Oxford Alumni MeetingFeb 21, 2013

Jonathan Black, Director

Careers Service and Internship Office

Information Interviewing

Executive search Job ad

Cold call Network

4 ways to get a job

Networking is not just this technology driven activity

Let’s focus on in-person, information interviews

• Not a job interview– Can be by phone or in person– 15-30 minutes– You can use this skill anywhere and anytime

• Opportunity for you to – Ask questions– Gather information about a career field– Learn about job options and career paths– Make contact with people who can help identify

opportunities in their fields

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Why do it?

• Low pressure– No job depending on it– Interviewee is not in an awkward position of saying No

• Distinguishes you from the crowd– You stay in control of the process – and show others that you’re in

control• Raises your chances significantly

– Chance of there being a job at the moment you call is very low– Chance of a job arising over the following 3-6 months is high– If they remember you favourably, they may well call you without

advertising – you become the only candidate– May start with some project work

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Other benefits

• Practice your interviewing skills– Present yourself and your goals– Polish your written and spoken communication skills– Listen carefully to others and engage them in conversation– Ask informed questions– Comfortably meet and greet new people

• Become a better candidate– Better understanding of the organisation or industry– Learn their jargon– Build a network of professionals who know you and want to help you

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Basic steps…1

• Think about the organisations/industries you want to explore

• Develop a list of possible contacts– Start from friends, family, teachers, clubs, neighbours, friends’

parents– Include colleagues– Oxford network – eg OCN on CareerConnect– LinkedIn groups

• Email to request an information interview and, if necessary, follow up– Mention your mutual contact in the subject/opening sentence

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Finding contacts

• Friends• Alumni office• LinkedIn.com• CareerConnect• Speculative

approaches

Basic steps…2

• Do additional research (web sites, Google searches, news)

• Be on time for the interview, keep to the time limit agreed

• Ask for 2 additional contacts• Write a thank you note• Follow up 3-6 months later

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Possible topics

• What is a typical day like?• How did you get started in your career? • What qualifications (if any) are sought after? • What helps people succeed in your field?• How do you think things will change?• What are the big issues in your world?• What are the best and worst parts of the job?• I am right that the job’s like ……..?

Dear Dr Hire,

XXX suggested I contact you. I work for Mega Corp and am looking to join a technology start up company. I attach my CV.

I am beginning to explore my career options and am particularly interested in the pharmaceutical industry; XXX has suggested that you would be an excellent person to be able to give me an overview of the sector.

I wanted to ask if you could offer 20 minutes of your time for me to learn more about the industry and BigPharmaCo.

Please let me know when it would be convenient to talk over the phone, I am happy to work around your schedule. You can reach me at keen.alum@oxford.edu or on 07999 999999.

Yours sincerely

Keen Alum11

Within in a few meetings…

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1st contact

2nd contact

2nd contact

3rd contact

3rd contact

3rd contact

3rd contact

4th contact

4th contact

4th contact

4th contact

4th contact

4th contact

Keep in touch

• Every 3-6 months• Light-touch contact with everyone you’ve met• “Thought I’d let you know how things are going…”

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Isn’t this about luck?

There’s definitely some luck involved, but...

Luck = preparation + opportunity

…what personal qualities can we add to our preparation?

• Curiosity• Persistence• Flexibility • Optimism • Risk taking

Making some luck by building our...

www.careers.ox.ac.uk01865 274646reception@careers.ox.ac.uk