JOBTALKS INFOSEARCH STRATEGY Indiana University Kelley School of Business C. Randall Powell, Ph.D Contents used in this presentation are adapted from Career Planning Strategies and used with the permission of the author.
GETTING JOB INTERVIEWS IS... HARD WORK The Word "No” Is Crushing The InfoSearch
A BASIC EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY INFO SEARCH IS INTERVIEWING FOR INFORMATION… RESEARCHING THE MARKET
OBJECTIVES DIFFER INTERVIEWING FOR INFORMATION IS NOT INTERVIEWING FOR A JOB
OBJECTIVES IN INFO SEARCH To increase network size To obtain job interview later To gain new facts
INFO SEARCH GETS FOOT IN DOOR
INFO SEARCH RATIONALES TO SEEK INTERVIEWS An educational project Civic responsibility Market research Career advice
INFO SEARCH RATIONALES IN SEEKING INTERVIEWS Political party support Selling product Avocation
“Now just relax. The boys and I only want a little information about your job.”
INFO SEARCH PRODUCES JOB INTERVIEWS Right place Right time Right qualifications INDIRECTLY
INFO SEARCH ADVANTAGES Takes the heat off Eliminates chance of rejection Creates positive impression
INFO SEARCH Free Flattering Creates goodwill Builds your contact network
INFO SEARCH TARGETS PEOPLE WHO ARE: Leaders Successful Decision-makers
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT WHO......AND IT'S NOT WHAT THEY KNOW EITHER.
OPENING DOORS FOR INFO SEARCH Recommend (appeal on friendship) Name dropping (Prof/friend/employer) Project (appeal to help) Advice (appeal to pride) appointment via telephone Follow-up
PREPARING FOR YOUR INFO SEARCH Prepare a line of inquiry Plan time appropriately Research the employer Know your interviewer Appeal to pride
“Oh don’t mind me…I’m just collecting a little pre-interview data.”
CONDUCTING YOUR INFO SEARCH l Ask questions l Make notes l Show great interest l Leave feeler l Probe other areas of advice
INFO SEARCH FORMAT What do you do? Can I tag along for a day? How did you get here? What do you like/dislike about a job?
INFO SEARCH FORMAT What is a typical day like? What is your next promotion? Any suggestions for me? What is your academic training?
“Would you rate your career as ‘A’, extremely rewarding, ‘B’, mildly rewarding, ‘C’, moderately rewarding, or ‘D’, a bummer?”
JOB SEARCH FEELERS Not looking now, but... If you hear of something special… Might consider a move if… Keep me in mind if you...
EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK Request names of five more Info Search contacts Begin sorting quality of contacts "who can help"
INFO SEARCH FOLLOW-UP Always leave a business type card Send a thank you letter soon Possibly enclose resume “Leave a feeler”
INFO SEARCH FOLLOW-UP Maintain periodic contact (monthly) Send result of Interview/Product Leave a feeler: Gentle reminder “Let's keep in touch”
OBJECTIVE IN JOB INTERVIEWING: TO OBTAIN AN OFFER
WHEN TO INTERVIEW? WHEN YOU KNOW A JOB EXISTS HELP WANTED
EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY “info search” opens the door … HIDDEN JOBS
EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES LIMITS ON: 1 METHODOLOGY 2 TECHNIQUES 3 STRATEGIES
If you would like to learn more, Career Planning Strategies textbook will supply additional information on this topic.