Career Change Tips - The Informational Interview!

As you contemplate a possible career change you'll find the informational interview to be invaluable. Properly done it should open up avenues of required study, how to gain appropriate experience, the pluses and minuses of the possible career, where the jobs are, and future prospects for the career.

Proper planning for the informational interview is the key to getting the most out of the contact. There is however, one thing you never do in an informational interview. You do not ask for a job, the informational interview is to acquire information.

You've checked with your alumni association, local and national career associations, used LinkedIn, all to find a dozen or more individuals who are currently working in the desired career.

If they live in your area, you'll be looking for a short (15 minutes or so) face to face interview. Otherwise a phone interview should be sufficient. Again, to emphasize, you are looking for information, you should not bring up anything about looking for a job.

If you handle yourself properly, the person you interview may volunteer information about available jobs-but that is not the primary purpose of the interview.

Here are some suggested interview questions, and depending on the proposed career, you should be able to add to the list:

1. What are the typical challenges in the job?

2. What do you like the most about the job, the least? Why?

3. Are there any educational requirements for the job?

4. Any surprises in the job when you started, how about now?

5. Any idea about salary ranges to start? 3-5 years experience?

6. How has the career changed over the last few years?

7. What do you see changing in the career over the next few years?

8. Is the career integrated into a career ladder? What is the next job up the ladder? What are the prospects of moving up?

9. What are the key qualifications for the career? What specifically are employer's looking for?

10. (Briefly review your education and experience.) What do you think I need relating to added education and experience to qualify for a position in the field? (Try to get specific answers.)

11. Who else can I talk to regarding this career and this field? May I use you name in contacting them?

Some additional informational interview ideas: Write out your proposed questions. As you progress through you list of interviews you can edit the list of questions and add those that will help you gain additional information.

Take notes during the interview. If you promise some additional information or you agree to added follow-up be sure to do as promised. Promptly send an appropriate thank you letter.

If the interview is in person have a copy of your resume with you. If asked you'll have a copy to provide your contact. Leave or send some personal business cards to your contact to ensure they can pass them along if they uncover some job leads.

Finally, promise to keep them informed as you progress in you hunt for the right career and the right job.

Discover how an informational interview can get you started in a career change. Learn how to make a career change after 50, or before, using an informational interview. Go to http://careersafter50.com . Learn specific information from others who have used the informational interview to find the right career even after 50.