Discover the drawbacks of informational interviews and the importance of test-driving conversations. Learn how experimentation and feedback can help find your true career path. Explore different contact methods, crafting an ask, and maintaining relationships. Prepare questions, be open-minded, and focus on the other person's interests. Take the first step towards making a change and build a thriving network.
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Quick takeaways
Informational interviews can create obstacles when trying to make a career pivot or find a role that fits due to various reasons.
Test drive conversations are recommended as an alternative to informational interviews, allowing individuals to experiment and validate their ideal career profile.
Deep dives
The Limitations of Informational Interviews
Informational interviews can create obstacles when trying to make a career pivot or find a role that fits due to various reasons. People often perceive informational interviews as job inquiries, triggering responses that may not be desired. Additionally, there is a misconception that informational interviews are intended for younger or less senior individuals, making it more difficult for executives or experienced professionals to leverage their experience. To avoid these limitations, it is recommended to explore alternative approaches.
The Power of Test Drive Conversations
Test drive conversations are recommended as an alternative to informational interviews. These conversations are part of a larger process of finding fulfilling work and involve testing a hypothesis, gaining rapid exposure to new information, and building relationships. Test drive conversations allow individuals to experiment and validate their ideal career profile, which may differ from their initial assumptions. By engaging in test drive conversations and gathering feedback, individuals can refine their understanding of their ideal career path.
Preparing for Test Drive Conversations
To prepare for test drive conversations, it is important to research the person you will speak with and identify potential areas of rapport. This research can be conducted through platforms like LinkedIn, company websites, and social media. Building rapport with shared interests or experiences creates a deeper connection. During the conversation, it is essential to remain open-minded, ask meaningful questions, and show authentic interest in the other person. By approaching test drive conversations with curiosity and a focus on learning, individuals can gather valuable information and insights to determine their career fit.
If your goal is to get a job, sure, you can stick with informational interviews. But if you're after a fulfilling career that pays really well, then you must do things differently than the rest of the world. The internet and self-proclaimed job experts have been chanting the mantra of informational interviews as the go-to solution for career change. But over the years, we've discovered that these interviews can actually throw up more roadblocks than solutions. In general, we've never been big fans of following the crowd, and that remains the same when it comes to informational interviews. In this episode, Scott dives into why we're not big proponents of this approach. Instead, he'll introduce you to a game-changer that will bring you much closer to your career goals: test-driving conversations.
What you'll learn
The limitations of informational interviews
The importance of experimenting and staying open to self-discovery
Why test-driving conversations is a more effective and authentic approach than informational interviews
The step-by-step process of test-driving conversations