Talking To People In Your Chosen Field

        As helpful as occupational books and trade journals are, there is nothing like a face-to-face conversation with a knowledgeable person to give you the information you need about a career field. Once you’ve narrowed your choices to a few occupations and done your reading, begin talking to people who already work in your chosen field. Learn the positives and negatives about the field, and find out which are the best companies to work for in that field. Go into an appointment with prepared questions, but be flexible. The person may take you in a direction you hadn’t planned on, yet it may prove to be very helpful. Go with the flow.

Getting Appointments

        People are generally easy to talk to, and they like being helpful. If you want to be a buyer for a clothing retailer, begin by calling a store and asking to speak to a buyer. Tell the person that you are seriously considering buying as a profession. Explain that you have read about the profession and need to talk to several buyers before you can make a final decision. Then ask the person if he or she would meet with you for about 20 minutes. If you are pleasant on the phone, and speak with a degree of confidence and professionalism, I guarantee that 90% of the people you call will agree to talk with you. Of course, some will be more willing and helpful than others.

        The biggest problem people face when making these calls is their fear of rejection. Don’t let that stand in your way. If someone is unwilling to give you time, assume that the person would not have been helpful anyway. Remember, you’re not asking anyone to do something you wouldn’t be willing to do. If someone asked for 20 minutes of your time to discuss your profession or favorite hobby, wouldn’t you speak to them? Assume people will be pleasant to you, and generally they will be.

        It’s usually best to meet these people at their place of business to get a feel for the environment, particularly if there is something to see besides an office or cubicle. If the person works out on a manufacturing floor you’ll want to observe the noises, smells, and the overall environment. Often, however, a conversation over the telephone will provide all the information you need. Your task will simply be to ask these people questions and listen carefully to their answers. The questions you ask should revolve around issues left unanswered by your reading. You should ask what they like or dislike about their occupation. You might also ask how they got into it, and what their background is. Ask for suggestions regarding job-finding strategies for that field. Ask about salary ranges. Be tactful about salaries, though—people will not want to reveal how much they make. A good approach is to say, “With my education and experience, how much do you think I should expect to be offered? I know it’s hard to say exactly, so maybe you could just give me a range.” Ask which are the best companies to work for. Finally, ask if they can give you the names of other people in the field you might talk to.

        Obtaining appointments is fairly easy, but a good phone script will help a lot. A typical conversation might go like this:

 

Reception.:  Macy’s.

Kevin:         This is Kevin Rolfson, I need some information about buying. Who would be a good clothing buyer for me to talk to.

Reception.:  You’d probably want to talk to Jake Boyles, he’s our senior buyer.

Boyles:         Boyles here.

Kevin:          Mr. Boyles, my name is Kevin Rolfson. I’m seriously considering the buying profession. I’ve been in sales the past two years, but I think buying may be the best fit for me. I’ve researched the field and I’m at a point where I just need to talk to people to get a better sense. Could I spend some time with you, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, to help me determine whether to pursue purchasing?

Boyles   :      I wouldn’t have more than 20 minutes, but I think we could arrange that.

 

        Asking to talk by phone might work like this, with Enrique asking Reynolds about careers in sales:

 

Enrique: Mr. Reynolds, this Enrique Martinez. I’ve been a retail store manager for the past five years, but I’m looking seriously at an outside sales career. I’m told you’re one of the best sales reps in Oregon. Might you have five or ten minutes today or in the next few days when I could call and just clarify some issues before I take the leap?

Reynolds: Sure, you caught me at a pretty good time, so shoot your questions at me.

        Generally, if you just want ten minutes of someone’s time, I would use the phone. If you’ve managed to get a busy person on the line, that means he or she is probably not tied up at that moment. When people reach me it means I’m not with a client. Unless I’ve got a client due in momentarily, I’d rather answer the person’s questions right then rather than schedule some time. If I’m caught at a time when I’m frantically finishing a project, I have no trouble turning someone down and asking them to call back. The telephone is a great tool, so take advantage of it whenever it makes sense.

Dealing With The Advice You Get

        I’m going to give you a word of advice on accepting advice from experts: Never let the advice of one person, even a noted expert in a field, dissuade you from pursuing your course of action. Just because one expert says something really negative about a field, or states that you can’t possibly break into the field, don’t assume that it is true. People often have biases and agendas that they won’t tell you about. So, while you should seriously consider anything told to you by an expert, don’t give up too quickly. Speak to other experts and let them confirm or dispute what the first expert told you. Never pursue or stop pursuing a field on the basis of what one person says about it.

        Often the negative information you hear will concern education. An expert may tell you that you absolutely must have a certain degree in order to enter the field. Your response to such a statement should be, “Do you know anyone in this field who does not have that degree?” This person may in fact know someone who “snuck” into the profession. That person who snuck in is the next person you need to talk to. If you find someone who has blazed the trail before you, there is hope. You should continue your quest.

            I say this because when you speak to people you will get lots of advice from those who don’t want to see you get hurt. They will tell you how competitive the field is and how it’s likely to get even worse in the future. I do the same when people tell me they want to become career counselors. I tell them the negatives, but then I temper that with what I like about the field and why I continue to do it. In my own case, I try to dissuade people somewhat because I believe that only folks who are truly dedicated to the field should pursue it.