Created by CakeResumeIn this article, we'll cover:What Is an Informal Interview?How to Prepare for an Informal InterviewTips for Handling an Informal InterviewQuestions to Ask in an Informal InterviewInformal interviews, or coffee chats, are increasingly common. Employers sometimes initiate informal interviews before they have the specifics of a position or when they are interested in a particular person. Even though it sounds less taxing than a formal interview, and the interviewer is likely much more affable in the informal interview invitation, you should still take it seriously. An informal job interview allows the employer to observe your personality and communication style. So being well prepared for them will do you good in the long run. The difference between a formal and an informal interview is mainly their environments, styles, and structures. Formal interviews usually take place in professional settings and focus on your knowledge and experience of a subject matter. You are usually expected to dress in a certain way. On the other hand, informal interviews aim to understand a candidate’s attitude, personality, and communication style in a casual way. Informal chat interviews are more relaxing.What Is an Informal Interview?Informal interviews are often conducted in a casual context, such as over lunch, at a coffee place, or an online chat. It also allows, if not encourages, open discussions. Still, formal and informal interviews share the same goal: to assess whether you are suitable for a company. Benefits of accepting an informal interview invitation: ✨ A chance to practice your interviewing skillsPerhaps you have several more interviews coming up. An informal interview provides a great opportunity to practice for more traditional interviews since an informal interview is much more friendly and less stressing compared to a formal one. ✨ Unexpected career opportunitiesInformal interviews are often conducted when the employers like your background but currently do not have a perfect role for you. In this case, an informal interview might lead to unexpected career opportunities in the future, such as taking on entirely new roles or switching to an unfamiliar industry. ✨ Networking possibilitiesEven if you’re not ready to switch roles, you are still meeting with a recruiter in the informal job interview. You can even ask for a connection on LinkedIn or stay in touch to let them know what you’re up to if the informal chat went well. This is a nice way to expand your professional network. ✨ A potential offerNeedless to say, an informal interview might bring you a potential offer, if the recruiters decide that you are an excellent fit for their company and have a perfect role for you now.In some cases, they might even offer a job on the spot or shortly after your informal interview. In these situations, express your excitement and appreciation, but don’t feel pressured and obligated to accept it right away in the informal interview.📝 Note: An informal interview and an informational interview mean different things. An informational interview refers to chatting with professionals that aims to understand more about an area or a role of interest. It’s not an interview for a job role, but more about career exploration. How to Prepare for an Informal InterviewPreparations for formal and informal interviews should be equally thorough, despite their difference. Here’s your informal job interview preparation checklist: ✅ Research the company. Since the purpose of this informal interview is still to determine if you and the company are right for each other, it’s crucial to have a more in-depth understanding of the company. Understand its services, products, challenges, missions, and competitions. This way, you can save time that would otherwise have been spent on that information that can be gathered through desktop research. ✅ Examine the job carefully. Read the job posting and description, if there is one, carefully and analyze it before the coffee chat interview. Understand its responsibilities and required skills before your informal interview. If there are no particular job postings you are discussing, you could think about what you have to offer to the company. ✅ Prepare a list of your skills and experience that match the job. Review your resume to discover relevant skills and experience that make you the most competent candidate. Don’t hesitate to share specific examples of your accomplishments in your informal chat to demonstrate your value in the interview.In addition, reflect on your career goals to understand how this job role aligns with them. It would be helpful in the informal chat interview to decide if you’re a fit for the company. ✅ Practice common interview questions. Make sure you can answer these basic informal chat interview questions. Tell me about yourselfWhat motivates you to work?What are you looking for in your next role?I read in your resume that you did X. Can you tell me more about how you did it?Why did you do A, rather than B? (follow up questions)How do you manage conflicts at the workplace? ✅ Think about your career goals and path. Be ready to discuss your short and long-term career goals in your informal chat interview. If you are very interested in the position or company, you should explain how your goals match the company’s mission.Tips for Handling an Informal Interview💡 Prepare questions to ask. The advantage of taking an informal chat interview is that you get to ask more questions to spark your conversation. During the coffee chat interview, the interviewer can observe the questions you ask to know you better. 