Informational Interviews - What is it and why you should book one!

Want to break into the job market or switch careers? An informational interview could help you expand your network and improve your job prospects.

Interested in learning more about a new industry or position within your chosen field? Setting up an informational interview could be the way to go. These casual meetings are a great way to gain insight without having a lot at stake.

“An informational interview allows you to tap into the pulse of an industry,” says Anna Tsui, an international entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. “You can get an idea of who the players are, their reputations, and the trends in the marketplace. You may be able to garner insight that’s not mainstream or easily accessible.”

University alumni groups are a great resource for identifying informational interview subjects, as are professors you know well and people you’ve worked with in the past.

LinkedIn is also useful for networking. “You can search your first- and second-degree contacts as well as people who match the keywords for fields you are considering,” says Tullier.

Also, consider talking with someone who is almost a peer — just a few years out of college — in a position you aspire to all. They can give you an on-the-ground perspective, which could complement any information you get from a department head or CEO.

Potential informational interview subjects could also stem from your curiosity about others.

“Whether you are intentionally trying to set up a meeting or not, ask people questions about themselves when you meet them and listen,” suggests Lara Schulte, certified behavior specialist and business coach. “People love to talk and share information about themselves — and even more than that, they like to feel heard.”

You can set up an informational interview at any point to learn more about a potential career: during an internship (including a virtual internship), before or after you graduate, or even years into an existing career if you want to change fields.

An informational interview could provide powerful insight for your next career move. For example, you can learn if a graduate degree will help you break into a new industry — or what competition for open positions is like right now.

An informational interview is an informal conversation, usually lasting 20-30 minutes, with a person working in a career field that interests you. It is not a job interview, and its purpose is not to find job openings. Rather, it’s a way to explore a given field, and it can also give you an opportunity to get an inside look at an organization where you may want to work in the future.

You may feel awkward reaching out to people you don’t know. However, most people actually enjoy taking a bit of time out of their day to reflect on their professional life and give advice to someone interested in their field.

Benefits of Informational Interviewing

Get firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular position, field, or industry.

Find out about career paths you didn’t know existed.

Get insider tips about how to prepare for and land your first career position.

Learn what it’s like to work at a specific organization.

Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network of contacts; meet people who may share job leads with you in the future.

Six Steps of Informational Interviewing:

(1) Research career fields, industries and organizations

Use online resources to research the career field, industry and/or organization you want to learn about.

(2) Identify people to interview

Make use of your existing contacts, such as family, friends, GSIs, professors and former employers. Even if they aren’t working in fields that interest you, people you already know can lead you to people who are.

(3) Prepare for the Interview

Develop a brief introduction of yourself and your hopes for the meeting.
Plan open-ended questions to ask.

Being ready for the meeting is key. Although this is not a job interview, you want your informational interview to open with a concise summary of who you are and what you are looking for — your “elevator pitch.” This will help the interviewee understand what kind of input might help you determine if the company or industry would be a good fit for you.

Additionally, have a strong introduction and closing for your informational interview. In between, be ready to pivot or anticipate where the conversation could lead. It’s OK if you don’t know the answer to any of the questions right away. Just ask for some time to think about it and see if you can circle back to it later.

You should also research the company and the person you’re meeting with before you talk to anyone. “You want to show you’ve done your homework,” Tullier says. Knowing something about the company, especially if it’s been in the news recently, could be beneficial throughout the conversation.

Familiarize yourself with your interviewee’s résumé — even if you already know them personally. Avoid simpler questions such as, “What is your job?” or “What was your major?” Instead, dig deeper by asking what they’ve done to be more effective or satisfied in their career, or if their work involves more solo projects or team collaborations. It might also be useful to know what skills have served them best in their career.

Try to include questions that are also customized to your interests. If you love to write or travel, you might ask how those might be involved in the job.

If the person already knows you, ask if they think you would do well in this industry or at their company. Ask about the company culture, such as what people like or find challenging about working there. Inquire about the company or industry and about overall expectations for a role in both.

Schulte notes that it’s worth asking if there are other people you should meet with too. They may think of someone they work with or have worked with in the past who you should get to know. “Let them help you continue to create your network of professionals,” she says.

And one last recommendation: Don’t request favors or directly ask about positions within the person’s company or for details about pay or benefits.

(4) Initiate contact

Contact the person by email or through LinkedIn.
Mention how you got their name.

Emphasize that you are looking for information, not a job.

(5) Conduct the informational interview

Dress neatly and appropriately for the work setting you are exploring.

If meeting in person, arrive on time or a few minutes early.

Bring your list of questions and take notes if you like.

Restate that your objective is to get information and advice, not to ask for a job.

Give a brief overview of yourself and your education and/or work background.
Be prepared to direct the interview, but also let the conversation flow naturally, and encourage the interviewee to do most of the talking.

Respect the person’s time. Limit the meeting to the agreed-upon timeframe.

Ask if you may contact them again in the future with other questions.

Ask for names of other people to contact in order to gather different perspectives.

Note: You can bring a resume, but don’t take it out right away or your interviewee may think you are actually fishing for a job. At some point you may wish to ask for input about it, but first establish a comfortable rapport with the person.

(6) Follow up and nurture the connection

Keep records. Capture key takeaways, note questions you still have, and brainstorm next steps.

Express your appreciation for the person’s time and the information or guidance they shared. Send a thank-you note within 1-2 days. Depending on how formal the conversation was, you can send a brief handwritten note, an email, or a business letter.

Offer to return the favor if the opportunity arises. This fosters a mutually beneficial relationship.

Keep in touch, especially if the interaction went especially well; if you followed their advice, let them know and share any updates. This person could become an important part of your network.

Remember: An informational interview is useful for career research, but it isn’t an actual job interview. Just because you landed an informational interview with an executive at your dream company doesn’t mean you’ll be walking away with a new gig. But it could give you an in at the company or a connection with someone who may vouch for you when a position becomes available.