Tony Beshara

Here’s one example of the phony advice being offered to new graduates and other first time job seekers: “pursue ‘informational interviews’ as a way to expose yourself to an organization.” Supposedly, employers are willing to accommodate a fact-finding interview, an “informational interview,” even if they do not have an open position.

Take my advice: most business people do not have time for informational interviews. Perhaps, if you have a personal connection – maybe through your parents or friends – then it could happen. The reality, however, is that these interviews are rarely seen.

More importantly, informational interviews are a waste of your time. You want to be talking to, and interviewing with, people that can hire you. Focus on talking to hiring authorities that actually have "pain" to hire somebody. Find someone who needs to hire somebody like you, and I will teach you how to be the “somebody” they need to hire.

I’m going to be straight with you about these topics. You can believe me now, or you can believe me later, after you’ve missed out on several opportunities. I’m not right because I’ve placed 7,000 candidates in my career; I’m right because early in my career I missed out on hundreds of others and learned from my mistakes. There are no tricks or shortcuts to finding a job; there is a process. It is a repetitive process that has to be rehearsed and executed until successful. Don’t waste your time, or a prospective employer’s, on “informational interviews.” Let’s go find a job!

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