💡 Dress appropriately. There’s no need to dress in overly professional or formal interview attire for your informal interview. Depending on how casual it is, you can dress accordingly for your informal job interview. Business startup or smart casual is the ideal outfit for your informal interview. Do keep your shirts and pants unwrinkled.*If the informal chat interview is conducted online, make sure your background isn’t distracting. 💡 Bring your resumes and portfolios. If you’re meeting in person for the informal job interview, keeping your resumes and portfolios handy will help make your discussion smoother. If you want to showcase your portfolio or projects on your laptop during the informal coffee chat interview, make sure it’s fully charged. 💡 Be careful what you say. Even though it’s an informal interview, you should still pay attention to what you say. You might be tempted to speak as freely as you like, but the interviewers might take notes and evaluate your professionalism based on what you say. As a result, don’t speak negatively about your colleague or complain about your current position in the informal interview, even if the interviewer seems friendly.Also, don’t share irrelevant personal stories. Stick with the professional topics to make sure your “informal” job interview still demonstrates your professionalism. 💡 Don’t need to pay. The recruiters will foot the bill for your informal interview. There’s no need to offer to pay for the informal job interview. However, you can express your gratitude for the meal or coffee. 💡 Send a thank-you note to follow up. It’s essential to follow up after informal interviews, especially if you feel that you’ve had a pleasant conversation. Moreover, if you'd promised to provide the interviewer with any materials or documents afterward, don’t forget to include them in your following email. You can send it within 24 hours after the coffee chat interview to show your interest and address the interviewer’s any possible concerns, that were not addressed in the informal interview. Questions to Ask in an Informal InterviewIn informal interviews, asking questions is usually welcome. You can seize these chances to clarify if you are interested in the company and the job. Questions to ask in an informal job interview:Can you tell me more specifically why you’ve decided to reach out?What type of candidate are you looking for in this role?What are the metrics you use to measure success for this role?What accomplishments or results would you like to seek for this role?Do you have any open roles where you think I’m a good fit?Do you have any other questions regarding my background or experience?What are the company's goals and changes for the following year?What do you enjoy most about working here?What are the challenges your company faces?Can you walk me through your formal interview process?🔑 Key Takeaways:Research the company to understand its service and company cultureEnsure your informal interview outfit is office appropriatePrepare to talk about your skills and best professional achievementsAsk questions to understand what they are seekingDon’t let your guard down and rumble in the coffee chat interview Submit your applications with confidence. Our AI resume checker gives you the insights you need to make every application count.Build Confidence--- Originally written by Wu Chao Min---

Created by CakeIn this article, we'll cover:What Is an Informational Interview?How to Hold an Informational Interview15 Informational Interview Questions AnswersTips for Conducting an Informational InterviewInformational Interview Email TemplatesWhat Is an Informational Interview?An informational interview can be one of the most insightful and useful tools in the job-hunting process. Whether you’re looking for your first job, or preparing for a career change, it opens the door for you to learn firsthand about the position, company, or industry you’re interested in. Informational interview—its definition easy to understand—is a conversation with someone about their experiences in the company or field that interests you. Some like to call it coffee chat, informational meeting, or in a broader term, networking (it’s a great way to establish connections in a field). An informational interview is not a job interview. Although it might bring on opportunities for you, it is not why you do it. In essence, an informational interview is a means for you to collect more in-depth and authentic information, allowing you to make more well-informed career decisions. It can also boost your confidence with the job search, uncover a new career path, help your interview preparation, and might even let you gain a little access to the hidden job market. How to Hold an Informational Interview✅ Step 1. Finding the Person to Interview If you already have friends in the