Dear Liz,
I have just begun a new job search. I feel that informational interviews will be a key factor in my finding a new position; however, I am unclear as to what protocol to follow. Can I do an informational interview at a company even though I have submitted a resume for a current job opening in the same company? Should one come before the other? I am afraid I look tacky applying and then coming in to find out more about the company when they may not even want me. My concern is that I feel I should apply for the jobs before they are taken and therefore I may not have the time to do an informational interview beforehand. Please advise. Thank you so much!
-J. (MassWIT)

Dear J.,
These are great questions. I agree that you have to strike while the iron is hot and apply for those jobs when you spot them. I think that you can still approach a manager at the company for an informational interview, as long as you're not approaching the hiring manager for the very same job you're pursuing. If you do that, it's going to appear disingenuous - and you never want to be perceived as using the informational interview as a hook to get a job interview.

When the informational interview concept emerged maybe 15 years ago, people had more time during the day than they do now. It's a major imposition these days to ask an overbooked corporate person to take the time to meet with you for an informational interview. Rather, ask for 15 minutes of his or her time on the phone. You'll still have a great chance to get your questions answered and to impress the inside person.

So make a list of companies that you'd like to know more about. Use WorldWIT and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) to find people at those companies. Informational-interview away, applying for suitable jobs as you see them. You shouldn't run into the which-comes-first problem very often if you're proactively info-interviewing all over town.
Good luck!
Liz