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https://www.job-hunt.org/job_interviews/handling-one-way-video-interviews.shtml

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https://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_136878_1&content_id=_6993331_1

Access the MIDDLE stage of the career journey, to find a MODULE on INTERVIEWS 101

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Did you know that QUT offers a FREE program for you to source popular interview questions, practice your own video answers, and receive feedback on them?

https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/jobs-and-careers/succeed-in-interviews

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https://www.peoplehr.com/blog/2018/03/14/top-10-video-interview-questions-and-why-you-should-ask-them/

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https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/jobs-and-careers/applying-for-jobs/succeed-in-interviews/preparing-for-your-interview

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Did you know there's a LOT of terrific resources from LinkedIn about how to build your skills?

https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/it-and-printing/software-and-learning-tools/linkedin-learning

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- context is key!  you have the choice to introduce yourself in different ways for different audiences

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What's a good elevator pitch? It's the one that gets attention. Makes people genuinely interested in you. Lands you a job of your dreams, or helps build a lasting relationship with a strategic client.

In 7 minutes, you'll learn everything you need to know to create an elevator pitch that works every time.

What is an elevator pitch and when to use it.

Step-by-step instructions on how to nail your elevator pitch in every situation.

How to write a universal elevator pitch you can later adjust.

Elevator pitch examples for various scenarios: semi-formal conversations, job interviews, or pitching your business ideas.

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One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

Before we move on, let's start with some basics:
1
What Is an Elevator Pitch

Elevator pitch (also known as an elevator speech) is a short, persuasive speech you use to introduce yourself, your product, or your company. Its purpose is to explain the concept quickly and clearly to spark interest in who you are and what you do.

An elevator pitch should be 30-seconds long at maximum: short enough to get your message across anytime and anywhere-even during a quick elevator ride (hence the name).
Simply put-
It's an answer you give to the good 'ol "So... What do you do?" question:

A short-and-sweet sales message so compelling that, once you've finished, whoever you're talking to likes you enough to hire you or give you money.

Sound scary? Awkward? Plain impossible?

Nah. It's easier than you think. Below, I break down a good elevator pitch template for different scenarios:

General, introductory elevator pitch for job seekers to use at networking events, job fairs, and career expos.

Elevator speech for job interviews.

Elevator "sales" pitch to get stakeholders interested in your organization.

And if you feel you could work on improving your communication skills, check out our guide: 20+ Effective Communication Skills for Resumes & Workplace Success
2
How to Make an Elevator Pitch: Step-by-step Guidelines

Depending on the situation, your elevator pitch will have a slightly different purpose.

That's why the first thing you need is to identify your .

Do you want to land a job with a particular company?

Perhaps you have a great business idea and you're looking for a VC?

Want to land a new, strategic client?

Heck, maybe you just want to casually introduce yourself and explain what you do for a living...

Whatever it is that you'd like to achieve, we've got you covered. Here's how to craft an elevator pitch for three different occasions.

(If you just want to see elevator pitch examples for reference and inspiration, feel free to scroll over to the next section.)

Introduction Speech: Elevator Pitch for Career Fairs

Career fairs are busy environments. Hundreds of candidates vying for attention of few big fish.

Any idea why I italicized attention?

Because without it, you might as well talk to the hand. There's no point of launching your pitch if you don't have the attention of the person you're talking to.

Capturing your audience's interest comes first in this four-step elevator pitch formula:

How to Make an Introductory Elevator Pitch

Grab their attention. Open your elevator speech with something captivating and relatable. For instance, identify a common industry pain point they'll be familiar with.

Spark curiosity. Tell them you've found a solution to that very problem.

Summarize what you do. Then say how you do it and what's the outcome.

Let's see how it works on these a real-life elevator pitch samples.
Be ready for more questions. A good elevator pitch is an invitation to a conversation, not an ad slogan.

Have a business card at hand. If the person you spoke with wants to continue the talk later, handing a business card will be much more professional that just giving your phone number.

Imagine this: you go over to the CEO of your dream company.

"Hello, my name is Jerry Brown."

"Nice to meet you Jerry. So tell me... What do you do?"

Elevator Pitch Examples: Introduction at a Career Fair/Networking Event

I'm a sales executive with over 10 years of experience leading automotive sales teams to victory and delivering extraordinary sales results.

"That sounds amazing, Jerry, congratulations!" (Euphemism for: "You've just bored me to death.")

It's the hundredth time today they hear someone droning on about being an X with Y years of experience in Z.

How about doing this instead?

I'm sure you've heard that famous sales statistic: 80% of sales are made by the top 20% of salespeople. [Grabbing attention by identifying the industry problem]

"Yeah, that's correct."

I've decided to take advantage of it to skyrocket the sales my team generates. [Sparking curiosity]

"Oh, how's that?"

I introduced a peer-to-peer learning program where top performers share their expertise with others [What you do] through curated content and "learning weeks." [How you do it] In 6 months, my team started generating sales 120% above company average. [What's the outcome]

"Jerry, I'm sure we could use such a learning scheme at our organization! But tell me-what's in it for those top-performing salespeople?"
[Now it's time to keep the conversation going!]

See what happened here?

The formula Jerry used turned the CEO from someone asking "What do you do?" out of sheer politeness into an engaged listener.

For more elevator pitch examples for job seekers in semi-formal networking situations, scroll down. Keep reading if you want to learn more about...

Elevator Pitch for a Job Interview

The elevator speech you need for job interviews is, in essence, the answer to the tell me about yourself interview question.
Three key things:

Open with a very brief introduction to your professional persona.

Secondly, don't just tell them what you do. Highlight how well you can do it. Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula.

Last but not least, identify their challenges. In your elevator pitch, make an offer to solve them.

And it's actually easier to deliver it than during a conversation with a potential career connection at a networking event.

You have your listeners' attention. They want to find out more about you.

See sample elevator pitches for a job interview below:

Elevator Pitch for an Interview: Examples

I'm a Project Manager with 10+ years of experience in major state hospitals. I'm skilled in kanban, Scrum, and Agile methodologies. And I have a proven record of delivering projects on time and within budgets.

