Informational meetings

My career counselor advised all communications majors to email potential employers and ask for "informational meetings" with them. Has anybody here actually conducted one of those? How do you go about arranging one?

 

Ask an editor if they have time to chat during lunch. Don't ask about openings or the potential to work for the company.

Some advice:

http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/my-pet-peeves-about-informational-interviews/

http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/mastering-the-informational-interview/

 

Ask for a sidebar conference. It works in court.

 

Bring a notebook.

 

And a pen. Make sure it writes first.

 

My boss gave me a pen for Christmas. I need a notebook before I'm set.

 

We could turn this into a useful thread.

I went to a post-Peace Corps seminar and we had a panel on the topic. Not for the news industry, of course, but everyone's looking for work.

Tips from that panel:

Respect the person's time. Don't ask for more than 30 minutes; 15 would be more like it. Give an idea of what kind of suggestions you're looking for: their career track, their field, their company, whatever.

Prepare questions in advance. Be ready to end when you said you'd end, but be open to if the person wants to continue the conversation.

At the end, ask for names of three other people to talk to in the field and ask permission to mention to those people where you got their names.

Dress professionally.

Remember the interview is for you, yes, but it's not about you. You're there to gather information, not sell yourself. You want to make a good impression, but this isn't the time to list your credentials. Be professional.

 

I just got an awesome notebook at a bowl game. Sure, it has bowl logos all over it. But it's dope. SWAG, amiright?

 

Great post, KJIM.

 

For those younger writers who don't like the term wannabe's but still want advice, any good ideas for questions to ask. Like you said don't ask about employment, but what should be asked.