Working with students before they conduct an informational interview will help prepare them and build their confidence. Here are some activities that will assist with informational interview preparation.
- Practice conversational skills
- Rehearse professional greetings, ways to transition in a conversation, and being professional.
- Practice listening skills
- The key information gathered will come from careful listening. See the supplemental resource on activities to practice listening skills. (hyper link)
- Encourage students to ask questions based off responses. The student’s follow-up question in the scenario below is an example:
- Student: “What training did you have prior to this job?”
- Employee: “I did not have any formal training. However, I wish I had done an apprenticeship beforehand because there was a lot to learn initially.”
- Student: “Oh, I see. What skills from an apprenticeship would have been helpful when starting out?”
- Come up with questions to ask during interview
- Aim to ask questions you could not get from an internet search. Questions should be directed at specific job roles or specific industries.
- Avoid asking for advice. Keep the interview focused on the job and the person’s experience.
- Write questions to ask in the student form. (hyper link)
- See the supplemental resource on sample questions to ask.
- Practice facilitating an Informational Interview
- Have students practice conducting Informational Interviews with you or with one another.
- Give students a homework assignment to practice running their Informational Interview with a family member or friend.