I'm a Senior Project Manager with a creative attitude to problem solving [Professional Persona]. In my current position as Chief of Project Management at Seton Hospital, my recent challenge has been the reduction of stockroom waste [Problem]. I introduced a new kanban system and designed Lean training programs [Action] to be carried out across all departments. We managed to cut stockroom waste by 65% which, ultimately, slashed monthly costs by a quarter [Result]. I know cost-saving solutions for the infant ward are amongst your key priorities. I'm sure I can use my expertise to achieve great results with this initiative [Your offer].

The right elevator pitch example screams "I'm the candidate you've been looking for your whole life."

The wrong one? Yeah, I know who you are, your job title contains that.

To make sure you'll be ready for that big interview, see our guide to all of the most typical interview questions: Common Interview Questions and Best Answers (Examples)

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch

The third type of an elevator speech we'll break down is the one you use to describe your business, product, or an idea to a client, stakeholder, or a potential VC.

1. Explain what your company does in a simple, not overly technical way.

2. Identify what makes your business proposition unique.

3. Back up your value with numbers.

4. Ask an engaging question.

5. Have your business card ready.

6. Don't beat yourself up if your sales pitch doesn't work: you need to try many times until you succeed.

In this case, the elevator pitch formula boils down to five steps.

Elevator Speech Template for Startup Owners or Entrepreneurs

See these sales pitch examples:

My company's core competency is the development of highly effective, personalized sales funnels based on machine learning for ecommerce startups. Our algorithms work in synergy with every customer's behavioral characteristics so that we manage to upsell our clients' products while delighting their customers.

My company develops and designs personalized online sales funnels [what your company does]. That means two things: one, online customers enjoy a flawless user experience tailored to their needs and interests, and two: our clients get automated solutions that dramatically boost sales [unique business proposition]. We helped our last client increase online revenue by 120% month-on-month [hard numbers behind your results]. Does your company have any experience with ecommerce automation? [engaging question]

The wrong example isn't actually awful.

But it's too self-centered, much too complicated, and filled with unnecessary business jargon and meaningless buzzwords.

It's not 2010 anymore, for goodness sake. Everyone's had enough of startup dudes' talk. Do your best to avoid coming across as one of them!

Also, if your elevator pitch doesn't immediately bring the desired outcome, don't worry.

Research has proven that there's almost no correlation between the presence of an elevator pitch and the final decision of potential stakeholders.

Another study published by the MIT Press focused on elevator pitches used by tech innovators to sell their ideas to potential VC investors: they suffer a failure rate of 96%.

But-

Not getting what you want straight away doesn't mean you've failed. It just wasn't the right time nor the right audience, but the good impression you've made will last. And pay off in the future!

Alright.

Before we move on to more examples of elevator pitches, one final thing-

Although most of the time you'll deliver your pitch during a conversation, it's good to have an adjustable template ready beforehand. Here's how to make yours:

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
3
When you're done, our online resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

How to Write an Elevator Pitch
Here's how to write a powerful elevator pitch in six easy steps:

1. Start with who you are.

2. Write about what you do and how you do it.

3. Explain the results of your work and what makes you unique.

4. Edit what you've written. Erase sentences that are too long or unclear. Leave those that sound the way you speak.

5. Add a good conversation-starter at the beginning. An interesting fact about your career that grabs attention.

6. Record your pitch. Check if you aren't repeating any words, make sure no sentences sound too awkward or salesy.

7. Make sure you stay within the 30 seconds without talking too fast.

8. Practice a lot. Ideally, with someone who knows you. Ask for feedback: do you sound natural? Is your elevator pitch conversational and free-flowing?

If you're feeling paralyzed just by the idea of "selling yourself" to someone in 30 seconds or less, you're not alone.

To get more comfortable with an elevator pitch, prepare the basic framework for yours so that you can adjust it to a particular situation later on.

So there you have it.

Everything you need to know about an elevator speech or a sales pitch.

Hint: in each of the pitches below, try to identify the ingredients of a perfect elevator pitch we've discussed.
And if you'd like to check how to work on your writing skills, follow up with: 160 Best Writing Skills for Job & How to Improve Them

Now, get inspired by these sample elevator pitches from various professionals.

Which example do you think is best?

Let's start with an elevator pitch from someone without much work experience.

Elevator Pitch Example for a Student-Networking Event/Job Fair

I'm a recent UPenn graduate with a degree in English and a minor in Film Studies. I work as a freelance copywriter for local businesses and nonprofits, and a movie critic for the Huffington Post: actually, my recent review of The Favorite got 52 thousand shares on Twitter. Maybe you've come across it? Anyways, if you know someone in need of unique, buzz-worthy content, feel free to send them my way!

Now, see two examples of elevator pitches for an interview.

Digital Marketing Elevator Pitch-Job Interview

As a Digital Marketing Manager at XYZ, I coordinate all stages of creating audiovisual marketing materials: from the concept, to execution, to promotion. At the beginning of last year, I got a list of 15 campaigns and a set budget for all of them. Together with our Technology Department, we came up with a strategy of cross-departmental communications calibrating the tech solutions with all team's talents to cut redundant costs and increase efficiency. Under my leadership, we completed all 15 projects on time and over 10% below budget. By the end of the year, sales from all campaigns contributed to increasing revenue by 48%.

Customer Service Representative Elevator Pitch-Job Interview

I'm a Customer Service Representative who works with one mission in mind only: to maximize business opportunities by connecting every customer with personal support at every step of their life journey. In my current position, I've planned and supervised online and phone surveys prior to the redesign of our home page. The product we've created resulted in a boost of the mean NPS from 7.9 to 8.6. My goal is to translate that expertise into sky-high customer happiness scores for your company.

The next sample, in turn, is an actual elevator pitch I've heard from one of Zety's readers, Joseph.

