This document provides an overview and agenda for a tutorial on informational interviews and the Interview Stream tool. It discusses setting up and conducting informational interviews, including how to reach out, prepare questions, behave during the meeting, and follow up. The tutorial also introduces Interview Stream as an optional practice tool for answering interview questions on video. Students are given action items and due dates, including setting up an informational interview and completing a networking reflection.

1. COMM 202:
Career Fundamentals
T36 & T37 with Natiqa Babar
Tutorial 6: Informational Interviews/ Coffee Chats

2. OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY
1. Course Timeline
2. How to Nail the Informational Interview
3. Interview Stream
4. Action Items

3. WEEK 10 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
April 2nd
at 11:59pm

4. Informational Interviews

5. 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 it's
ACTUALLY like to work in a
certain field?
Informational interviews are an
excellent way to explore different
career paths, jobs, options and
industries

6. 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

7. 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

8. STORYTIME! AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
EXPERIENCE

9. HOW TO NAIL YOUR
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

10. 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.)

11. HOW TO REACH OUT?

12. THEIR RESPONSE

13. 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

14. 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?

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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

18. 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
• ‘Now that you know a little more about me, do you know
anyone I can connect with for advice about XYZ?’

19. MAGIC ‘I OWE YOU’
Offer them help in
some way, and they will
be more likely to want
to help you.

20. 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

21. SAMPLE FOLLOW UP

22. Interview Stream

23. 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 April 2nd !
Optional
assignment
due April
2nd for 1
bonus
mark

24. ACTION ITEMS
1. LECTURE - Next week
2. Set up informational interview (if not
done already)
3. Try Interview Stream for practise
4. Networking Reflection due March
21st on Turnitin

25. Any questions?

26. Have a great
weekend!