An Editorial Review for Networking With a Purpose: The Informational Interview, Its Use, and Why it is a Valuable Tool →

Review 1

Navigating the job market can often feel like a ruthless, cutthroat experience but ironically, many job positions are never even posted. While certain positions seem can seem limited in the job market, that might not be so. Many people land jobs that are never even posted by taking the time to network correctly and get to know people in their chosen industry. This is certainly not something that we are taught to do as we graduate either from high school or college and begin to enter the workforce.

Learning to network correctly can open up many more opportunities than what the job market would lead you to believe is available. That’s where Brent M. Jones comes in. Jones is a globally recognized consultant and career development advisor. He understands the job market and hiring process in a more clear way than most people and he understands what it takes to land your dream job. Jones explains that to break into an industry you should conduct informational interviews where you seek out people in your chosen field and interview them to better understand the industry, make networking connections, and find out what it takes to get where you want to go. It will also give you insight into what hiring managers are looking for.

In Networking with a Purpose: The Informational Interview, Jones explores the value of interviewing and talking to the people that have the job that you want or who work in the industry in which you would like to work. Understanding clearly what it takes to get to your dream job will help you make the career moves and find the companies that will get you to success. The knowledge Jones has about pursuing your career or even changing career is so beneficial to anyone looking for a new job whether it be their first or their fifth. Jones shares his knowledge in a clear and very readable way. He is excellent at writing in a way that makes the concepts that he is sharing easy to understand and easy to apply in your own life. This is the book that everyone starting a new career or even those switching careers needs to read. It is one of the most valuable books for your career that you can read.

Review 2

A regional advisor in an Employment Center said of Networking With a Purpose: The Informational Interview.  Tell the advisors and job seekers to use the information in this book to stress the importance of the informational interview. It's a useful tool for connecting with a professional in one field of career interest and asking them questions to learn about career paths, industries, and potential opportunities. These interviews can happen socially, at an office, on the phone, or via Zoom.  There is no reason for our job candidates to be unprepared in a job interview using this approach in their preparation.