Elevator Pitch Sample-Semi-Formal Introduction

First and foremost, I'm saving the world economy. Other than that, I grow corals on dead and declining reefs. I'm travelling the world to evaluate reefs. Currently, my team and I are growing corals in Fiji, next year we'll do the same on the Great Barrier Reef, together with a team of Australian scientists. What does that have to do with the world economy, you might ask... Well-if humans kill off the reefs, whole oceanic ecosystems will follow. And soon after-the Earth. Last time I checked, you couldn't grow any economy on a dead planet.

Finally, here's my elevator pitch I launch whenever someone asks me "So what do you do?"

Elevator Pitch Sample from Zety's Career Advice Writer

Do you know anyone who genuinely enjoys the job search? I don't. And it doesn't surprise me. It's super stressful and, worse than that, feels like you're playing a game against recruiters. That's because recruitment is a game. And I'm on a mission to help job seekers win that game every time they play. I write career advice based on hard data and insights from actual HR pros. Thanks to my help, thousands of job seekers from all over the globe find and land careers they've always dreamt about: quickly and with no fuss. So tell me-what's your dream career?

And if you're on the lookout for a new job, learn how to use job boards to your advantage. Check out the article: Best Online Job Hunting Sites & How to Use Them
Here's how to make an elevator pitch:

1. Start your elevator pitch with something that grabs attention and builds rapport, like a common problem in your industry everyone will be familiar with.

2. Spark curiosity by saying that you solve this problem.

3. Say who you are and what you do.

4. Explain how you do it and what the results are.

5. Be ready to answer questions: you need to keep the conversation going.

6. Always have a business card at hand.

7. Don't get upset if your elevator speech doesn't get you what you want immediately.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
And, tell me... What do you do? Try to answer using the elevator speech tips from the article. I can't wait to hear your pitch!
See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Thanks for reading! Drop me a line in the comments if you want to learn more about crafting an unforgettable elevator pitch.

About Zety's Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We're committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

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How to Write an Elevator Pitch (Examples & Speech Template)

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See elevator pitch examples for job seekers and entrepreneurs. Use our templates to write an excellent elevator speech about yourself and deliver it like a pro.

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Clinical Research Associate, PRA Health Sciences

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https://www.viacharacter.org/
https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register

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Actually useful questions to ask in informational interviews

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Actually useful questions to ask in informational interviews

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Really good resource for when you're trying to build connections - gives some good example questions that help you sound informed, engaged, and proactive.

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A reader writes:
You've written before about how NOT to behave in an informational interview (i.e. use it to try to get a job), but I wonder what you recommend to get the most out of them when you're approaching the meeting with the proper mindset. I'm about six months away from getting a masters degree, and another student in my program recently arranged for me to have lunch with her and a family friend. She organized the lunch because the family friend works in an industry related to the particular niche of our field I'd like to work in. This was an incredibly kind thing of her to do, but it was rather short notice, and I scrambled to come up with questions. I asked a few specific things about the direction the industry is going in, and a few questions about a new side project her company has that's of particular interest to me, but I fear that beyond that she was left to lead the conversation more than I would have liked. She did so wonderfully, giving us a tour of the building, asking me about myself, showing me the software she uses, etc. I wonder though, how I might have made more of this networking opportunity. Obviously some questions are specific to industry and situation, but do you have any across-the-board recommendations (beyond being prepared) for making the most of informational interviews, particularly ones you didn't seek out?
Like with asking questions in interviews, my advice on this is to spend some time really thinking about what you genuinely want to know from this person who has experience in your field. That's probably going to lead you to questions I'd never think of, like or "how do you handle the frustration of X?" or "how have the new regulations on Y played out in your work?"

In other words, don't just focus on being impressive (which is the pitfall a lot of people fall into), but think seriously about what you're really wondering about. I can promise you that this person doesn't want to spend their time answering questions that you're asking because you saw a list that suggested asking them; they want to answer the stuff you're really dying to know. (I'm not saying that's where you're coming from - I just see it so much that I need to raise it.)

Now that that disclaimer is out there, here are some questions that I think are great to ask in informational interviews:

What do you wish you'd known about the field before starting in it? Do you think there are common misperceptions people have about this work as they're looking to get into it?

What types of people do you think really succeed in this field? What types have more trouble?

One thing I'm worried about is ___. Do you think that has any merit?

Do you have thoughts on the best things I can do to stay current in the field - things to read, organizations to join, people to talk to?

Who do you feel are the best employers in the field? Why? Are there any you'd caution me to stay away from?

Are you able to give me a sense of what kind of starting salaries you see for roles like X and Y?

What are your/most people's hours like? Are you able to leave work behind when you leave, or do you need to stay pretty connected in the evenings and on weekends?

Anything you see job candidates around my level doing that you think really hurts them? Or that you wish people would do differently?

Can I tell you a little about my background and experience so far, and see if you have any suggestions for things I might do to strengthen myself as a candidate?

Do you think I'm being realistic about the roles I'm aiming for in this next step?

What other suggestions do people have?

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actually useful questions to ask in informational interviews

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A reader writes: You've written before about how NOT to behave in an informational interview (i.e. use it to try to get a job), but I wonder what you

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Access the EARLY stage of the career journey, to find an entire
MODULE on CONNECTIONS: OPENING DOORS which is perfect for exploring informational interviews

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Industry interviews were a mystery to me.

I had interviewed for many postdoc positions and they were all the same.

I gave a presentation based on my previous research, then I met with the professor and a few of the other graduate students.

Conversations revolved around my research, the techniques I knew, the papers I published, and how I could use my skill set to further their research goals.

I was never asked behavioral questions.
I never dared to talk about salary expectations.
I was just happy to receive any salary.

My preparation was minimal because I talked about my work all the time and had presentations on hand from previous conferences.

All I had to do was read a few of the lab's published papers.

This alone gave me confidence.

I had so much confidence walking into academic interviews.

I was in my element there - my comfort zone - and my posture, tone, and energy reflected that.
My first industry interview, on the other hand, was completely different.
I felt intimidated.