position, company, or industry that interests you, you’re among one of the luckiest—just ask friends out for a cup of coffee. If there’s someone in your second degree of the network (those who share a mutual connection with you), ask if that mutual friend can help introduce you for an informational interview. Your school’s alumni network and LinkedIn are also great ways to identify someone to interview. Most people who share a common background or perhaps have even been in the same situation as you are now are very likely to respond positively to an informational interview request. ✅ Step 2. Reaching Out Sending out an informational interview request to a stranger can feel a bit intimidating and untoward, but keep in mind that most people love to talk about themselves and their experiences! Chances are it’s a great way for them to reflect on their career too. Reach out via email or a simple message on LinkedIn, asking for an informational interview. Keep your message polite and to the point—briefly introduce yourselves, your situation, and ask for their feedback. If you’re unsure how to write an informational interview request, feel free to use our email template below. ✅ Step 3. Preparing for the Meeting There is nothing more frustrating than saving your time for an interviewer who’s not prepared. Your interviewee has insights and experiences that you can’t learn from the internet, so do your research beforehand and prepare questions to ask in the information interview. Take note of the company and industry they’re in, learn about their previous experiences, and reflect on what you want to take away from the conversation. Examples of some of the questions you can ask in an information interview:What does a day look like on your job? Why did you get into this industry? What does career progression look like down this path? ✅ Step 4. Holding the Conversation As casual as a ‘coffee chat’ sounds, an informational interview should always be done in a professional manner. You want to leave an impression and lead the conversation well enough so that if you have further questions, they’d be happy to extend the favor or introduce a colleague. ✅ Step 5. Writing a Thank You Note Don’t forget to follow up with your interviewee! They’ve shared with you their valuable time and hard-earned knowledge. In this day and age where time is money, and knowledge is assets, all you can do is to express your gratitude. Send them a thank-you email with concrete details of how this informational interview has helped you, how you were inspired by them, or how you will follow their advice. If you've built great rapport or benefited greatly from the chat, follow up with them in a few weeks or months to share your progress! Building a good professional relationship is important for you in the long-run. It helps you set up the right attitude toward your career that will take you further in whichever career path and open more doors for you in the future. 15 Informational Interview Questions Answers Below are some questions to ask in an informational interview to get you started. After your research, you should be able to tailor them based on your interviewee’s experience, your own career plans, and their company or industry. Keep in mind that questions you ask in an informational interview should help you make important decisions or progress in a career. A good informational interview should be like a smooth chat. With your purpose in mind, lead the conversation and explore what you are genuinely interested in or curious about. 🖋 Informational interview questions about your interviewee’s career field: How did you begin in this field? How does one get into this field?What kind of experience or skill is necessary for this industry?What kind of people do well and enjoy working in this field?How is this industry changing?What are some other related fields you’d be interested in working in? Sample informational interview question and answer:Interviewer: “How did you first begin in this field?”Interviewee: “I studied accounting in college. This is a field where concrete knowledge is essential, and experience is key in climbing the company ladder. Whether you showcase your knowledge from education or certifications, it’s a job that seeks for perseverant and thorough people.” 🖋 Informational interview questions regarding your interviewee’s position: What does a typical day look like at your job?What do you love the most about your job? The least?How does this position fit into the company or industry structure?What is something you wish someone had told you before you got into this job or industry?What would you recommend I do to be successful in this role? Sample informational interview question and answer:Interviewer: “What does your typical day look like?”Interviewee: “That depends on what companies I’m working with. It sometimes requires visiting the firms we’re auditing and checking their financial records. Normally my days have quite a set routine: in the morning, my team does a quick meeting to review our progress and adjust our agendas if necessary. Then all through the day we work on our analysis and audits individually.” 