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Informational Interviewing 101

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Career Advice for College Graduates

Tomorrow evening, I'll be speaking to soon-to-be graduates of Manhattanville College at the Backpack to Briefcase event for graduating seniors. The event is a celebration and a send-off. Rather than tell them what to do, I plan to inspire the students to find their own answers. It's advice I wished I'd received.

I was so focused on being the good student that I only did what others told me to do. To this graduating class I want to impart, honesty. Please be honest with yourselves about what you really want to be doing with your time, your energy, your skills, your talents, your ideas. That's the path to a satisfying career.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Informational Interviewing 101

Too often people overlook the informational interview as a key tool in landing a new job or making a career change. I got my previous job at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia through an informational interview. It was a conversation that led to many career opportunities for me.

If you've been wanting to do something different in your career and aren't sure how to go about it, try this approach:
1) Make a list of careers you'd love to be doing (Aren't sure? Read my article on Finding Your Purpose.)
2) Write down all the questions you'd like answered (for a sampling check out the online informational interviews at TheCareerProject.org).

Posted by maggie at 1:29 PM