What is the primary purpose of conducting informational interviews with people already in the roles under consideration?
Answer
To research the day-to-day reality and uncover the unglamorous, tedious aspects of the role.
Informational interviews are positioned not as job applications but as critical research opportunities intended to provide empirical evidence, thereby minimizing the risk of making a major commitment based on incomplete information. The crucial goal is to gain qualitative input that job descriptions lack. This means asking direct questions about the typical workday and the most frustrating, tedious parts of the job—the unglamorous 70% of the role. This practice allows the investigator to test their tolerance for the necessary downsides and gain a realistic view beyond the 30% featured in marketing materials.
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