5.2: Informational Interviews
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In addition to online career resources, informational interviews are an important method of researching information about a career. Informational interviews are meetings where you are the interviewer, and the person with whom you are meeting has information that you want—for example, about a specific job, organization, or industry. The primary aim of informational interviewing is to gather information, but these interviews also are a type of networking which will be addressed in a future chapter of this text.
Many job-seekers treat informational interviews like an interrogation, with a long list of questions to extract information from the interviewee. This text takes a more sophisticated approach to informational interviews in that informational interviews should occur after some research has been completed. Then the interview is not simply a series of questions to gain more information but rather a way to verify, refine and test the information already researched. An informational interview is a two-way conversation where both the interviewer and interviewee give and receive information.
Please click on the following link to view “Designing Your Career: The Informational Interview” for an introduction to informational interviewing:
Designing Your Career: The Informational Interview
Two-Way Exchanges of Information
Most job seekers see informational interviews as a shortcut to research. Why not find someone who does the job, works at the organization, or works in the industry so they can give you a summary of the job, organization, or industry, instead of plowing through secondary data yourself? There are several reasons why jumping right to informational interviews without first conducting your own research is a bad idea:
- Finding a good potential interviewee without having done some research first is difficult. Potential interview targets are going to think the interview is not worth their time if you are just there to take information from them, rather than having an interesting two-way exchange.
- Just because someone does the job or is part of an organization or industry does not mean they have an exhaustive command of the information for that job, organization, or industry. You will not get an objective, comprehensive view of your target by talking to only a few people.
- Unless your interview target is skilled at tailoring advice across a range of backgrounds, what they will share is based on their specific experience, skills, and personality which may not be relevant to you or your situation.
- You get just the basic information because you do not know enough to ask probing questions or to confirm or refine information you gather beforehand. Without prior research, you may waste the opportunity to get more nuanced or detailed information.
- Without prior research, you come across as knowing nothing about the job, organization, or industry. You waste an opportunity to demonstrate your interest and knowledge, and therefore market yourself as a possible person to work in that job, organization, or industry.
The best informational interviews are two-way exchanges of information, more like a conversation than an interrogation. You are offering the information you have collected from your research, and the interviewee is adding thoughts and ideas based on experience. You come across not as a novice looking for a favor but more as a colleague brainstorming ideas. People are busy and may not take the time to read business news, attend trade association meetings or do the in-depth research you will be doing. They will appreciate you bringing to them the latest news. By being well researched and prepared, you do not have to feel like you are imposing on someone when asking for an informational interview. You will be giving back as well, in terms of information on breaking news, trends, or innovations.
Sample Informational Interview Questions
To find out about the person you’re interviewing, the field and the specific career position, ask questions such as the following:
- How did you get involved in this job, organization, or industry?
- What do you like most about your occupation? What has been most rewarding?
- What is most challenging? Was there anything that surprised you?
- What is a typical day, week, or month like?
- What skills are most critical to have, develop and maintain to be successful?
- What personality types are most successful in this job, organization or industry?
- What do you know now that you wished you had known when you started?
Interest in your interviewee’s specific background establishes rapport because you show you care specifically about that person. That interest and caring also gives you a foundation for questions to ask later because you know more about their experience.
To get broader information about the industry, ask questions reflecting your research such as the following:
- According to my research, the top competitors are [name the competitors]. Am I missing anyone you think is significant? Is there a new player I should know about?
- According to my research, [name a trend, challenge, or innovation] is a major trend, challenge, or innovation. Is this affecting your job or organization? Is this overestimated in the media? Are there other trends, challenges, or innovations I should be concerned about?
These questions show why research prior to the informational interview is so critical. You use your research findings as a springboard for conversation. You are not relying on the interviewee to think of everything and be the sole source of information, and you are offering ideas too. Informational interviews also enable you to dive deeper into what you previously researched.
Pick several research findings to investigate further, and choose what to ask based on what level and type of experience your interviewee has. If your interviewee is very experienced and senior, you can ask broad strategy questions. If your interviewee is focused on a very specific occupational area, focus on issues from that area in the discussion. For example, if your interviewee works on a specific technology, ask questions about that technology.
You also can get career-related information, such as salary and environment, and a candid sense of your chances in this job, organization, or industry by asking questions such as the following:
- According to my research, people in this job earn [name salary range] and experience [name lifestyle, travel, or work culture]. Is that accurate? Are there any nuances to this that are not publicized in general media?
- According to my research, the typical path for advancement is [name different titles you have seen for the job]. Is this accurate? Does this differ by company?
- How would you describe the culture of your organization? Does this vary greatly for companies in the industry?
- According to my research, people in this job have [name skills and experiences]. Is my background of [your skills and experience] competitive? If you knew of an opening for this type of job, would you consider me or refer me?