I felt like a fish out of water.

I knew I had to prepare more seriously than for any of my past postdoc interviews.

Yet, the entire process of preparing for an industry interview was foreign to me.

This included the role of recruiters ...
What was a recruiter's role? Why were some of them interested in me and others not interested in me? Why were they so concerned about my interview performance? The first point of contact for many of my industry interviews was with a recruiter.
Usually, these recruiters would reach out to me based on my LinkedIn profile.

Once this initial contact was made, they would forward job postings to me that I might be interested in.

When I finally secured an interview, the company's recruiter would make suggestions on how to prepare for the upcoming interview.

Insider tips?

Yes, please.

The tips I received helped me develop my confidence in attending industry interviews and site visits.

I quickly learned exactly how to prepare and what to expect and, as a result, was hired into the position of my choice.

Why You Must Prepare Thoroughly For Every Industry Job Interview

A polished resume and a strong network of industry professionals is not enough to get hired.

At the end of the day, whether or not you get hired will come down to how you perform during the interview.

According to a survey of 2,000 employers performed by Undercover Recruiter, 47% of employers believe the biggest mistake job candidates make is not researching the company beforehand.

In a similar and recent Accountemps survey of 2,200 CFOs, 27% said the most common mistake job candidates make during industry interviews is having little to no knowledge of the company.

This was closely followed by job candidates being unprepared to discuss their skills and experience (22%), as well as being unprepared to discuss their career plans and goals (16%).

Both surveys referenced "winging it" as another common interview mistake that most job candidates make.
In other words, the reason these candidates fail their interviews is because they fail to prepare.
The Creative Group conducted a nationwide study that showed 70% of executives believe coming unprepared to an interview is as big of a deal breaker as showing up late.

(By the way, the biggest deal breaker was a job candidate checking their phone).

Look - you're a PhD, which means you're a skilled researcher.

You know what it takes to properly prepare for an experiment, a dissertation defense, or a grant submission.

In comparison, preparing for an interview should be a breeze.

Approach your industry interview with the same level of scrutiny before you arrive and you will be one step closer to a successful transition.

How To Prepare For A Job Interview According To Recruiters

Industry interviews are an opportunity to showcase your skills and your readiness to enter the professional workforce.

The key is to not be intimated.

The best way to not be intimidated is to prepare thoroughly.

As a PhD, you are of great value to industry. You have the perfect combination of transferable skills and technical expertise.

You have overcome adversity, failed experiments and projects, horrible bosses, and impossible deadlines.

You have been stressed, overwhelmed, overworked, and still persevered.

You can handle an industry job interview.

All you have to do is prepare specifically for it.

Here are 7 non-academic interview preparation strategies, according to top industry recruiters....

1. Do the right preparation work.

There are some simple preparation steps you can take before your industry interview to ensure things run smoothly and to prevent any unnecessary stress.

The first is to confirm all the details of the day: date, time, address, directions, phone number, and parking instructions.

Next, bring with you the following items: 2-3 copies of your resume (in case you meet additional people than was originally scheduled), a reference list, your research notes on the company, and a professional notepad and pen.
Speaking of research notes, never go to an interview without doing your homework on the company itself.
Go to the company website and give it a thorough read.

By the end of your research, you should be able to answer the following three questions:
What is the company mission statement? What are the names of 1-2 competitors? What is the organizational structure of the company and where does your role fit in?
Finally, it is important to spend time putting together your professional outfit for the interview.
Don't underestimate the importance of how you dress. How you dress is near the top of the list of the type of first impression you make.
Make sure the entire outfit screams industry professional, shoes included.

No flip-flops, scuffed, or torn shoes allowed.

Avoid flashy or showy jewellery, as well as strong or freshly sprayed cologne or perfume.

One person's idea of a delightful scent may in fact elicit an allergic reaction.

2. Make your first impression memorable.

Your interview starts the moment you drive into the car park.

Anyone you meet from this point forward may be a part of the hiring committee.

Turn off your cell phone and leave it in the car along with all food, beverages, and gum.

Greet everyone you meet professionally, from the secretary to the janitorial staff.

Everyone plays a role in making sure the company is successful and deserves your gratitude.
Always make eye contact and offer a firm handshake to convey confidence and professionalism.
Avoid clammy or limp, floppy handshakes, which inadvertently convey a sign of weakness, fatigue, or guilt.

Poor posture, a lack of eye contact, and a weak handshake scream amateur and insecure.

Be aware of your body language so you are always portraying yourself as a confident individual.

First impressions are communicated through both verbal and nonverbal communication.
How you carry yourself and handle stress are as important as what you say.
Fidgeting, playing with your hair, chewing gum, or having your phone buzzing away send a message that you are unprofessional.

Even if you are a little nervous, you don't need to advertise it.

Instead, pay attention to detail and present yourself as more than just another awkward PhD job candidate.

3. Know how your resume fits the position.

Many interviews will start with you having to walk the interviewer through your resume.

Your response to this should be similar to your response to the opening line, "Tell me a little about yourself."

Prepare an elevator pitch and be able to give a clear and succinct overview of your experience.

Practice your pitch until it feels smooth and natural.

Only mention accomplishments that are directly related to the position.

You want to keep the interviewer interested while convincing them you have the necessary experience to do the job and do it well.

Be able to explain any gaps in your employment and provide reasons for leaving each position.
Be able to explain your motivation for leaving academia and entering into industry.
Always frame your answer so that your personal motivation is in line with the overall mission and goals of the company.

The more you know about the company, the better you'll be at crafting your answers to fit.

Your history is relevant for communicating what your values are and how they might fit in with the company.

From there, you'll segue into showing that you have a good understanding of the position itself.

Make sure you understand the scope of the job, how your role fits into the organization as a whole, and how your background and strengths make you a good candidate for the position.

The best way to prepare for this is to network with other employees at the company well beforehand and set up informational interviews where you can learn about the position and the company organization and values straight from the source.

4. Practice answers to typical interview questions.

There is no way to know exactly what you will be asked the day of an interview.

