Learning about the specific P.E.A.K.S. that employers are seeking
in candidates can also provide guidelines for selecting items to include
in your targeted Can-Do Portfolio. You will also learn about areas
where employers might perceive you as weak or even unqualified. This
information will give you the opportunity to make some improvements
before actually applying for the job you have your heart set on. You may
need to do more training in a particular skill area before going on a job
interview. For example, your computer skills could fall short of what
employers in your chosen field are looking for, and so you would do well
to take an appropriate computer course before applying for a job in this
field.An Insider’s View of Desirable Personal Characteristics
for a Particular Job
If the person you interview is working in the field you are considering,
an informational interview can be particularly useful for learning
more about the personal characteristics of people who are currently in
demand for the particular kind of job that you are considering. Job
postings and formal job descriptions typically focus on the skills,
knowledge, and experience that a candidate should have and reveal
little about the desired personal characteristics. But, as we have said
several times before, the majority of employers that we have surveyed
in many different fields have indicated that, when assessing candi-
dates for a job, they give highest priority to personal characteristics
that add value.
The precise definition of what these personal characteristics are
will vary with industries and employers. Informational interviews can
help you learn more about the specific characteristics that are most val-
ued for the kind of job you are considering. This knowledge will enable
you to decide which of your personal characteristics you should try to
feature in your Can-Do Portfolio.
Of course, if the personal characteristics that employers are look-
ing for are not a good description of the real you, and you hear this from
more than one person that you talk to, you may want to reconsider your
career choice. You will never be happy trying to be someone you are not.
You want to develop a portfolio that not only resonates with potential
employers but is also in tune with the real you!What a Person Like You Should Know about Jobs
You Are Exploring
The ideal informational interview is with a person who not only has
firsthand knowledge of the field and type of job you are exploring but is
also like you in some significant way. Maybe this person has already
made the kind of career shift you are now considering. Or she might
have had an education that is similar to yours. When there are signifi-
cant points of similarity between you and the person you are inter-
viewing, there is a particularly good chance that you will get insights
that are relevant to your situation.48 Part I: Building, Using, and Maintaining Your Career Portfolio