Career Services: The Informational Interview for Career Exploraton
These workshops have been designed with you in mind to help you
obtain a satisfying career. It is expected that they will help you
to be more comfortable by being more skilled and knowledgeable during
the job-seeking process. If you have any additional questions after
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Best Wishes in your new career!
Informational Interview Guidelines
Table of Contents
What is an Informational Interview?
An informational interview is a meeting that your
arrange with someone knowledgeable in a career field or industry.
For example, you might interview someone doing the job you would
like to do, such as , butcher, baker,or candlestick maker. These
meetings will help you see what is right for you. Informational
interviews can help you with many career decisions, such as choosing
a major or career, identifying specific jobs of interest, or
deciding to work for a specific company. Informational interviews
differ from employment interviews, and their objectives differ.
The objectives of informational interviews:
- Obtain information about prospective careers, jobs, industries,
or companies to narrow (or broaden) your career exploration or
job search.
- Learn about professional or trade organizations in your chosen
career or industry.
- Make contacts and build your network. Be genuine and interested.
Let them know who you are.
- Obtain names of others to interview, for information or employment.
- Build your marketability and confidence for the job search.
It is important that you not treat informational interviews like
employment interviews. people are generally happy to share information
with a potential newcomer to their industry or profession, but will
feel pressured if you turn the interview into a request for a job.
However, if someone asks for a resume you may want to have one with
you. You may want them to critique your resume and the relevance
of your skills to jobs in their field. Set up another time if it
appears that the interview is becoming an employment
interview. Make sure you are meeting your goals of exploring
careers, jobs, industries, or companies before you begin employment
interviewing or commit to specific jobs.
You may encounter someone who is too busy or who sees you as a
potential competitor and will not meet with you. Ask for a referral.
Try someone else--some people are born teachers and mentors who
may be active in trade, professional, and community organizations
and who like to "spread the word." You may also try someone
in an allied field or another city where you won't be seen as a
competitor.
You can do information interviews by phone as well as in person.
In both cases, let the person you are interviewing know who referred
you, why you are calling, and how long it will take. The recommended
time is 20-30 minutes. Honor the agreed time. You may be able to
do an interview on the spot, or you may arrange an appointment for
later.
Prepare your questions in advance. Suggested questions for each
type of information interview are in the next section. Come prepared
to take notes. In the interview, spend some time developing rapport
before you begin asking questions. Give the person some information
about you, your background and interests. Learn something about
them. Convey interest and confidence, communicate clearly, and be
polite and business-like. Be a good listener. Acknowledge that the
information they are providing is important to you.
For in-person interviews, dress like you would for an employment
interview, arrive on time, smile, and give a firm handshake. After
the interview send a written thank you, handwritten, typed, or e-mailed.
The people you interview become part of your growing network. Tell
them about the outcome of actions they recommended or referrals
they made. Share interesting articles or information (non-proprietary)
with them. Keep a log of contacts and outcomes for all of your interviews.
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