40 Step 2: Identifying Companies You Would Like to Work For

To get the most out of your informational interview, your first step should not be brainstorming professionals you already know, but rather identifying companies/organizations you would like to work for. This encourages you to expand your circle of influence beyond the contacts you already have and encourages you to take control of your future by pursuing opportunities with companies you would like to work for, rather than waiting for companies to post job openings you qualify for.

To complete this step, you may need to conduct some research on Google or another search engine. Try searching your field with the city and state you would like to work in and read through the websites of the companies that Google provides. Make a list of those that you are interested in learning more about.

This is an important step because there are typically many more local companies that hire in your field than you are aware of. Creating this list can help you with your informational interview, but it can also help you in your future job search, as many job openings are only published on company websites. Keep this list as it will likely come in handy throughout your career.