- What about my background is most relevant to this job? What would I need to do to improve my chances?
These questions enable you to get information on the touchy issues of compensation and lifestyle, as well as candid feedback on your hiring prospects. By offering ideas, you take the pressure off the interviewee to reveal sensitive information. Instead, you give them something to which to react. People also will appreciate that you have done some salary research, as they might not have time to see what is happening in the market, and they will want to reciprocate by sharing something they know.
Asking about the competitiveness of your skills and experience is not the same as asking for a specific job. You never should ask for a job in an informational interview. Doing so would be disingenuous because you asked for a meeting to focus on gathering information, not to ask for a job.
Be Polite: Common Rules of Etiquette Apply
Common rules of etiquette apply in the protocols of informational interviews. When asking for the interview, you can approach your interviewee by phone, mail or email. There is no one right method, but each has advantages and disadvantages (see below).
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E-mail has the most advantages and fewest disadvantages and should work for most requests for informational interviews. If you are more confident in your phone approach or mail campaign, then you may want to try that as well. You also might tailor your approach to the recipient. If you get referred to someone, and they tell you to call them, then call them, even if you would prefer to email. You want to approach interviewees based on their stated preference.
The content of your approach, whether by phone, mail or e-mail, should include who you are and why you are making contact. If someone referred you, mention that right away. Regarding who you are, make your introduction interesting but brief.
An elegant way to share your resume is to put your online profile hyperlink in your email signature. This way, the interviewee easily can get more information about you without having to search, and your background information is shared in one line rather than a paragraph or more. Including a hyperlink is a key advantage of the email approach.
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Subject: Request for an Informational Interview Meeting Hello Ms. Barkley, My name is Joe Cougar, and I am a first year college student at Harrisburg Area Community College. I am enrolled in a career exploration course, and I am currently considering business marketing as my major. I have been researching this field, and I am interested in learning more about the profession. I would like an opportunity to meet with you to learn more about what you do as VP of International Marketing at MPL Incorporated. I understand you have a busy schedule; however, I would appreciate any amount of time you can share with me. I am available M-F any time after 1 p.m. Please let me know your availability. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Thank you for your time. Regards, Joe Cougar HACC Student (661) 123 - 4567 |
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Common etiquette applies during and after the informational interview as well. Be on time, and do not take too much time. Ask for fifteen to thirty minutes, be mindful of the time, and offer to end the interview after the agreed amount of time. Only stay longer if invited. Send a thank-you note after the informational interview. Email is fastest, and adding a handwritten note by postal mail is a classy addition, but definitely send at least an email so you know your thank-you note was prompt.
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Subject: Thank you for your time! Dear Ms. Barkley: Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to speak with me about your work at MPL Incorporated. Your job sounds fascinating! You seem to enjoy your work very much, which, as we discussed, will be important in my own career choice. I am very intrigued by the work that you do at MPL. The aspect of your work that I find most interesting is your ability to market one product to several different cultures. Your involvement in the different stages of marketing a product captivated me as well. I appreciate your recommendations about interviews. I will be sure to know all about a company and its products before I interview with them. Your advice was well taken. Once again, thank you for your time and expertise. Sincerely, Joe Cougar HACC Student (661) 123 - 4567 |
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Preparing for My Informational Interview
Now that you have been introduced to informational interviewing, think of what careers you want to learn more about and whom you may want to interview to help you gather more information.
List at least two careers you'd be interested in learning more about by conducting informational interviews:
Now think of professionals in the field with whom you can arrange an informational interview appointment. You can find people to interview by asking your friends, relatives, instructors, counselors, contacts through professional associations (see information later in this chapter) or by searching LinkedIn (see content about networking in the Job Search chapter). Think of all your resources.
When you call to set up an appointment, you need to be prepared, because what you say and how you deliver your message on the phone can influence your ability to land an informational interview appointment. Prepare your phone script below:
Hello. My name is _________________________and I’m a (year in school)__________student attending Harrisburg Area Community College. I am interested in (add your interest) ___________________ and would like to find out as much as I can about the field. Would it be possible to schedule 20 or 30 minutes with you at your convenience, to ask you a few questions and get your advice on how best to prepare to enter the field?
Once the appointment is scheduled, prepare a list of questions you'd like to ask (see the suggestions listed earlier in this chapter). After the interview, reflect on your experience. What information did you find particularly helpful? Is this a career you can see yourself pursuing? Do you have any concerns or reservations? Is there any advice given upon which you need to follow up? Be sure to send a thank you note or email within 24 hours to show your appreciation.
You can use College Central Network (CCN), HACC’s Career Services platform, to search for a mentor who can assist you with informational interviews. All HACC students are pre-registered in CCN and simply need to activate the account. For information on CCN go to HACC Career Services [www.hacc.edu].