Informational Interview Fail

On the off chance you’re tired of cute Michaela pictures and stories… I’m going to vent about a work topic.

I had a call this week with a recent graduate from a MA program. Someone I don’t know, who doesn’t attend either of my alma maters, who got my name and contact info from someone I don’t know very well. This student recently moved to San Diego and wanted to talk to me about education policy work. His initial email to me was vague, but he asked to meet for coffee so he could pick my brain. I told him I wasn’t available to meet but could do a call.

When we spoke, he  said he was most interested in the intersection of policy and nutrition. He wasn’t really interested in education. Um, okay– why are we talking?

He name dropped a certain politician, as if to impress me, but it wasn’t impressive. It was annoying.

When I gave him some suggestions of organizations he might look into–all of which he could’ve found with some basic but focused Google-ing–he said, “Oh yeah, someone else mentioned those. I guess I should find my notes and start doing some research.” Strike two.

Strike three was that we spoke on Monday and it’s not almost Thursday and I haven’t gotten so much as a “thank you for your time” email. How rude!

Students and job seekers: don’t do these things. Don’t be unprepared. Don’t waste people’s time. Don’t forget to send a note of thanks. Do be engaged and appreciative. I promise it will work out better for you in the end.