We’ve touted the benefits of informational interviews before. Why? Because they’re an excellent networking opportunity. (Read our past post called What Does Networking Really Mean?) It’s important to remember that networking is not limited to the job searching process. Employees should be networking at all moments throughout their career — externally and internally.
That’s right. Your coworkers and supervisors count toward your networking goals. In fact, they are a great resource for informational “interviews.” The term “interview” is used loosely here but it’s still relevant. If you’d like to be promoted within the company or switch departments, a coffee date or lunch break with a respected coworker can pay off big in the long run.
Want to one day run the department you’re in? Set up a meeting with a vice president or director. It’s okay if you’re only an entry-level employee right now. They’ll often respect your determination and interest in a future within the company. It never hurts to have friends in high places.
Want to learn the business better? Set up a meeting with someone from a department that you work closely with. They’ll be more than willing to explain how their role and your role can complement each other. Making connections with other departments can make your daily work duties run more smoothly down the road.
Read our post on 5 questions you can ask during an informational interview. These questions can be slightly tweaked to work for an internal informational interview.
Spectrum Brands Careers Blog 
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[…] Make friends. We’ve written a whole post on this, but networking within your company is just as important as networking outside of it. Get to know […]