How would you like to go to an interview with absolutely no chance of landing the job? It might sound like a waste of time, but it's actually one of the smartest things you can do. They're called informational interviews, and they let you make connections, gain insight, and get your foot in the door at companies that may not be hiring at the moment.

The best way to arrange an informational interview is very similar to the way you should be looking for a new job: Man the phone lines. Yes, it's true, you want to send out your resumes to online ads, but you also want to bust open the old yellow pages and start calling businesses one by one (of course, starting in your field of interest). If they aren't hiring, ask to see if you could schedule an informational interview.

The term “informational interview” was coined by the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, Richard Nelson Bolles. Essentially, it's a time where you can sit down with an employer and ask for advice rather than employment. Ask them what they look for on a resume, or in an interview. Ask them what kind of people they hire, what kind of work is done at the company. Don't be afraid of slightly more journalistic questions like, “What made you decide on this field?” and “How did you get to your position?” Like the name of the interview implies, you're looking for information here; anything that will help you get a heads up on the competition (your fellow unemployed). That said, it's very, very wise to be generally friendly, well spoken, and incredibly polite. Because, in addition to gathering incredibly useful information, you're also there to make an impression.