5: Places

The final of the 3Ps is Places. Searching for work or a career direction can be challenging and stressful. It is a road paved with many questions that formal data alone would struggle to meaningfully answer.

  • Would I like working there?
  • Would I be successful in that field?
  • Will this work sustain and engage me?
  • What would the culture of a particular company be like?

Hard data on employment rates, average wages, and typically required skills cannot meaningfully address these kinds of questions.

The Places category of informal LMI focuses on how clients can gain firsthand insights by being physically present in workplaces and work-related environments. As Dr. Edwin Herr noted, we can sometimes “sniff the future” by analyzing a range of information. By observing workplaces, asking questions, and building relationships, clients can gather insights that formal LMI may not provide.

Volunteering, informational interviews, and job shadowing are key strategies that support this process.

Volunteering

It may seem counter-intuitive to volunteer unpaid time when in need of paying work. However, volunteering can yield valuable insights and opportunities. Many newcomers, for example, volunteer with newcomer groups assisting with settlement, housing, getting kids enrolled into schools, and beginning to search for work. This provides meaning as they contribute to their broader community and expand their personal network of contacts. The same is true for many volunteer associations run through local charities, not-for-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations. 

Volunteer work can build networks, develop new skills, provide a sense of purpose and confidence, and forge new connections that can lead to concrete and sustainable work opportunities. Volunteering can be especially helpful for those with needs related to the Job Seach, Skills Development, and Career Exploration dimensions.

Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are conversations where the goal is not to secure a job offer, but to gather information about a role, company, or career field. Speaking directly with someone working in an area of interest gives clients the opportunity to ask tailored questions and gain insights specific to their needs. Clients can be encouraged to request 15–30 minutes of a contact’s time to learn more about their role or career path. Preparing questions in advance helps focus the discussion. Questions may explore topics such as required training, daily responsibilities, workplace culture, or current industry challenges.

By listening carefully to the responses, clients can gain insights that formal LMI cannot provide. In some cases, they may also be invited onsite, offering the added benefit of observing the workplace environment and culture firsthand. Informational interviews also allow clients to demonstrate curiosity and interest, even when no immediate job opportunity exists.

Informational interviews are highly effective for those in the Career Exploration and Job Search dimensions and can also provide valuable insights for Career Growth.

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing involves “buddying up” with someone at their place of work and accompanying them as they perform their duties. It is a real-world exposure to what a day in the life of that person at work looks like. A great deal can be observed by shadowing someone at work, even for only a few hours. What is the work culture like? What is the pace of work? Do colleagues support each other and collaborate frequently or is the work more siloed and individual?
Shadowing can reveal a wealth of informal information that can help someone assess whether the field, role, and organization are aligned to their career goals. Job shadowing can be particularly valuable for those working in the Career Exploration and Career Growth dimensions.
Volunteering, informational interviewing, and job shadowing all provide ways to gather informal LMI and “sniff the future” to help answer the questions that formal LMI alone cannot. CDPs can support clients in strategically identifying the Places that will best help them explore their questions.

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