But there are many common questions across all positions that are used by interviewers as a way to gauge your preparedness, your motivation, and whether you have the transferable skills for the role.

Make sure not to veer off-topic unless initiated by the interviewer.

Be succinct in your answer and don't be afraid to ask for clarity if you do not understand what is being asked.
Always try to answer questions using the STAR method: Situation Task Action Result.
For example, "Tell me about a time in which you had to meet a tight deadline."

Start by explaining a situation, the task that was involved, what action you took, and the result of that action.

Try and choose examples and specific results that would be relevant to a business.

Here are a few common questions you may face...
What are your strengths?
To answer this, choose strengths that relate to the job requirements and give specific examples from your recent research experience.

If you don't give specific examples, you lose credibility and fail to show the value you bring to the company.
What are your weaknesses?
Do not reveal any deep character flaws or anything that would make you unsuitable for the position.

This isn't a therapy session and they don't want to hear your long list of personal challenges.

Discuss a fault that you worked to improve or a weakness that can be turned into a strength.

Use a professional filter for your answers.
Share enough, but not too much.
For example, if you are a stickler for detail, this may be a weakness because it requires more time to complete a task but it results in higher quality work.

This would be good for a detail-oriented position, but not ideal for a position that requires you to make decisions on the fly.
What are your 3-5 year goals?
Here are two great answers for this...

"To do such a great job that in 12-18 months I can be promoted to...." OR "To do such a great job that you will give me more responsibilities than what is listed in the job description."

Highlight achievements and contributions you hope to be instrumental in being a part of, including areas companies are looking for like leadership, collaborative teamwork, and innovation.

5. Don't ignore salary conversations.

Probably the most feared question in an interview is in regards to salary expectations.

The most important thing to avoid is giving a specific dollar amount.

This will lock you into a salary with no room for negotiation.

Handling salary expectation questions with self-assuredness establishes you as being informed and aware of your value.
Two effective deflection responses to direct salary questions are as follows... I am willing to consider all reasonable offers.
I understand the salary range you are considering for this position and I am comfortable within that range.

If you are forced to give a number, do some research beforehand on Glassdoor or Salary.com to come up with a range that encompasses the average salary for this position.

At the same time, you should never bring up salary expectations during an interview or anything regarding benefits or vacation.

It reflects that you are focusing on the wrong things.

The best time to talk about salary is when there is an offer on the table and you know they want to hire you.

6. Ask the interviewer questions.

Make sure to have at least 5-7 questions prepared to ask the interviewer.

It is important for the company to know that you are interested in them, their mission and their culture - and not simply obtaining any job.

You want to demonstrate that you have done research on the company and that you are building on information that you obtained from public sources.

It is also in your best interest to ask questions to ensure the company will provide a working environment that will allow you to grow professionally.
Here are some sample questions you can ask... What does success look like for the position and how will it be measured after 30, 60, 90+ days? What are the qualities of the person who excels in this role? How would you personally describe the company culture? What are some of the challenges that this role will face? Do you have any hesitations about me or my qualifications?
7. Know your exit strategy.

Just because the interview itself is over doesn't mean the interviewing process is over.

First, before you end the interview, make sure to ask what the next steps in the application process will be.

This will help to ease worry as you wait to hear about a decision.

Be sure to also reiterate your interest in the position and to thank the interviewer(s) and anyone that helped to make your interview day possible.

After you leave, make notes while your memory is still fresh with names and titles of people you spoke with and something you remember about them.
Within 6 hours of the interview, send thank-you notes to all of your interviewers.
Personalize each thank-you note to show that you were particularly interested in their opinions and valued their time.

Here is an effective follow-up script you can use...
Hi [Interviewer Name], Thank you so much for meeting with me today. It was such a pleasure to learn more about the team and position, and I'm very excited about the opportunity to join [company name] and help [bring in new clients / develop world-class content / anything else amazing you would be doing] with your team. I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps in the hiring process, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can provide additional information. Best regards,
Most industry interviews follow a predictable format. What most job candidates don't realise is that from the moment you step foot into the company building, you are under evaluation. It is imperative that you prepare for each step of the interview process - when to arrive, what questions to ask, and the follow-up thank you emails you will send when it is all over. Not preparing correctly for an industry interview means throwing away all the work you put into getting there. Perfect resumes and internal connections can only get you so far. You need to impress at an industry interview to ensure your career transition is complete.
If you're ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

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More Written by Catherine Sorbara, Ph.D. →

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How PhDs Prepare For A Job Interview With Top Recruiters

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PhDs leaving academia often find their first industry interview unnerving. It's nothing like a postdoc interview. Your resume and published work might have advanced your career in the past, but these items alone will not be enough to get you hired into industry.

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Three job interview types you’ll encounter as a PhD

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And tips on what to do in each from Alfredo Cumerma

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Linked In Resource: Request, Conduct & Follow up Informational Interviews

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Linked In Resource: Request, Conduct & Follow up Informational Interviews

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Regardless of where you are in your career, informational interviews are arguably the most important thing you can do to boost career success.

They can help you to:

Gain clarity around what you want to do for your career.

Land your dream job or contract.

Stand out and be more successful in your current position.

Make new friends and build mutually beneficial relationships.

It all comes down to the power of networking-when you connect with other people, endless (and often unpredictable) possibilities arise.

According to a recent article published in Business Insider, anywhere from 70-85% of jobs are found through networking-and informational interviews are a great way to network, especially if you're an introvert (like me!).

But let's be honest-reaching out to someone you don't know to set up a meeting can be intimidating.

That's why I'm sharing all the steps to follow to successfully and professionally conduct informational interviews, so you can feel confident as you embark on this oh-so-important endeavour.

In this article, you'll learn:

What an informational interview is.

Who you should ask for an informational interview.

Where to find people to ask for an informational interview.

How to request a meeting with someone you have no connection to.

How to prepare for an informational interview.

How to follow up after an informational interview.

How to use informational interviewing to land a job.

