September brings market week season back into fashion and footwear. Trade shows, buying appointments, line reviews, industry events. Calendars that were open in August fill up fast, and the people you most want to talk to become the hardest to reach.
If you want 3 genuine conversations on the calendar before the industry gets busy again, this is the month to ask.
Reframe the ask
Most people avoid informational interviews because it feels like asking for a favor. Reframe it. You’re offering someone the lowest pressure, most flattering conversation of their week. No pitch. No ask for a job. Just genuine curiosity about how they built their path. Most people enjoy talking about their own career more than we expect.
The outreach script that works
Keep it short. 3 sentences is plenty. Name something specific about their path that caught your attention, state clearly that you’re not asking for a job, and ask for 15 minutes. Specific and brief gets a response far more often than long and vague.
Make the most of the conversation once it’s booked
Come with 3 to 4 genuine questions, not a script you’ll read from. Ask about their path, not just their current role. Ask what they’d do differently. And close by asking if there’s anyone else they’d suggest you speak with. That single question is often how 1 conversation turns into 3.
Follow up like it matters, because it does
Send a short thank you within 24 hours referencing something specific from the conversation. This is the step most people skip, and it’s the step that makes someone remember you 6 months from now when a role opens on their team.
Coaches Tip:
Aim for quality over volume. 3 well chosen, well prepared conversations will do more for your network than 10 rushed ones.
Free Download:
Grab the Informational Interview Outreach Script, the exact message template I give clients to book these conversations without the awkward ask.
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