Exhaust Yourself with Research

Start reading all about the industry or industries that you’ve earmarked, even if what you’re researching is “jam” and you don’t think of that as a full-fledged field but rather the cottage industry of nuns. Be not daunted, ho! Study up on the history of what you’re interested in, what and who have come before you, any relevant legislation, the common pitfalls, and the gossip.

If your interest is piqued by all this research, you are ready to move on to the next phase, where you get to visit a real live workplace and everything. It might sound a little scary, but you’re about to send a letter (and then make a call) to two or three luminaries in whatever field it is that you’ve alighted on, asking if you can shadow them for a day.

Be Someone's Shadow

The shadowing concept has the unique advantage of getting you face-to-face with someone whom you can really learn from without the blatant Give Me a Job! overtones associated with asking for an informational interview. It’s the difference between being curious about them and demanding they be interested in you. Plus, if you follow someone around for a few hours, they’ll show you what they actually do, as opposed to describing their work with abstract concepts like “team building” or “business development.” And you’ll spend more time together than if you’d stopped by all nervous-like for an interview, which will work to your advantage in a big way if you and Hotshot hit it off.

One more thing, don’t be afraid to tell someone (if you’re sincere) how much you admire their work and to ask point-blank whether you can shadow them for the day. Everyone loves a sycophant. And people like the warm, do-gooding feeling they get from showing a young person the ropes. You might not be able to get to Donald Trump this way, but you will be surprised who’s within your reach. I have a friend who, during college, asked Robert DeNiro to come to campus to speak to students who were really interested in acting. Mr. DeNiro said yes.

If at the end of your research exercise, however, you realize that jam, or forestry, or high-endurance sea faring isn’t for you, you’ll have to recast of course. But don’t lose heart. Research is a low-risk venture. It’s free, for one thing. And for another, it teaches you a lot more than you would have learned while watching reruns of Friends. Win or lose, you will have more interesting tidbits to offer at cocktail parties or wherever it is that you choose to stand around smiling. As far as goals go, this one’s noble and it will pay dividends in the end. Promise.