What is an informational interview?

An informational interview is a meeting in which a job seeker, career changer, or happily employed individual sits down with someone they look up to in their industry (or desired industry) for the purpose of getting advice, clarity, industry knowledge, and/or building a mutually beneficial connection.

An informational interview should be about building a two-way, authentic relationship. Offer as much value as you can, wherever you see opportunity. Be genuine, curious, helpful, and avoid icky-feeling schmoozing for feel-good success!

Who should I ask for an informational interview?

To answer this, it's helpful to first determine the purpose of your interview: Is it to get clarity on what you want to do? To find a job? To make a new connection and see where it leads?

Who you contact will depend on your purpose:

If your purpose is to gain clarity on what to do next in your career, connect with someone already doing the thing you might want to do next.

If your purpose is to get a job, connect with someone who works at a company you would like to work for, who is equal to or one position higher than your desired position.

If your purpose is to make a new connection and see where it leads, connect with someone in your industry, or a related industry, who you admire and look up to.

Where do I find the right people for an informational interview?

Now that you have an idea of what kind of person you want to have a meeting with, it's time to make a list of specific people to reach out to.

I recommend creating a spreadsheet that includes the following:

Contact Name

Job Title

Company

How I Know/Found Them

Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Other Social Media

Research Notes (i.e., What did you find in looking through their website and social profiles?)

Once you've done that, here are some ways to find people (ideally in this order):
1. Start with people you know.
You're more likely to get a "yes" to an informational interview invite from someone you know.

Brainstorm a list of people you already know who meet your criteria for an informational interview. Also, remember that following up with someone you've met at an event or conference for an informational interview is a great way to stay in touch.

Always ask at the end of an informational meeting if there's someone else they'd recommend you connect with as well - this is how you begin to naturally grow your network.

2. Think of people you know who could introduce you to someone.

If you don't know anyone in your existing network who works in the area you'd like to connect, reach out to your existing network to see if they know of anyone who works in that area. You never know who might know someone helpful.

Again, this increases your chance of a "yes" if you use an existing connection to introduce yourself.

Facebook or LinkedIn groups are another great place to connect with potential interviewees or people who could introduce you to a potential interviewee.

3. Research people on LinkedIn.

Research the position, industry, or company you're interested in connecting with, using the "People" tab on LinkedIn's search tool. Get more specific results by using the "Filter" options on the right-hand sidebar.

Someone who is a 2nd connection means you have at least one mutual connection-view your mutual connections on their profile and ask that connection to introduce you if it feels appropriate.

If you don't have any mutual connections with someone you want to reach out to, don't worry! Cold emails/messages are a great option and a wonderful skill to learn. Be prepared to send out a lot of these, however, as the response rate can be as low as 10% (depending on the industry).

Check out the email template at the bottom of this article for sending a cold email, plus the details in the next section on exactly how to go about contacting someone cold.

*Note: (And yes, I'm repeating this because it's important) At the end of any meeting, make sure to ask if there's someone else they'd recommend you connect with as well. This is a great way to grow your network!!

How do I request one from someone I have no connection to?

Things to keep in mind any time you are requesting an informational interview (whether you have a pre-existing connection to them or not):

Position the interviewee as the expert and yourself as seeking advice.

Make the email all about them (and less about yourself).

Keep the email about 3-5 sentences in length.

Show you've done your research.

State how much of their time you are requesting. (Typically, 15-20 minutes for an initial phone chat is appropriate.)

Again, there's a template at the bottom of this article you can follow that abides by best practices..

If you're requesting an informational interview from someone you have no connection to, here are the steps to follow:

Search for someone at a company of interest, or in a field of interest, on LinkedIn or Google (someone who's job title is one level higher than what you're aiming for).

Find their email on VoilaNorbert or Hunter.io, and/or verify their email at Mailtester. (If you're still stuck finding their email, check out this article.)

Research them online so you have a better understanding of who they are-follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.

Interact with some of their content-comment, like, or share something they've posted to start off the relationship.

Send a short e-mail requesting an informational meeting (see sample emails towards the end of the document).

Follow-up if you don't hear back after one week. A lot of people only respond to these requests if the person follows up!

BONUS NOTE: Before reaching out to someone for an informational interview, make sure you're happy with how your online presence looks-chances are they'll give you a solid "creep" before they respond.

Once the meeting is secured, how do I prepare?

Keep in mind the goal of your meeting: position the person you're meeting with as an expert (and you as someone seeking advice), keep it focused primarily on them, and build a relationship (while also getting the information you need).

What's the person you're meeting with getting out of it?

The chance to help, give advice, and talk about themselves. Remember to keep it focused on them and to approach the conversation as though you are a mere novice seeking advice (yes, I'm repeating this several times because it's important).
Always be professional-you never know what opportunities the connection might bring! Have 5 must-ask questions planned out ahead of time, and 5 extra questions to ask if you have time.
These are typically the most helpful questions to ask in an informational meeting:

What do you do on a typical day?

How did you get to where you are?

What does your company do? What are their goals/challenges?

What trends are happening in the industry?

What skills or training do you need to do this type of work?

Are there any other people in the company or in the field you think I should connect with? Would you be willing to make an introduction?

Here are some other questions you might want to ask:

What education or experience helped you to land this job?

How long have you worked for this organization/been doing this kind of work?

What do you love the most about this job?

What do you feel are the major rewards of this job?

What are the major frustrations of this job?

What are the most frequently recurring problems?

Is your job better or worse now than it was a few years ago? Why?

What would you do if you were in my shoes, trying to get work in your field? (you might want to add on to this, if relevant for you: "with little or no experience in the field").

What's one unexpected lesson you've learned from working at ______?

What advice would you give to a person moving into your field?

What advice would you give to a person coming into a company like yours?

Once the meeting is over, how do I keep the connection alive?

It's important to maintain connections following an informational interview, to see where there might be opportunities to support each other moving forward. Kristin Vandegriend, from My Career Story, believes that having a strategy for follow-up is the most important piece of the informational interviewing process.

