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If you aren’t scheduling regular informational interviews, you may not be making the best possible use of every resource during your job search. And if you haven’t scheduled any of these meetings yet, now is a perfect time to start. Informational interviews are short, scripted meetings that you’ll hold with anyone in your industry who might be able to help you generate leads or learn more about the type of work you’re looking for. These are especially great resources for younger and less experienced employees who can use the opportunity to establish mentor-mentee relationships with more seasoned pros. As you schedule your meetings, keep these guidelines in mind.

Show respect without being apologetic.

Respect others, and respect yourself as well. Ask politely for a meeting with your targeted industry expert, wait at least three days for a response, then follow up and ask again. If he accepts, thank him for his time, but don’t apologize for wasting it. Time spent with you is never a waste. Find a way to be grateful without deprecating yourself.

Lateness can’t happen.

Of course, you’ll want to be on time for your meeting. But in this case, on time means at least five minutes early. If you’ll be meeting at a public venue like a restaurant or coffee shop, show up even earlier.

Bring your script.

Don’t sit across from your contact and simply wait for her to talk. Instead, bring a set of intelligent, genuine, and carefully scripted questions. For example, ask her how she made her way up in this industry and what she considers the most important traits for success. Ask what you’ll need to do in order to accomplish what she’s accomplished, or otherwise reach your goals.

Keep your meeting under 20 minutes.

Show respect for your interviewer’s time by keeping the meeting short. Don’t cut her off in the middle of a sentence if she appears to be genuinely enjoying the conversation, but keep a close eye on the clock. When your predetermined time has passed, let her know that you respect her time and you’re grateful for what she’s shared with you. Then make your exit.

Follow up.

Send a thank you note later and let your contact know that you’ll keep her in the loop as you continue your job search. When you finally land the job you’re looking for, send a short email message announcing your news.

For more on how to build and maintain a strong network of contacts that can help you reach your professional goals, reach out to the staffing team at Expert Staffing.

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