5. Skill Builder You can develop your skill and gain appreciation for the value of the informational interview by doing one of the following activities:

a. Conducting an informational interview with a professional in a career field that interests you. Possible goals are to learn more about the field, to learn how to advance in your current job, or to learn what it would take to switch fields. Follow these steps:

1. Identify a p romising i nterviewee.

2. Write a letter requesting an interview.

3. Follow up your letter with a phone call to arrange a date.

4. Develop a list of questions that will achieve your stated purpose. Be sure that these questions follow the guidelines in Chapter 6.

5. Conduct the interview and report your results. Analyze how well you performed and suggest how you could improve in conducting future interviews.

6. Write a thank-you letter to your interviewee

b. Identifying a specific organization you would like to work for, and completing the following pre-interview steps:
1. Identify the person—by title and name, if possible—who has the power to hire you.
2. Using research and the results of informational interviews, analyze the requirements for the position you would like to hold.
3. Develop a list of questions a potential boss might ask in a selection interview.
4. Prepare a nswers t o t hose q uestions.

c. Role-playing an actual interview, with a companion filling the role of your potential e mployer.