Stephanie Brown, author of Fired: Why losing your job is the best thing that can happen to you, recommends sending a follow-up thank you email immediately after an interview, thanking the interviewee for their time. She then recommends keeping the connection alive by sending another follow-up email two weeks later.

Brown also suggests writing down at least one of the "three i's" immediately after your interview, so you can refer to it in the two-week follow-up email.

Interest: Write down an interest that the interviewee mentioned during your conversation, whether it's related to work or not. For example, if your interviewee mentioned they like to play tennis, and you also like to play tennis, you may want to invite them out for a tennis game in your follow-up email.

Introduction: Write down a connection you have that would be valuable to the interviewee, who you could introduce them to.

Industry News: Write down an interesting article, white paper, webinar, or podcast that you could send the interviewee related to your conversation. Bonus points if it's content you've created yourself!

When following up with one of the "three i's", it's also a great opportunity to ask how they've been doing, let them know you enjoyed your previous meeting, and see if they'd like to meet up again!

How can I use informational interviewing to land a job?

Informational interviews can be a great way to land a job-especially a job that's unlikely to ever be posted (i.e., most jobs!).

However, landing a job using informational interviewing is a long game-it's not something that's likely to happen overnight, or even in a few weeks. This is a strategy that typically takes anywhere from 3 months to 1 year.

Why?

Because informational interviews are about building genuine, authentic, two-way relationships-and building these kinds of relationships takes time.

This is one of the reasons it's beneficial to regularly conduct informational interviews, even if you're happily employed. As I've written about before, job security is on its way out, so pre-emptively building relationships and networking through one-on-one meetings is smart; we never know what might happen in the future.

While landing a job is never the intention of an informational meeting, there are a few different ways informational meetings can lead to jobs:

1. A person you meet for an informational meeting lets you know about a job opportunity at their place of work. (This is, of course, the ideal situation!)

2. You see that the place where the person you had an informational meeting with works is hiring, and you ask them to pass on your resume to the hiring manager. (Which is why following up and keeping the connection alive is so important.)

3. You've established a good connection with one or more person's who work at the same place. You've really done your research on this employer and have definitively decided it's one of your top places you'd like to work. At this point, it's appropriate to say something along the lines of: "I've learned a lot about X organization, and I've met a couple of different people who work here. I really love what the company is all about. [Name], what would you recommend to someone like me who might want to explore working here?" (Note that you aren't asking if there are any jobs available, as you don't want to limit it to positions that already exist or just the jobs they're hiring for at that time. The phrasing of "what would you recommend to someone who wants to explore..." leaves it open-ended.)

4. You're in an informational meeting and you have lots of good rapport happening. So, you start asking about the challenges the company faces, or the challenges they face in their particular role. You listen for the challenges/problems that are mentioned, and where you might be able to help. Then, after the meeting in a follow-up email, you let them know if you think you can help. Ask if you can pass on some suggestions and be helpful where you can - this will clearly demonstrate what you have to offer and the value you could bring to their organization!

Here are a few other tips for using informational meetings to land a job:

Set up at least 20-25 different meetings with people at your dream companies/employers. The more meetings you have, the more opportunities will come your way, so don't be afraid to throw everything you've got at this.

Avoid setting up meetings at companies that are hiring for the type of work you offer-employers are wary of people trying to skip the queue.

Don't tell the person you meet with that you're looking for a job (just like you wouldn't tell someone on a first date you're looking to get married)-instead, let them know you're seeking their advice on your next career move.

Don't sound like you're asking for work during the informational meeting process-employers don't want to feel like they've been manipulated. However, once you've established some solid relationships, had multiple meetings at the same company (or have one particularly strong relationship), and done thorough research, it's ok to ask about exploring working there.

If, during the informational meeting process, someone asks if you're looking for work (which is likely to happen), say that you're looking for something that's the right fit.

Focus on building a relationship like you would naturally. People can smell desperation or if you have an ulterior motive. If your hope for a meeting is to eventually get a job, make sure you also want to genuinely connect with the person you're meeting and that you're truly seeking their counsel.

If you want to do some more reading on the subject, check out this article with some more tips on informational meetings.

Sample Emails to Request an Informational Meeting

Use any one or a combination of the templates below. At the end of the day, you want whatever you send to sound like you, so make sure whatever you put together feels authentic to you and your style.

Email Template to Ask for an Introduction From Someone You Know
Hi [Name], I'm spending the next couple of months researching companies that I'm interested in to help make my next career move. I noticed you're connected to [Name] over at [Place of Work] on LinkedIn and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to introduce me to [him/her]? Since I know you're probably busy, I'd love to make it easy for you by writing up an introduction you can use, which you can modify. That way it's super easy on you. If you're not willing, totally ok, but if so, I'd really appreciate it. Let me know either way and I'll send something right over. Thanks in advance, [Your Name] When your connection agrees, here's a template you can use for the introductory message you provide: Hi [Name], Hope you're doing well. I wanted to introduce you quickly to [Your Name]. [Your Name] and I both met through [how you met], and [she/he/they] is interested in learning more about [company name]. [He/she/they] is really engaged and excited about [helping companies to solve some problem or realize some solution]. I suggested [she/he/they] speak to you based on your level of influence and your respective role. I would also suggest setting up a call in the next couple of weeks so that you can learn a little bit more about [her/him/them] and [she/he/they] can learn about you and your company. All the best connecting!
Cold Email Template
Hi [Name], My name is [first name] and I currently work at [place you work, if relevant]. I was browsing through LinkedIn and came across your information - I hope you don't mind me reaching out of the blue here. [Then add something personal. E.g., "Your article/post about X/Y topic really resonated with me." or "Of all the marketing managers I came across on LinkedIn, your profile stood out to me the most because ________ (e.g., we went to the same University/you're also really into dogs/etc."] I saw that you have extensive experience in [area you are interested in - be as specific as possible], and I'm very interested in learning more about that space. I would love to have the opportunity to run some questions by you, as well as tap into any advice you may have given your knowledge of the industry. I know that your time is extremely valuable so please don't feel the need to respond in depth. If you do have 10 minutes to chat over the phone, or time to let me buy you a quick coffee, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance, [Your full name]
*Template courtesy of Austin Belcak.

