Informational Interviews are interviews you conduct with a person who currently has a job you think you might want, or has specific knowledge about an occupation or career in which you are interested. Informational Interviews can be used for both career exploration and job hunting.

Informational Interviews provide low-stress opportunities to gather data you need to help you make a more informed career choice.

Research shows that 80-85% of job opportunities are never advertised. Informational Interviewing and Networking can be your key to the Hidden Job Market.

How does an Informational Interview differ from a Job-Hunting Interview?

• Purpose: The purpose of an Informational Interview is to get information, not a job offer.
• Control: You ask most of the questions based on the information you decide you need.
• Pressure: You have much to gain and little to lose in an Informational Interview so you should feel less pressure than during a job interview.
• Focus: The focus is on the person who you are interviewing and his/her expertise rather than on you and your qualifications for a job.

Why Do Informational Interviewing?

Informational Interviews can provide you with valuable information for job hunting and career planning that you cannot any other way.

They:

• present you with up-to-date facts about an occupation that can help you with your decision-making
• inform you about the skills required for certain jobs so you can match them with your own
• disclose how people feel about their work so you can assess how you might feel if you had the same job
• provide you with valuable networking contacts for the job search
• develop your communication skills and self-confidence in talking with professional people in a low pressure interview environment
• teach you occupational "buzzwords" unique to the career field of your choice
• give you an edge for future interviews by providing you with inside knowledge not known by all of your competition
• develop basic skills similar to a targeted job search which you will be later conducting

Does Informational Interviewing Really Work?

Yes! Informational Interviews work because most professionals:

• enjoy talking about their jobs and career fields
• are flattered that you ask their advice to assist with your career and future
• are empathetic about career transitions because they have experienced them
• like to help others because it makes them feel good

How to do Informational Interviewing

There are six main steps in an Informational Interview:

1. Identify an occupation / industry / company
2. Obtain contacts
3. Prepare for the interview
4. Arrange the meeting
5. Conduct the interview
6. Follow-up

1. Identify an occupation / industry / company. Build a potential contact list. Find out who has the information you are looking for. Identify those people who:

• Share a common interest, enthusiasm or involvement in some activity that appeals to you
• Work in a setting you like
• Work in career areas which interest you
• Work in specific jobs or in a specific organization of personal interest

2. Obtain Contacts

• Academic Sources - professors, advisors, alumni, classmates, career counselor, student organization members, and people you know through school activities
• Ask An Alum & Friends - a database of alumni and friends of the University who have volunteered to be contacted by students to discuss their career fields
• Professional - professional organizations and people you meet at conferences, work, career fairs and through volunteer experiences
• Family & Friends - friends, family, neighbors, professors, anyone
• Written Materials - information found in newspapers, magazines, directories and professional journals often have names of people in careers and organizations of interest
• Internet - email discussion groups (create page to explain this like UWM)

3. Prepare for the interview

• Decide and plan ahead of time what you want to accomplish and plan your questions accordingly In order to this you should:
  • have a clear sense of your interests, values and skills
  • research the career fields of interest
• Develop your questions based on what information the career field/industry YOU need to know to help you make a more informed career decision.
• Review the suggested list of Informational Interview Questions to help you create your own list.

4. Arrange the interview

• Many contacts prefer to be interviewd by phone or e-mail. If you have a mutual aquaintance they may arrange the meeting. Contacts found via Ask An Alum & Friends will specify their preference.
• Inform your contact that you are researching careers by interviewing professionals within that field.
• Introduce yourself by letting the contact know how you found them (aquaintance, Ask An Alum & Friends etc...)
• Ask for a 20 appointment at their convenience to talk about their career (If the present time is not convenient, ask for the name of another professional who can answer your career related questions)
• Emphasize that the interview is not regarding a job position. Do not let the receptionist redirect you to the human resources department because of miscommunication. It may help to indicate that a career counselor recommended you speak with a professional in the particular field.
• Ideally the interview is in person. The second option is via telephone. The third option is e-mail which poses some difficulties such as being less personal and limiting your ability to clarify questions and responses.

5. Conduct the Interview

• Do not exceed your arranged amount of time, but be prepared to stay longer in case he/she is willing to talk longer.
• Dress as if it were a job interview in order to make a positive first impression.
• Arrive a few minutes early and BE COURTEOUS to everyone that you meet -- secretary, receptionist, etc.
• Take note of the physical work environment and try to visualise yourself working under these conditions.
• Take initiative in conducting the interview. YOU ask the questions and interview the person.
• Ask open-ended questions which promote a discussion and cannot be answered with one word responses.
• Request a business card.
• Before you conclude your interview, ask if they can refer anyone else you could contact for additional information. This will gradually build up your personal network.

6. Follow-Up after the interview

• Send thank you letters to each contact within one week of the interview.
• In the thank you letter indicate something particularly helpful that was discussed in the interview to demonstrate that the meeting was truely helpful.
• Be receptive of offers to keep in touch if your interviewee wants to follow up on your search.
• Maintain a file on each contact. Include name, contact information, how you located them, interview date, information gathered, and names of referrals they gave you.
• If you decide to pursue a career or seek employment as a result of an informational interview, email that individual to update them. You may also want to send a cover letter and resume for suggestions when you begin your job search.

Informational Interviewing is a primary networking strategy.