🖋 Informational interview questions relating to your interviewee’s company: What is the company culture like?How do you collaborate with your own team and others?What is the average employee turnover? What is the main reason for employee turnover?What does a long-term career at this company look like?How do you think this company differs from your toughest competitors? Sample informational interview question and answer:Interviewer: “What is the company culture like?”Interviewee: “We’re a very big and experienced firm, so our company structure has pretty much solidified. Of course, there’s changes with technological advances and societal progression, but the career pathways remain. With what we do, most directions and methods are top-to-bottom, no matter the company. In terms of office vibes, it differs with each team, but in general I’d say we’re pretty focused. There’s only certain times when we have all-hands events like Burger Wednesdays where it’s very vibrant.” Tips for Conducting an Informational Interview✏️ Be polite.If your interviewee is reluctant or uncomfortable sharing certain things, don’t push it. Utilize the list of questions you have prepared to ask in the information interview as a guide. An information interview is not an interrogation. ✏️ Dress smart casual.If you are unsure, dress how you would if you were to interview or work at the company your interviewee works at. ✏️ Be punctual.Plan your route in advance and make sure you are going to be there on time. ‘On time’ for an interviewer means being there early. Arriving before the scheduled time is a simple way to show the interviewee your respect for them. ✏️ Bring your list of questions and take notes.To set a comfortable atmosphere, ask your interviewee if it’d be okay to jot some notes down. ✏️ Briefly introduce yourself and be clear with your purpose.Share your background, education, profession, reason for this informational interview. ✏️ Be ready to listen thoughtfully and steer the conversation naturally.Set the premise that you’re there to learn from them and allow them to do most of the talking. ✏️ Respect your interviewee’s time.Confirm in advance on their agenda and set up a time limit, preferably 15-30 minutes. When you’re reaching the end of the allotted time, kindly remind them so they can either extend the conversation or start on a conclusion. ✏️ Voice your appreciation and thank them for sharing their experience.If you have further questions and the chat went well, ask if there’s anyone they’d recommend for your next informational interview to gain other perspectives. ✏️ Share with them what you learned and how it will affect your future actions or decisions.Networking goes both ways. Share your learnings and plans keeps to let them know they have impacted your life in a positive way. It also opens the gateway for others to connect and help. ✏️ Always be ready for an elevator pitch.Don’t ever ask for job referrals or about vacancies in an informational interview, but if they bring something up, make sure you know how to sell your experiences!Informational Interview Email Templates✉️ Informational interview request email: Hi [their name], My name is [your name] and I currently work as a [job title] at [your company’s name]. I’m interested in [fields/jobs you’d like to learn more about] (and [your mutual connection] had suggested that I reach out to you). Would it be possible to schedule a 15-minute meeting with you in the next couple of weeks? I’d love to buy you coffee and learn more about your experiences. Warm regards,[Your name] ✉️ Thank you email after an informational interview: Hi [their name], Thank you so much for sharing your time and experiences with me. I’ve learned a lot about [things about fields/jobs you learned], and it was very helpful to know that[things about fields/jobs you learned 2]. Our talk inspired me to look further into [fields/jobs]. I’m now in the process of applying and interviewing for a few positions in this field and wanted to share this with you. I really appreciate the advice you’ve given me. Thank you again! Best regards,[Your name] You’re all set! Now get on LinkedIn, Facebook , or any other social media and get some informational interviews lined up. You’re one step closer to building the career you want!With Cake’s resume builder tool, resume templates and resume examples, you could showcase your best qualifications to land your dream job. Try making a resume online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by Yohan Ke ---

Created by CakeIn this article, we'll cover: Physical Therapist Cover Letter ExamplesHow to Write a Cover Letter for a Physical Therapist Tips for Writing a Physical Therapist Cover LetterPhysical Therapist Cover Letter TemplateAs a physical therapist, you strive to get patients on the road to recovery from functional issues. Doing that requires empathy and communication besides medical knowledge: all better suited in a physical therapist cover letter. A physical therapist cover letter (aka a PT cover letter or a physical therapy cover letter) explains how you use the core skills in your resume to address patient needs. A strong cover letter helps you stand out and saves busy healthcare staff from headaches. To create a personable and professional resume to accompany your PT cover