An informational meeting is an informal meeting with a professional in an area of your career interest. It is a great way to gain more in-depth knowledge about a potential employer, opportunity, or field. Although this type of meeting often leads to job opportunities, avoid asking for a job at an informational meeting.
After you identify an organization or individual, reach out via phone, e-mail, or LinkedIn and introduce yourself. Ask for a 30-minute meeting to discuss their career field and/or organization, meeting at their office when possible to get a feel for the environment.
It is your job to lead this meeting, so be prepared with topics and questions. After you introduce yourself, consider asking these questions:
In concluding your meeting, follow up with a thank-you letter or e-mail and consider including an interesting article or website related to your contact's professional or personal interests; remember that networking is the art of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships.
Once you join a professional association in your field, jump right in and grow your network. We recommend that you become active in your association by attending or presenting at events (e.g., conferences, networking socials, round tables), submitting articles for publication in a newsletter, or even volunteering on the board or a subcommittee.
Volunteering in your community is a great way to give back, and it can also help strengthen your network. To find a volunteer site, search nonprofit and volunteerism websites, reach out to a local charity, or connect with an organization or company for whom you are interested in working. For those in remote areas, virtual volunteer opportunities are available.
Once you obtain a volunteer opportunity, take initiative and ask to take on more projects. This will allow you to enhance your skill set and meet more people. In doing so, you will become connected within the organization, learn insider job information, and obtain references.
OptimalResume is a self-guided career management system with tools to help you create high-impact materials including resumes, cover letters, and career portfolios; and an interview prep function to practice interviewing skills.
To register on OptimalResume, click on New User and enter your Walden University email.
Looking to get started with OptimalResume? Review the tutorials and checklist below:
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