So that's it!

Remember: things in the real world don't always happen in the way I've outlined in this article, so tune into your gut and your intuition throughout the process about what feels appropriate.

You got this.

I can't help but mention the old dating metaphor, because informational interviewing and dating really do have a lot in common: You're probably not going to find someone to marry if you ask everyone to marry you on the first date. So take it slow.

On that note... how many married people have you heard say they wish they'd just relaxed and enjoyed being single more? So don't forget to relax and enjoy at least some of the process 😉

-Rebecca

P.S. - Want more articles like this? Sign up to get career & life tips straight to your inbox, every second Monday: www.rebeccabeaton.com.

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How to Request, Conduct, and Follow-Up on an Informational Interview

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Regardless of where you are in your career, informational interviews are arguably the most important thing you can do to boost career success. They can help you to: Gain clarity around what you want to do for your career.

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Did you know as a QUT student, you are entitled to free membership of LinkedIn learning?
There are great resources on informational interviewing, use this link to get started.

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informational%20interviews: Online Courses, Training and Tutorials on LinkedIn Learning

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Learn business, creative, and technology skills to achieve your personal and professional goals. Join today to get access to thousands of courses.

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WIL to Work: Internship Modules for International Students

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WIL to Work: Internship Modules for International Students

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Modules include:
Preparing for your WIL Experience
Succeeding in your WIL Activity
Understanding Australian Workplace Culture
Undertaking WIL in an Online Environment

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Modules | Resources for International Students

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These modules are designed to assist with preparing and supporting international students throughout a WIL activity -from preparation through to post work integrated learning (WIL) experiences. With guidance and input from current international students, these credentials have been created to help s…

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WIL to Work: Additional Internship Resources

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WIL to Work: Additional Internship Resources

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Resources include:
Professional Identity
The D.E.A.L. Tool for reflection on your internship
Student Checklist: before, during and after your internship
Student Checklist: rights, responsibilities, and support
Connecting, Networking, Identifying

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Resources | Resources for International Students

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This page contains downloadable resources designed to support staff and international students at tertiary institutions. It also contains videos that have been extracted from the learning modules to provide advice and support to international students.

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Careers GRE+D Guide to Non-Verbal Communication

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Careers GRE+D Guide to Non-Verbal Communication

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Careers GRE+D Guide to Informational Interviewing

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Careers GRE+D Guide to Informational Interviewing

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https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/how-to-nail-an-informational-interviews

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Often the way we get a chance to ask questions about a particular job, field or company is when we sit down for a job interview. But there's a way you can gain insight into a career and even potentially tap into the job market, minus the pressure of going for a particular role. It's called an informational interview. Here's why you might want to do one, and how to make the most of it.

What's an informational interview?

An informational interview is an informal meeting between a person seeking further information about a particular job, career or industry and a person already established in that field of work.

By conducting an informational interview, you can find out if the company or industry you think you want to work in actually aligns with your values, skills and interests before taking the plunge with a formal application.

Why have an informational interview?

Leah Lambart is a career and interview coach at Relaunch Me and founder of The Career Project, which provides job shadowing opportunities to career changers. She says informational interviews can be particularly useful for students contemplating different career paths or job seekers looking for a career change.

Lambart says one of the main benefits of an informational interview is it provides you with inside information about the role or industry that's often not easily obtained via internet searches, career fairs or university open days.

"The informational interview also represents a golden opportunity to develop a network in your area of interest that you may be able to reach out to in the future or when you're looking for a job down the track," she says.

How to organise an informational interview

The first step is to find people willing to meet with you for an informational interview. The best place to start is in your own network, including colleagues or ex-colleagues, friends, family, and acquaintances. "Try asking people you know if they know anyone working in industries or organisations you are curious about and whether they can introduce you," Lambart says.

Another way to find potential contacts for an informational interview is by attending industry events, seminars and meet-ups or reaching out to people through networking sites.

When it comes to requesting an informational interview, be upfront and explain exactly what information you're hoping to obtain, Lambart says. "Make sure you state clearly what you're expecting of the person and how much of their time you'll need," she says.

Once you've secured an informational interview

Lambart says although the informational interview is not a formal job interview, it may lead to future opportunities so it's wise to act professionally and prepare adequately by making a list of questions about the field, role, or company.

She says the questions should aim to gain insight into what the role involves and whether it would be a good fit for you, and could include:

1. Can you tell me what an average day/week in your job is like?

2. What do you like most / least about what you do?

3. What skills and personality traits do you think are most important to being successful in this field?

4. Were there any surprises for you when you started working in this field?

5. What advice would you give to someone considering a career in this field?

When you're at the interview

Although the focus should be on you asking questions so you can find out as much as you can about the company or role you're interested in, it's also a good idea to come prepared to talk about yourself and your ambitions. Make sure you have your 30-second elevator pitch ready so you can give the best impression of yourself, your skills, experience and interests.

It's also worth asking if there is anyone else you could talk to about the company or industry. Having a mutual connection will greatly enhance the likelihood of that person agreeing to meet with you, Lambart says.

After the informational interview

It's always a good idea to send an email or note after the interview to thank the person for their time and insights. "It shows that you appreciate them taking the time to meet with you and will emphasize your interest in working for their company in the future," Lambart says.

Informational interviews are a great way to extend your job search beyond simply responding to ads on job boards. They are also a great way to expand your professional network. Coming prepared, asking the right questions, and making sure you follow up after the interview will all help you to plot out the next step in your career journey.

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The informational interview: what it is and why you should do it - SEEK Career Advice

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Often the way we get a chance to ask questions about a particular job, field or company is when we sit down for a job interview. But there's a way you can gain insight into a career and even potentially tap into the job market, minus the pressure of going for a particular role.