letter, check out our Resume Builder. Read on to find out how to write a PT cover letter, with examples, tips and a template at the end. Physical Therapist Cover Letter ExamplesDo you worry about communicating your experience level in your physical therapy cover letter? To show experience in the cover letter is important but also difficult. That’s why in this guide, we provide cover letter examples for physical therapists with varying levels of experience: we have sample cover letters for internships, for a new grad, for a PT assistant, and for a physical therapist. ✉️ Physical Therapy Cover Letter Sample for an Internship To write a cover letter for a physical therapy internship, highlight your familiarity with settings in physical therapy. Physical therapy cover letters for internships might feature personal experiences and observational skills. Jane Doe [email protected]216-123-4567 September 1, 2022. Ms. Garcia Young Children’s Hospital3909 Aubergine Road, OH 43123 Dear Ms. Garcia, I would like to assist families through tough times as a Physical Therapist Intern at Young Children’s Hospital. Using my interpersonal and problem-solving skills, I helped over 150 children and adolescents regain functional independence. I currently study Kinesiology at XY University and would like to pursue a DPT in the future. My experience with a teenage relative who contracted neurological trauma inspired me to pursue physical therapy. After seeing the transformative impact motion therapies had on the lives of parents and their children, I wanted to help more families lead an active lifestyle. At Newmont Hospital, I assisted adolescents with neuromotor diseases. From assessing tolerance levels in diagnoses and using new VR methods to test the coordination of younger patients for treatment plans, I also increased patient satisfaction by 50% for 100+ patients. I would love to meet up for an interview to dive into more details about my resume (which I have enclosed). Feel free to reach me at 216-123-4567 or [email protected]. Best Regards,Jane Doe ✉️ Physical Therapy Assistant Cover Letter Sample For a physical therapy assistant cover letter, address how you improve workflow for PTs and specify your administrative duties. Cover letters for physical therapy assistants target speed and time management. Jane Doe [email protected]213-123-4567 September 1, 2022. Hiring Team MobileHealth Center1234 W Grand Avenue, CA 90012 Dear Hiring Team, I saw your online job posting for a Physical Therapist Assistant position and would like to join your team at MobileHealth Center. My organization, communication, and multitasking skills from working at 5 different clinics have helped streamline patient flow. I hold an Associate’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Derby Community College and have State Licensure in California. Providing a comfortable experience for patients starts with giving them a professional and caring environment, which I believe my experiences in managing therapy before, during, and after a session could prove to be valuable: Improved clinic flow by 70% by administering preparation tasks to new PTAs and minimizing patient wait timesEducated over 1,000 patients on proper postures, exercise regimes, and post-procedural care according to physician notesReduced time in administrative duties (invoicing, record-keeping, typing speed of 90 WPM) by 60% To chat over coffee about what I have to offer, please reach me at 213-123-4567 or [email protected]. Attached is my resume with details on my clinical experiences. Kind Regards,Jane Doe ✉️ Physical Therapy Cover Letter A cover letter for a more experienced physical therapist focuses on branching current skills. In this case, a physical therapist cover letter may underscore leadership and social outreach. For a personable PT cover letter, mention if you attended any events hosted by the hospital/clinic. Jane Doe [email protected]213-123-4567 September 1, 2022. Dr. Adams UCPT General Hospital7799 Beaupre Avenue, CA 90022 Dear Dr. Adams, I learned about your Physical Therapist opening from a PT at Hope Hospital, who referred me upon seeing my strengths in leadership, collaboration, and mentorship. With 5 years of experience in occupational therapy, I aspire to be part of an award-winning team that values educated wellness at UCPT General Hospital. As an APTA member attendee at your last conference, I was motivated after hearing that your comprehensive portfolio of effective treatment models earned the Laurel Award. At Hope Hospital, I also share your philosophy for leading development in patient care, where I collaborated with a team of PTs from cardiopulmonary, neurological, and orthopedic departments to create 5 new standardized treatment models using IFT, TENS, and ultrasound methods. Education has always been a passion of mine. I supervised more than 200 PTs and created a blog with a following of 5000 at eMotions.com, where I provide forums, articles, and roadmaps to address common concerns of PTs. I have included my resume and would love to dive into how we can collaborate on interdisciplinary treatment developments. Feel free to contact me at 213-123-4567 or [email protected] Sincerely,Jane Doe How to Write a Cover Letter for a Physical TherapistTo write a physical therapist cover letter, include the following components: 💡 Sender and Recipient Details Include your name and contact details at the top of your PT cover letter. Follow up with the recipient’s name, organization name, and organization address. 