Informational interviews

Why Conduct an Informational Interview?

There are so many benefits to doing an informational interview! Informational interviews can help you:

• Explore careers of interest and clarify your career path and goals.
• Discover opportunities available in a given field, including careers you did not know existed.
• Learn the realities of the world of work and what to expect in a given career field.
• Meet people in your career field and begin to build your network.
• Unexpectedly find mentors in your field.
• Develop confidence for internship and job interviews.
• Get the inside scoop on obtaining internships and jobs in the field.
• Observe the work environment and learn what the career is like from someone doing the job.

How to Conduct an Informational Interview

1.  Identify the career or industry you would like to explore
   1. Assess your interests, values, strengths, and skills, and learn about possible career fields.
2. Determine who you would like to interview
   1. Begin with people you already know including friends, relatives, co-workers, supervisors, advisors, and faculty. To find additional contacts, use the Maroon & Gold Network, Handshake, and join the CEHD Alumni and Student Networking Group on LinkedIn. Also consider professional organizations, company websites, and directories.
3.  Schedule the meeting
   1. When you call or write, give your name and affiliation and explain the purpose of the interview. When using the Maroon and Gold Network or LinkedIn, click “connect” and use the optional message pop-up box to write your message.
   2. Ask for a 20-30 minute meeting. Determine the modality of your interview (e.g. in-person, Zoom, phone) and be willing to be flexible in scheduling.
   3. Get directions to their location or initiate setting up a virtual meeting and give your contact information.
   4. For virtual meetings, you can suggest using Zoom or Skype. If you use Maroon and Gold Network to find alumni, a video messaging and scheduling platform is already built in for an easy connection!    
4. Prepare for the interview
   1. Research the career field and/or organization before the interview.
   2. Determine a list of thoughtful questions (see a list of sample questions below).
5. Conduct the interview
   1. Dress in line with the industry's norms while staying true to your authentic style, arrive on time (but plan to arrive early), and express gratitude for their time.
   2. Ask for their business card or keep a record of their contact information.
   3. Obtain the names and contact information for any new contacts you’re recommended to connect with.
6.  Follow-up
   1. Take advantage of referrals and connect with any contacts they shared.
   2. Stay in touch with your contact, updating them every 6 months or so on your career progress and asking any additional questions you may have.Record, reflect, and evaluate the information you received and make any necessary changes.