove me wrong – do your homework!