Researching the Job Market Through
With so many changes in the job market, it’s no wonder that so many people find
researching a career confusing and overwhelming. The key is to find ways to link your
self-assessment information to potential career choices and then structure a plan to learn
more about the fields and industries that interest you. Informational interviewing, a targeted
form of networking, is an essential part of that process.
Here’s how it works:
1. Use the Occupations Summary in the previous checklist to identify the fields and
occupations that you want to explore.
2. Ask people that you know (relatives, acquaintances, friends, colleagues, past
employers) to introduce you to people who work in your areas of interest.
3. Use the Encyclopedia of Associations (available at many libraries) and other
resource materials to help you identify professional/trade associations in your target
area. If there is a local chapter, plan to attend a meeting to meet new people and
learn more about the field.
4. Should you decide to join a professional group, ask if they have a membership
directory (which you can use to conduct further informational interviews) as well as
a job bank (which will come in handy when you’re ready to do your job search).
5. When you have identified the people that you want to meet (either through your
personal networking strategy or by using the directory), contact them by e-mail or
phone to schedule a convenient time to talk.
6. During your initial conversation, make sure that you briefly explain who you are,
why you are contacting them, and what you hope to gain from the conversation.
Make sure that you are cordial but assertive.
7. Before the interviews, do your homework. Read trade journals, track down Web
sites, and gather whatever information you need in order to present yourself as a
knowledgeable interviewee. Remember that your goal is not to find a job, it is to
find out if this is the right career path or company for you.
8. At the conclusion of the interview, ask your contact if they can recommend other
people or resources that you can use to learn more about your areas of interest.
9. Always follow up your meetings with a thank-you letter. If someone was particularly
helpful, make sure that you tell them how much you appreciate their interest and
concern. Also, make sure that you periodically apprise them of your progress. They
will surely appreciate your consideration.
10. After you have made a decision (whether it’s for or against a particular choice),
reconnect with your network of people to let them know how you are progressing
and what you would like to happen next.
