Think about the fields or areas of work that you might want to explore for future career opportunities. Is there a field that is tangential to yours that might serve as a pivoting point to grow your professional experience? Maybe there is a job title that intrigues you, and you want to find out more. Have you ever wondered how that well-respected executive in your company made it to her current position?
Informational interviews might just give you some answers!
What are informational interviews?
Informational interviews are conversations for you to ask people about what they do in their work. Informational interviews are not just for students or entry-level workers. They are beneficial for people in any position or at any level.
The goal is for you to learn about a field or position that is unfamiliar to you. Perhaps, you will also be able to find out about what it is like to work in a particular company or work environment. In addition, informational interviews may help you better understand various career paths and decisions that were made. Another goal is to network and build your professional network.
The most important thing to remember though is that the information interview is NOT the place to ask for a job.
Who do you informational interview?
Utilize your current network to find out if any of your contacts are working in those areas of interest that you have identified OR if they might know anyone who is. Ask for introductions and then follow up with informational interview requests.
Did you meet someone interesting at a professional conference recently and want to connect to learn more about what they do? Reach out to them.
Have you recently joined a company and want to learn more about the different departments or functions in that organization? Ask your manager and coworkers for recommendations on people to contact.
Do you see a job posting that is intriguing to you, but you want to learn more about the specifics of the day-to-day responsibilities? Search for the hiring manager or someone who works at the same organization.
Perhaps, you come across a few names in your google research on various positions. Be bold and reach out. Sometimes, people are happy to talk about themselves. If they are not interested or too busy, your email will just be ignored. There is no harm in expressing genuine interest and asking.
How do you conduct an informational interview?
- Be prepared to provide a brief introduction about yourself and why you are conducting the interview.
- Prepare a list of questions, but don’t be afraid of asking relevant follow-up questions as the conversation progresses if an unexpected topic piques your interest. Some example information interview questions include:
- What are your responsibilities?
- Can you describe your typical day?
- What special training or education do you need/recommend for the position?
- What was your career path?
- How did you get your position?
- What do you love about your job?
- What do you dislike about your job?
- What do you look for in candidates when hiring for the position?
- Always end the information interview by asking whether there is someone else you might talk with to learn more.
- Never ask for a job. If relevant, mention your interest in the position, and definitely ask to keep in contact if you think there is a good fit. You can briefly share your own background and interests, but use this interview as an opportunity to learn.
- Always thank the informational interviewee for his/her time! Likely, this person is busy, so be grateful that s/he has taken the time to talk with you.
What to do after the information interview?
- Send a follow-up thank you email.
- Keep in contact. If you see a relevant job posting that fits your interests, follow up with the informational interviewee and let him/her know that you will be applying. Attach the job posting and your resume and request that s/he passes it on the right people.