The Art of the Meet-and-Greet: How to Leverage Informational Interviews

With so many finance workers looking for jobs, many employers prefer to keep their open jobs on the “hidden market,” which means they may never be posted. While a formal job interview can be hard to land, informal (or informational) interviews are a great way to find out what’s going on in a company and what they’re looking for in a candidate. It’s also a good way to get on a potential employer’s list of future candidates.

Try to interview with someone who is working in your desired finance field, not just with someone who is in human resources. The way to land an interview is by digging through your network of friends, family, former colleagues, trade groups, and social media. Find out who you’re connected to and start building the bridge to make new contacts.

Before you reach out to the contacts you would like to interview, do your homework. Be prepared to know everything you can about the interviewer, the company, and the latest news in the finance world. Research the company’s latest developments and make a list of questions. Some examples include how the firm sources job candidates and what corporate culture is like. Prepping with questions will help ease your nerves, but it will also show the interviewer that you’re serious about your job search and their company.

When your interview takes place, don’t pepper your interviewer with questions. Let the conversation flow normally and interject a question when it’s appropriate. You shouldn’t try to sell yourself directly, but it’s okay to have a few sentences prepared that outline your background and interest in the company. Again, let the conversation flow normally, and insert information about yourself where it makes sense. Be interested and engaged, but don’t try to force anything.

When it comes to scheduling interviews, take what you can get. People are busy, and any time they can give you is valuable. Even if it’s just a few minutes on the phone or an email exchange, it’s still a foot in the door. Whatever time you are given, make sure to thank the interviewer for their time and input.

It doesn’t matter if a company is officially hiring or not. Having good informational interviews is the best way to make a good first impression before an official interview takes place. It’s always valuable to get a foot in the door, and it proves your initiative.