💡 Clear Subject Line (for Emails) When emailing a PT cover letter, include the position name and the organization name in the subject line. To draw interest, insert a quality that the organization would love to have from your PT cover letter in the subject line. For instance:Compassionate DPT Seeking PT Position at XY Hospital 💡 Greetings Start your PT cover letter with a polite salutation (e.g. “Dear”). For a PT cover letter, filter the online directory of the hospital or clinic by the department to find the recipient’s name or use “Hiring Team” if unknown. 💡 Opening Paragraph State how you found the position and briefly touch on your relevant soft and hard skills at the start of your PT cover letter. Since physical therapy is a results-oriented occupation, include an accomplishment near the beginning of your PT cover letter. 💡 Body Paragraphs The body paragraphs of your PT cover letter should illustrate how you use your skills differently from other candidates. Make your PT cover letter more compelling and explain what drew you to the organization.✅ Pro tips:Use the job description and organization mission as a guide to decide what achievements to include in your PT cover letter. Specify and explain the contributions you made in your previous roles with clear metrics (e.g. patient flow, recurrence rate, patient satisfaction, etc.). Another reason to carefully read through job descriptions is that some healthcare providers use Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen applicants. Mirror keywords from the job description in your PT cover letter to increase your chances of getting reviewed. 💡 Closing Close off your PT cover letter with a call to action and reach out for an interview or chat. Let the recruiter know that you want to expand more on your resume or CV. Mention any attachments that go along with your PT cover letter. 💡 Sign-Offs End your physical therapy cover letter with a professional sign-off (Sincerely, Best Regards, Kind Regards etc.) and your name. 💡 Contact Information (for Emails) If you are emailing a PT cover letter, you could include a link to your blog/website at the end of your signature. You can exclude the recipient’s contact details from your PT cover letter since you are emailing them directly. Tips for Writing a Physical Therapist Cover Letter1. Highlight your computer skills: As a PT or PTA, computer skills are essential to clinic flow. Discuss your record-keeping skills or ability to track patient progress in your PT cover letter. 2. Emphasize your typing speed: For PTAs, mentioning your typing speed in your PT cover letter communicates that you can efficiently handle large datasets to reach doctors or patients. The minimum typing speed should be 70 WPM. 3. Proofread your cover letter: Professionalism is integral in a PT cover letter. Remove any typos and grammatical errors. Double-check your metrics. 4. Apply transferable skills: If you are a new grad, writing a physical therapist cover letter can be daunting when you have no work experience. Emphasize the skills from your school fieldwork. Your experience with clinical instructors is what sets you apart (e.g. assessment techniques, methods used, treatment plan approaches, etc.).Physical Therapist Cover Letter TemplateYou can use the following physical therapist cover letter template as a guide to bridge your skills and the organization's duties and mission. [Your Name] [Phone Number][Email] [Date] [Recipient Name] [Organization Name][Street Address, State/Province, Zip Code] I found your opening for a [PT Position Name] through [how you found the job]. I have [list hard skills] in [list areas of specialization] and would love to help your mission by providing [list soft skills] to patients. I understand that [organization values] are important and I hope to further that. At [previous clinic / place of fieldwork], I helped to [improve/reduce] [mention relevant results]. I believe these qualities would be valuable to physical therapy at your organization, which focuses on [mention key job roles]. Please find enclosed my [attachments] and feel free to reach me at [contact details]. I would love to discuss more of what I have to offer. Sincerely,[Name] 🔑 Key Takeaways When writing PT cover letters with limited experience, emphasize how your observational knowledge could serve the organization in hands-on settings.Take a results-oriented approach in your PT cover letter to show how you assess situations and achieve progression. Your PT cover letter should highlight relevant metrics to the job role.Convey your compassion for patients in your PT cover letter by tying in a personal story or focusing on the organization’s mission.With Cake, you can easily create a resume online, free download your resume in PDF, and utilize ATS-compliant templates to create a resume. Create your resume online (free download) now and land your dream job!Create resume--- Originally written by Flora Lai ---