2. OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY
1. Course Timeline
2. How to Nail the Informational Interview
3. Interview Stream
4. Action Items
3. THIS
WEEK WEEK 11 WEEK 12
• Tutorial: Informational
Interview & Interview
Stream
• Due: Resume and
cover letter due March
12th at 11:59pm on
Turnitin
• Networking event:
March 13th from 6-8pm
in CPA hall
• Lecture:
Interviews &
Emotional
Intelligence
• Due: Networking
reflections due
March 21st at
11:59pm on
Turnitin
• Last tutorial:
Employment
interview questions
• Due (optional for
bonus mark):
Interview stream by
Apr 2nd @ 11:59pm
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S COMING UP?
6. WHAT’S THE POINT OF INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS?
• Not sure what to option in?
Considering a double option?
• Want to know how to get into a
certain field?
• Want to learn what its
ACTUALLY like to work in a
certain field?
Informational interviews are an
excellent way to explore
different career paths, jobs,
options and industries
7. WHAT CAN AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
LOOK LIKE?
1. In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office
2. Over Skype, Google Hangouts
3. Over the phone
8. WHAT CAN AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
LOOK LIKE?
1. In person at a coffee shop or the
professional’s office This course
2. Over Skype, Google Hangouts
3. Over the phone
11. THINGS TO INCLUDE IN THE EMAIL
• You’re a student
• How you heard about them or know them
• What you are looking to learn (their career
progression, advice on how to best leverage
time at Sauder, etc.)
• 20 minutes of their time
• Close by suggesting two times you are available
to meet
• Tell them you’re willing to meet them at a
location most convenient for them (near their
work, etc.)
14. BEFORE THE MEETING: DO YOUR
RESEARCH
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
WHERE TO FIND
INFO
• Their company
• Know their major skill sets
• Work history
• Accomplishments
• Associations
• Common interests
• Internet search
• LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram(?)
• Their personal website
• Ask mutual contacts
15. BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE
QUESTIONS
Examples:
• How did you get into the industry?
• What do you like most about your job and/or field?
• What is one challenge you’re currently facing at work?
• What do you need to do to become successful in this industry?
• What should I be reading?
• What advice do you have for someone starting out?
16. WHAT QUESTIONS DID STELLA PREP?
Common interests (found on LinkedIn)
Relevant & specific Qs that show
interest and research
Job/role related
17. DURING THE MEETING
1. Thank them for their time
2. Take charge – you’re the one who called the meeting. Remind them
why they are here
3. Bring a notebook, ask if it’s ok if you take notes, take notes
4. Ask questions and listen to their responses fully – don’t feel like you
need to ask only the questions you prepared for. The best
conversations are those where questions flow naturally
5. 15 mins in ask if they are okay to continue
18. DURING THE MEETING: REMINDERS
• Eye contact, smile, handshake,
thank you
• Dress the part
• Pay attention to body language
• Bring a notebook and take notes
• Offer your opinions
• Be curious
• Respect their time
• Who pays?
19. DURING THE MEETING: EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
• Watch out for signals – have they closed their book or checked their phone? This
means they may need to head back to work and you should ask them if they are okay
to continue
• Acknowledge that they’re busy and you really appreciate them taking time out of their
day for you
• Active listening – essential for having a natural conversation. This looks like:
o Maintaining eye contact; not looking elsewhere while they’re talking
o Asking relevant follow up questions to what they say
20. TELL YOUR STORY
• What you would love to do for companies
• What problem have you identified that makes you
want to work in the industry
• Why you feel it’s important to talk to experts in the
field
• Use phrases like: ‘I like to…’, ‘I believe...’
• Keep it short, positive and focused
21. MAGIC ‘I OWE YOU’
“Is there anything I
can do for you?”
Offer them help in
some way, and they
will be more likely to
want to help you.
22. FOLLOWING UP
• Send a thank you email
• Thank them for their time
• Mention something you talked about
• Mention when you will follow up with them next
25. OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT & PRACTICE
TOOL: INTERVIEW STREAM
• Practice answering interview
questions
• Go back and review your recording
to see what was good and where to
improve
• 5 general questions will pop up on
the screen and then your webcam
will record your answer
• Will NOT be graded and no one will
see your videos. But you can receive
1 bonus mark if used before Apr 2nd!
Optional
assignme
nt due
Apr 2nd
for 1
bonus
mark
26. REMINDERS
1. Set up informational interview (if
not done already)
2. Next week is lecture
3. Networking event reflection due
March 21st
4. TA email:
comm202.1@sauder.ubc.ca
Stella was considering doubling in marketing and operations/logistics, but didn’t know much about Oplog.
Went to the lululemon distribution centre tour with the UBC Supply Chain Management Club.
Liked the tour guide, who was the e-commerce manager of lululemon.
Sent her an email following the event asking her to have an informational interview.
Who pays? – Students should offer to pay and be prepared to pay for coffee
Tell them phone interviews are good too (but not for this assignment)
Think of coffee chats as ‘asking for directions’ rather than ‘asking for a job’
The business professional will offer connection
Even the act of saying 'how can I serve you' is really powerful
If you're looking to hire a student
Create your own question sets
Huge bank of potential questions - large question variety
Webcam interviews are very common as a first round
