Informational Interviewing Guide

"One of the best, most under-used strategies for career networking. You'll have to push beyond your comfort zone, but it's well worth the effort."

~ Career Choice Guide

What are the benefits?

Informational Interviews can help you to:

 

  • Learn the kind of in-depth, insider information about a career that only someone whose walked in that path can tell you.
  • Get accurate and fairly unbiased information about the skills, qualifications and experience required to land a position in the field.
  • Meet and make connections with people in a specific industry who can provide valuable information and open doors to meet more people within the industry.
  • Get the inside scoop on unadvertised job opportunities.

 

Who should you talk to?

Talk to people in your network who are in a related industry or in the field

 

  • Approach anyone including family, friends friends of family, faculty, advisors, coaches, supervisors, or anyone with whom you have had a conversation with about careers or is in a role of interests.
  • Create a LinkedIn profile. Join groups related to your career interests (including groups of Geneseo alumni) and reach out to other members of that group.
Talk to someone who does the type of job you'd like to do if you want to know about:

 

  • The day to day responsibilities of the job
  • The most rewarding aspects of the job
  • The most difficult or stressful aspects of the job
  • Surprising things about the job that only an insider would know about
Talk to an HR professional who works in the industry that interests you if you want to know about:

 

  • Skills, qualifications and experience required to get a job in the industry
  • Typical salary range
  • Typical career path for someone in the industry
  • Current and long term outlook for the field (Are employers in the industry hiring now? Will they be hiring in the future?)
  • Possible changes in the industry that would have a large impact on the nature of the job
Cold Call

If you are confident and comfortable, and if none of your existing contacts know someone in the industry, your next step is to cold contact someone within the industry.

You may be nervous about cold contacting people to set up informational interviews, but don't let that stop you. People are surprisingly receptive to this request.

TIP:

  • Make notes about what you want to say to help you stay focused.

  • Don't call your favorite company first. You get better at this the more you do it.

 

How Do I Set Up an Information Interview?

Set Goals

 

  • Your first goal should be to speak directly with the intended person.
  • What about the field do you really want to learn about? Make a list and prioritize them.
Do your research

 

  • Look for a company that hires people to do that type of job.
  • If possible, find the name of
  • the person you want to talk to. It will make it easier to get through to the person and avoid being screened by a receptionist. Company websites, business directories and LinkedIn are good starting points for finding the name of someone to talk to within a company.
Introductions

 

  • Either call or email the person and introduce yourself and provide a clear and concise reason as to why you are making contact.
  • Emphasize that your are NOT looking for a job; you are merely trying to gather information about that field.
  • If your contact is open to it, you will gain the most from an informational interview conducted at their place of work. The second-best method is a virtual meeting, the third-best method is a telephone conversation, and the fourth is email.

TIP:

  • Email and voice mail are too easy to ignore. You have a much better chance of setting up an information interview if you speak directly to the person.
  • If you get voice mail, instead of leaving a message, try calling back at another time. If you constantly get voice mail, after a couple of calls, leave a message saying who you are, why you are calling and state that you will call them back.
    • By stating that you will call the person back, you maintain control of the situation. You don't have to sit by the phone waiting for them to call you, and you can try contacting them again in the next day or two.

Preparing For and Conducting the Informational Interview

Before

Complete Plenty of Research

  • Thoroughly research the company and the industry before your interview so you can ask intelligent, well thought out questions.
  • Review the company's website and (if they are active with social media) Facebook page and Twitter feed. Also, check LinkedIn to see if the person you will be interviewing has a profile that you can review.
  • Dress to impress. If interviewing in person or virtually, dress professionally. You only have one chance to make a first good impression!
During

 

  • Have twelve to fifteen questions prepared to fill a 30-minute interview. Be conversational, flexible, and change questions as needed.
  • Do not ask questions that can easily be answered by reading the company's promotional literature or website. Ask questions that only someone inside the company could answer. This approach makes the best use of your time and shows respect for the person who has granted you the interview.
  • Before concluding, ask the interviewee for the names of 2 more people in that field that they feel might chat with you.
After

 

  • Follow-up with a "thank you" within 48 hours. A handwritten note is impressive but emailed "than-yous: are acceptable if sent within 24 hours.
  • Evaluate the experience:
    • Is this career an option? Why or Why not?
    • Is additional information needed to decide on this career path?

TIP:

  • Stick to the Agreed Time Frame. If you originally asked for 15 or 20 minutes for an interview, do not drag the interview beyond that time frame.
  • Do Not Ask for a Job. The employer granted this interview as an opportunity for you to gather information, not as an opportunity for you to ask for a job. If you directly ask for a job in an information interview, many employers will feel that you got into the interview under false pretences and will not be impressed.
  • Do Not Offer Your Resume, But Have One Handy Just in Case. Again, this interview is about gathering information, not asking for a job. You can't offer to show your resume to the person you are interviewing, but occasionally someone you interview will ask to see your resume.

Informational Interview Questions

Occupational/organizational interests

 

  • How did you become interested in this occupation/organization?
  • What do you like most about this organization?
Getting started in this occupation

 

  • What are some typical entry-level jobs in this field?
  • What is the progression of jobs from the beginning to the top?
Job search techniques

 

  • How did you get into this occupation/organization?
  • What steps did you take to get where you are now?
  • What are the important 'key words' to include in a resume and cover letter when job hunting in the field?
Preparation and background needed
  • How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
  • What degree or certificate are employers seeking?
  • What kind of work/internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant?
Values and personal satisfaction

 

  • What is there about this occupation/organization that gives you personal satisfaction?
  • What work-related values are most influential in this type of work (security, high income, variety, independence)?
  • How has your job affected your lifestyle?
  • If you could do things over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why?
Working conditions

 

  • Describe a typical day.
  • What are some tasks? What are the functions/responsibilities of the job?
  • What kinds of decisions do you make?
  • Do you find your job exciting or boring? Why?
  • What are the most significant pressures, strains, or anxieties at work?
Salary ranges

 

  • What is the beginning, average, and top salaries or wages in this occupation?
  • How does your organization pay in comparison to other organizations in the same industry?
Advancement opportunities

 

  • What opportunities exist for advancement, promotion, or change of jobs within this field?
  • What does the company do to contribute to its employees' professional development?
  • If your career progresses as you like, what would be the next step in your career?
Future projections

 

  • What sort of changes are occurring in your occupation?
  • What are the employment prospects in your geographic area?
Other information or advice

 

  • With the information provided about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before making a career decision?
  • What professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
  • Can you suggest two other individuals who might be willing to speak with me about this field?

TIP:

Leave a Business Card

  • Before you leave the informational interview, ask for the person's business card, and leave your own personal business card. There may or may not be a job openings at the moment, but if something comes up, and you have provided a business card with all of your contact information, the person you interviewed will be able to contact you.