4.6 Informational Interviewing

Dawn Forrester; Eden Isenstein

4.6 Informational Interviewing

Dawn Forrester and Eden Isenstein

As you develop your career identity and learn what it means to be a professional in a field or if you are looking for a new job or exploring a change of career, one of the best ways to learn about different fields and industries is to conduct informational interviews with people who have expertise in those fields. An informational interview is a conversation in which a person seeks insights on a career path, an industry, a company, and/or general career advice from someone with experience and knowledge in the areas of interest.

Informational interviews differ from job interviews because the conversation is not about hiring and not about a specific job. The knowledge seeker asks general questions about an industry, company, or career path, and the knowledge provider has an opportunity to learn about the knowledge seeker’s character and qualifications outside of a formal job interview process.

Even though an informational interview is usually less formal than a job interview, it still requires preparation, and you will find that it calls upon many of the skills you are practicing in this business communication course: research, audience analysis, crafting your message, delivering your message succinctly and professionally, active listening, and soliciting feedback, among others. Although each information interview situation will be different, the following steps can help you get started.

Step 1: Research the Field

The more specific and focused you can be in each part of the interview process, the more you will get out of it. To move from the general to the specific, we need to start with some research. Use the internet to find local companies or organizations that are involved in the field of interest, and try to find out as much as you can about terminology, subfields, and job titles. Check national job listings for the job titles you have found (websites like indeed.com can help). What qualifications are they looking for?

Step 2: Identify People to Interview

There are two ways to go about selecting people to interview: using your social and professional network or reaching out to people outside of your network. If you can use your network, you are more likely to have a successful response, but you may be able to get closer to the career field you are looking for if you reach outside your network. Your school’s alumni network can be an excellent resource.

When you find someone you might want to talk to, find out what you can about their professional presence on the internet. Do they have a LinkedIn profile? Is their resume posted somewhere? Is any of their work published or public in some way? The more you know about the person professionally, the more you can focus your questions to their specific situation. Note, however, that it is unwise (and unprofessional) to go digging into personal information about the person on the internet. It is not relevant to the situation, and there is a high risk of misidentification or misunderstanding.

It is best to compile a list of people you would like to speak with (and some notes to remind yourself how you found them and why you want to talk to them).

Step 3: Prepare Your Introductory Message

Throughout this course, we have been stressing the need to tailor your communication to your audience. This is very much the case for informational interview requests, especially if the person is outside of your immediate social network. Why are you contacting this person specifically? Do you have a shared connection somehow? Have you seen his or her work or something he or she worked on? Does his or her background or career path have similarities to yours?

In reaching out—usually via email, unless you have been invited to text or call—be clear and specific about what you are asking for.

- Mention how you got their name.
- Ask for a 20–30 minute appointment, at their convenience.
- Emphasize that you are looking for information, not a job.

Especially if you are cold-contacting someone (emailing someone without an introduction from a shared connection), you should not be surprised if your request is ignored completely. That is OK! Repeat Step 3 with the next name on your list. Use this opportunity to revise and refine your message.

Once someone agrees to meet with you, it is time to prepare for the interview.

Step 4: Conduct the Interview

Before the interview, you should prepare a list of questions you would like to ask, but also be ready to improvise. You should spend time in advance thinking about what you want to learn from this particular person. The more specific and informed your questions are, the more useful the answers will be.

Dress professionally for the interview (even virtual interviews) and make sure you arrive on time or early. Introduce yourself, thank them for coming, and remind them why you wanted to meet with them. Remind yourself and your interviewee that you are looking for information, not a job; this interview is about the interviewee and their experience, not about you and your qualifications. That said, do not expect the person you are meeting with to guide the conversation. You are responsible for asking the questions that will bring out the information you are looking for (Berkeley Career Center, n.d.).

Remember that this interview is a speaking situation, not just a friendly chat (though it will probably be friendly as well). Speak clearly and concisely, and try to use specific, concrete, and professional language.

Step 5: Follow Up and Reflect

It is important to write down a record of the meeting as soon as possible afterwards, while the details are fresh in your mind (LiveCareer, n.d.). Track not only what you learned and next steps, but also reflect on the interview itself. What went well? Did anything happen that you were not expecting? What can you do more effectively next time?

Be sure to send a thank-you note within one or two days of the interview. Whether you write the note by hand or send an email will depend largely on how you reached the person, whether you have a physical address to send it to, and your personal preferences. Either way, you should try to be as specific as possible, and mention something about the interview that you remember (Kalish, n.d.).

Designing Your Career: The Informational Interview

The video below will give you even more information about the importance of informational interviews. You will be reminded that an informational interview is not a job interview, you will learn the key to successful informational interviews, and finally, you learn 5 important tips to make this a great experience.

AI Insight: Preparing for an Informational Interview

You already know from AI Insight: Preparing for a Job Interview that AI can assist you in generating questions you might be asked in an interview. It can also help you generate questions to ask an interviewee and prepare for the interview. However, you need to research the professional you’ll be speaking with, craft thoughtful questions, and practice your introduction and conversation flow. It’s also important to engage actively during the interview. Use AI as a resource to guide your preparation, but remember that genuine curiosity, respect, and active listening are key to making the most out of the conversation. Afterward, AI can also help you craft a strong follow-up to maintain the relationship (see AI Insight: After the Interview).

Sample AI Prompts for Preparing for an Informational Interview:

“Can you provide insights into the career trajectory of someone in [specific industry/role]?”
“What questions can I ask during an informational interview about the challenges in [specific industry/field]?”
“How can I ask about how to prepare for a career in [specific field or company] during an informational interview?”
“How can I introduce myself at the beginning of an informational interview in a way that feels natural and engaging?”
“How can I keep the conversation flowing during an informational interview if the interviewee gives me short, undetailed answers?”
“Can you give me examples of good follow-up questions I can ask based on someone’s answers?”