Informational Interviews

Informational Interviewing 

An excellent way to gather information about different occupations is by talking to people who work in the field you are interested in.

What is an informational interview? 
An informational interview is a brief (approximately 15-20 minutes), informal conversation with someone who is working in a career you are considering. It is a great way to gather information about a field, industry, or occupation you would like to know more about.  

An informational interview is not a job interview. While you certainly want to leave a good impression, this activity is a means to obtain insight and advice about a particular career or field. It is for you to listen and learn, as well as to help you clarify your own career goals. 

What are the benefits of conducting an informational interview? 

  • Acquire first-hand info about and insight into an occupation or field you are considering  
  • Get insider tips about preparing for the job you are interested in
  • Help you clarify whether or not the occupation or field would be a good option for you
  • Expand your network of professional contacts  
  • Strengthen communication skills that could help you with job interviews
  • Learn about possible job leads that are not advertised 

How do I conduct an informational interview?  

  • Make sure to have professional contact info: email, voicemail, and LinkedIn if you have one
  • Identify people to contact (see more info below)
  • Initiate contact (see more info below)  
  • Familiarize yourself with the occupation or field, as well as the organization/company the person works for
  • Have your resume ready to send in case it is requested
  • Generate a list of sample questions (see examples below)
  • Practice how you will introduce yourself
  • Gather materials together and plan out what you will wear if your interview is in person or conference call 
  • Take the lead. You asked for the interview and should expect to facilitate it.
  • Break the ice. Introduce yourself, express appreciation for taking the time to meet with you, and share a little about yourself.
  • Respectfully ask your questions. Your goal shouldn't be to get through your entire list of prepared questions. Allow for spontaneous conversation. Use the time to listen carefully and seize opportunities to ask thoughtful follow-up questions.  
  • Be polite and professional throughout
  • Do not ask for a job
  • Keep track of time. If they invite you to stay longer, great! If they don’t, start wrapping up after about 15-20 minutes. 
  • Jot down what you have learned
  • Follow up with a thank you note—at minimum, by email. Let them know you enjoyed meeting with them and learning more about the field you inquired about. Mention something that stood out to you or that you learned about while talking to them. Thank them for their time and them know you appreciate their willingness to share their knowledge and experience with you. 
  • If they asked you to send your resume, be sure to send it.
  • Keep in touch 

How do I identify people to contact? 

  • Ask everyone you know—family members, friends, fellow students, professors, co-workers—for  possible leads  
  • Utilize LinkedIn to search for people by industry, professional association, or college/university
  • Find officers or members of professional associations through their websites 

How do I initiate contact? 

Generally speaking, email will be the best approach; however, you might try cold-calling people over the phone. Keep your message short. Write in a professional manner, avoiding grammatical errors, typos, abbreviations, emojis, and using all caps.  

Subject: Informational interview request from Cerritos College student 

Dear Mr. Smith, 

My name is Jane Doe. I am a student at Cerritos College and am working on a career planning project that involves obtaining information about a career that interests me. I found your name on the XYZ Professional Association website.  

Please be assured I am not seeking a job. I am looking for advice and insight from professionals in XYZ field and was wondering if we could set up a 15-20-minute meeting at your convenience. I can meet you for coffee, come to your office, or chat with you over the phone or zoom. May I suggest next Friday afternoon? 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Thank you, 

Jane  

Hello Mr. Doe. My name is ___________. I am a student at Cerritos College and am working on a career planning project that involves obtaining information about __________ (name of occupation or career field). I am not looking for a job but would like to ask you some questions about your field and was hoping I could schedule 15-20 minutes with you at your convenience. I would be happy to meet you for coffee or go to your office, or if it is more convenient for you, we can chat over the phone. May I suggest next ___________ at ___________ as a time for an interview? 

NOTE: Be prepared for the possibility of the person saying they are available right now.

  • What made you decide to pursue this career?
  • Can you describe your path to this? Would you say your path was very typical for this field?
  • What is a typical workday like for you?
  • What have you found most rewarding working in this field? Most challenging?
  • What qualities or abilities are most important for being successful in this field
  • What current trends or issues related to this field should I know about?
  • What advice can you give me about pursuing and being successful in this career?
  • If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself
  • If not, what would you change?
  • Are there other resources you recommend I look into?
  • Can you suggest anyone else I could speak to for additional information? May I tell them you referred me?