JOBTALKSJOBTALKS

INFOSEARCH STRATEGY

Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC. 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 ISINTERVIEWING FORINFORMATION…

RESEARCHING THEMARKET

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 projectCivic responsibility

Market researchCareer advice

INFO SEARCH RATIONALES IN SEEKING INTERVIEWS

Political party supportSelling product

Avocation

“Now just relax. The boys and I only want a little information about your job.”

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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

FreeFlatteringCreates goodwillBuilds your contact network

INFO SEARCH TARGETS

PEOPLE WHO ARE:LeadersSuccessfulDecision-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

Email Follow-up

PREPARING FOR YOUR INFO SEARCH

Prepare a line of inquiryPlan time appropriately

Research the employerKnow your interviewer

Appeal to pride

“Oh don’t mind me…I’m just collecting a little pre-interview data.”

CONDUCTING YOUR INFO SEARCH

Ask questionsMake notesShow great interestLeave feelerProbe other areas of advice

INFO SEARCH FORMATWhat 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 FEELERSNot 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 STRATEGIESLIMITS ON:

1 METHODOLOGY2 TECHNIQUES3 STRATEGIES

If you would like to If you would like to learn more, learn more, Career Career Planning StrategiesPlanning Strategies textbook will supply textbook will supply additional information additional information on this topic.on this topic.