Informational interviews are the best-kept secret in networking. 

They are especially helpful for people looking to change careers, soon-to-be graduates, professionals returning to the workforce, and passive job seekers. They’re also great for people in dead-end jobs who want to find a new workplace that encourages their ambition. 

Through an informational interview, you’ll learn more about a company and profession and grow your network. You’ll be able to make important decisions about your career and, ultimately, land a job.

In this episode, you’ll learn the benefits of informational interviews and how to arrange them with people in the field you want to enter. You’ll also hear how I used informational interviews to make some important decisions about my career path and get a template for setting up informational interviews.

 Original theme music by Lucas Knutter

Read the transcript at https://www.express-to-impress.com/informational-interviews/.

Infographics for this episode at https://www.pinterest.com/ExpresstoImpress/_created/.

Episode originally published on October 23, 2020.

Express to Impress

How to Use Informational Interviews to Land Your Dream Job

the do's and don'ts  of learning new words and expressions in English

British English with Maria

Top mistakes when learning VOCABULARY

What works, what doesn't ; common myths and why grammar IS important.

Grammar learning 

Listen to me reading an American news article about 'Blue Zones', areas in the world where people live longer because of their diet.

Listen to English with Pip

News article: How diet affects people's health

In this heartfelt episode, Teacher Ian opens up about his personal journey as a non-native English speaker—from struggling with grammar and confidence to finding purpose and strength through the English language. Discover how learning English became more than just a goal—it became a path to global competitiveness, personal growth, and resilience. If you've ever doubted yourself or needed a reason to keep going, this episode is for you.

English Learner's Boost

My English Journey

说到这里，他就长时间地陷入沉思之中。
And he sank into a reverie, which lasted a long time.
然后，从口袋里掏出了我画的小羊，看着他的宝贝入了神。
Then, taking my sheep out of his pocket, he buried himself in the contemplation of his treasure.
你们可以想见这种关于“别的星球”的若明若暗的话语使我心里多么好奇。
You can imagine how my curiosity was aroused by this half-confidence about the "other planets."
因此我竭力地想知道其中更多的奥秘。
I made a great effort, therefore, to find out more on this subject.
你是从哪里来的，我的小家伙？
My little man, where do you come from?
你的家在什么地方？
What is this ‘where I live, of which you speak?
你要把我的小羊带到哪里去？
Where do you want to take your sheep?
他沉思了一会，然后回答我说：
After a re?ective silence he answered:
好在有你给我的那只箱子，夜晚可以给小羊当房子用。
The thing that is so good about the box you have given me is that at night he can use it as his house.
那当然。
That is so.
如果你听话的话，我再给你画一根绳子，

And if you are good I will give you a string, too,
白天可以栓住它。再加上一根杆子。我的建议看来有点使小王子反感。
so that you can tie him during the day, and a post to tie him to.
但是小王子对我喊到：“栓住它，多么奇怪的主意。”
But the little prince seemed shocked by this offer: "Tie him! What a queer idea!"
“如果你不栓住它，它就到处跑，那么它会跑丢的，”我说。
"But if you don’t tie him," I said, "he will wander off somewhere, and get lost."
我的这位朋友又笑出了声：“你想要它跑到哪里去呀？”
My friend broke into another peal of laughter: "But where do you think he would go?"
不管什么地方。它一直往前跑。
Anywhere. Straight ahead of him.
这时，小王子郑重其事地说：“这没有什么关系，我那里很小很小。
Then the little prince said, earnestly: "That doesn’t matter. Where I live, everything is so small!"
接着，他略带伤感地又补充了一句：“一直朝前走，也不会走出多远”
And, with perhaps a hint of sadness, he added: "Straight ahead of him, nobody can go very far..."

小王子-The Little Prince-Read in Chinese

小王子第七章：它跑到哪里去

A coach can be a valuable asset in overcoming the challenges posed by micromanagement. By providing a confidential and supportive environment, a coach can help individuals develop strategies to navigate these situations effectively.

A coach can help individuals pinpoint the underlying reasons for micromanagement. This could be a manager's insecurity, lack of trust, or simply a poor management style. Understanding the root cause is crucial for developing an effective strategy.

Micromanagement often thrives on employees' lack of confidence. A coach can help individuals build self-esteem, develop assertiveness skills, and learn how to communicate their needs and boundaries clearly.

A coach can guide individuals in developing open and honest communication with their manager. By teaching active listening and clear expression, a coach can help individuals create a more productive and respectful working relationship.

A coach can help individuals establish healthy boundaries with their manager. This involves identifying areas where autonomy is essential and learning how to assert those boundaries without creating conflict.

Micromanagement can often lead to feeling overwhelmed. A coach can help individuals develop effective time management and prioritization skills, enabling them to manage their workload more efficiently and reduce the need for constant supervision.

A coach can provide emotional support and encouragement throughout the process of overcoming micromanagement. By offering a listening ear and providing guidance, a coach can help individuals build resilience and maintain a positive outlook.

Remember, overcoming micromanagement is a journey, not a destination. A coach can be a valuable partner in this process, providing the tools and support needed to thrive in challenging work environments.

The Global Professional Podcast

A Coach's Role in Overcoming Micromanagement - Episode 110

Асханада жұмыс істеймін. Бүгін таңертең бір азамат келді. Кассадағы кезегі жеткен соң «Менің артымда тұрған қыздың кофесін мен төлеп кетейін. Менен оған «Қайырлы күн!» тілей салыңызшы» деді. Ол кеткен соң қыз оның қылығына таң қалды. Көп ойланбастан өзінен кейін тұрған адамға ол да солай жақсылық жасағысы келді. Осылай бес адам бірінен соң бірінің кофесін төледі! Жақсы күн тілеймін! Жақсылықты көп жасайық!

I work in the canteen. A man came here this morning. As soon as it was his turn at the checkout, he said, "I'll pay for the coffee of the girl behind me. He asked me just say, " good afternoon!" to the woman. When he left, the girl was surprised by his behavior. Without thinking much, she wanted to do the same thing to the person standing after her. So five people paid for coffee one by one for each other! Have a good day! Let's do good things more!

Stories in Kazakh

In this episode you will listen to a story of doing "kind things". Жақсылық жасау

Even the most famous people struggled to get their work going at the beginning of their career. Like Sir James Dyson who gave us those vacuum cleaners as well as Steven Spielberg.