#Adulting: Take advantage of working from home with an informational interview

With much of the country under “stay-at-home” mandates, most employees are working remotely. If you’re someone who’s been meaning to reach out to someone to inquire more about what they do on a day-to-day basis…this might be your chance!

Speaking with professionals working in a field you’re interested in is one of the best ways to gather insight as to whether or not that field could be a good fit for you. Now that most of those professionals are spending their days at home, rather than possibly jetting back and forth for meetings, you may have a greater chance of getting in touch.

For example: If you’re a first or second year student pursuing a marketing degree, but not exactly sure what you’d be specifically interested in doing, utilize Penn State’s enormous alumni network via Linked In or Lion Link to reach out to a Penn State grad working in marketing. Send a message introducing yourself, include your year at PSU, and give a brief explanation of why you’d like to speak with this person (ex: “I’m a sophomore studying marketing, and I have an interest in sports. I see that you work in sports marketing, and I’d love to speak with you to learn more about what your job entails, and if you have any advice for a current student looking to pursue sports marketing after graduation.”)

It’s certainly not a guarantee that this quarantine will result in an instant answer, but professionals working from home may have more availability to speak with you, either over the phone or virtually. Be sure to remain professional in your communication, and patient when it comes to a response. If you don’t hear back, consider reaching out to an alternative professional instead- PSU’s alumni network is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world.

By Ali Chiavetta
Ali Chiavetta Graduate Intern