informational interview when you've already applied for a job

A reader writes:

I recently applied for a job with a closing date of a week and a half ago. A colleague of mine also applied to this organization (for a different position) and was told by a representative from this organization at a career fair today that the best way to "keep himself in the running" was to email the department he was applying to and ask for a 20-30 minute informational interview. I've always thought that an informational interview was only for when you weren't directly asking for a job, not once you've already applied.

Should I follow my colleague's tip and email the department I've applied to, or would I ruin my chances by requesting a short informational interview?

That's really odd. You're right; informational interviews are normally not for when you're applying for a particular job, but rather for learning about a field you're new to or otherwise want an insider point of view on. (Of course, lots of people try to use them as a back door to a job, but that's a different rant.) And if a candidate asked for an informational interview while also being considered for a job, it wouldn't come across much differently than "I'd like to schedule my job interview now, please."

So either this company has an unusual way of doing things (which is entirely possible), or the person who advised your colleague didn't really know what she was talking about (also entirely possible). Either way, your colleague should take the advice -- since it very well might be good advice for this company -- but should specifically say that Jill Smith or whoever advised him to request the meeting. That way, if Jill Smith was misinformed, the employer won't blame your friend.

You're in a different boat though. First, you can't attribute your request to Jill Smith, because she didn't make the recommendation to you. And second, Jill Smith's advice might have been specific to the department your friend is applying to. So then you're back to it normally being a really weird request in the middle of an application process. Thus, I would err on the side of safety and proceed as if your friend had never told you this -- i.e., don't ask for the informational interview.

Anyone want to argue this one differently?