If you know the person, it should be a way to catch up and get advice. If you don’t know the person, or have a very weak connection, it might be a good idea to pay for coffee/lunch.

I “closed” a little differently. I tell recent grads this: “Here’s how you end your informational interview. Even if it was the most boring conversation of your life, you say, “This was SO interesting and helpful! I’d like to learn more about the field … would you be willing to give me the names of a few people you know who may be willing to chat with me?”

Even though you *say* you’re not looking for a job, the professionals you talk with know you are. And eventually, they’ll know of someone who’s hiring.

If you invite me for lunch or coffee or whatever, don’t *expect* me to pay for you. In fact, since you suggested the meal, you should really be doing the paying. But, as a basic guideline, pay for your own meal and perhaps offer to pay for the other person’s as well. It’s pretty rude to ask for someone’s time (and hard earned knowledge) and then not to even bring out your wallet when the bill arrives. Of course, I may just pay for your meal…but not if it seems like you were looking for free information AND a free lunch.

I agree that the key is to not be wanting a job out of them. Someone is doing you a favour. Do not push them too far.

at some point in the next 3-4 years I intend to move up the coast to Oregon/Washington, and this would be a good way to get my foot in the door.

It makes sense for someone to come and talk to us before making an educational and time commitment that may not 1) pay off and 2) be what they thought it would be.

I’m careful to present the pros AND the cons of work in my field. A couple of months ago, a woman came to my office and was planning to get a specialized degree from a high-cost private institution on the east coast, paying via student loans (this is EXACTLY what I did about ten years ago). I was able to give her the low-down on the salary she could expect after graduation, and steer her in the direction of a state university and a little more general degree—advising her to focus more on the work experience she gains during graduate school, rather than specific coursework.

I wish I had interviewed someone in my field before investing my time and money ($55K in student loans). This should be a requirement for all career development courses at the high school and junior college level!

Great article!

I must discuss this with my daughter.

Thanks for sharing

…succeed. Spending time with one your network contacts in a highly focused…

… You feel as if you’ve done as much as you can in your current job and are interested in chaging fields…..

I would be happy to become a part of your editing team. Feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

Kelly

Several things I’ve found that weren’t mentioned in the post were:
-They let you know about the company. I’ve found that by meeting with my contacts at a company I can find out the good and the bad. This can save you from a painful job working for a terrible company.
-Uncover jobs. I’ve gotten three job offers for jobs that weren’t on the books. If the company likes you they will find a way to bring you in.
-It doesn’t matter what level the person you are meeting is at, and often their feedback is more honest about working conditions. I usually contact my friends and ask questions. Follow up in a day or two and ask if they can help arrange a meeting with the boss (if they don’t offer). You now have an inside path to meet with the hiring manager.
-It doesn’t have to be called an “informational interview.” If you are meeting a friend to get insight, call it just that!

I recently covered my job hunting strategy in my post
11 Steps to the Job of Your Dreams.