What is an informational interview? Everything you need to know to boost your career

Information is knowledge, and knowledge is power. The more knowledge you have, the better you can plan for your future career. An informational interview is one way to gain valuable insights into a job, industry, or company.

But what is an informational interview? Who do you interview, and how do you set up this meeting? This article will show you everything you need to know about doing an informational interview to get ahead in your career.

What is an informational interview?

An informational interview is a casual conversation with someone who works in a job, industry, or company that you’re interested in. Unlike a job interview, it’s focused on your career development, not a specific opportunity, and can be valuable well before you are ready to start actively looking for a job.

Doing an informational interview can help you decide if a career or a company is a good fit for you. It can provide helpful insights into what a day looks like in the role, what skills you need to develop, or what employees love about working at a company.

What are the benefits of an informational interview?

Now that we’ve answered, “What is an informational interview,” let’s talk about how it could benefit you. Informational interviews are less common than job interviews, but they can help you make decisions about your future career path. 

The benefits of having these informational conversations include:

• Gaining knowledge. An informational interview gives you firsthand knowledge about what it’s like to work in a specific role, company, or field.

• Shaping your career goals. These conversations can give you some much-needed clarity on whether a job or a career is right for you.

• Getting advice. A professional who’s working in your dream job can give you practical advice about how to get into the same field.

• Expanding your network. It never hurts to meet with professionals who can become part of your network. They might remember you and reach out when a future opportunity comes up.

How to set up an informational interview

Now that you know what an informational interview is and why it’s helpful, are you ready to learn how to set one up and get the most out of it? 

Follow these five steps to make a connection and arrange an informational meeting:

1. Find someone to interview

It might seem obvious, but the first step is finding someone you want to interview. Make a list of the people you know who work in your target job or industry. If you want to learn more about a specific company, check its website or LinkedIn page to see if you know anyone who works there.

Your network will be the best resource for finding someone to interview. Ask your contacts if they know someone who might be willing to meet with you. Be specific about your intentions for the meeting so that they understand what you want.

If you don’t know anyone and can’t find connections within your network, you can search online to find people to contact. Just make sure you do some groundwork first:

• Research the person’s background and experience.

• Check their website, LinkedIn profile, or other social media pages.

• Identify what they can offer and what you hope to learn from them.

2. Make your request

Once you have someone in mind, it’s time to request a meeting. When asking for an informational interview, be polite, professional, and respectful. It’s a good idea to send your request in an email, because it gives the person time to consider and respond to your request.

Follow these tips to write a compelling email asking for an informational interview:

• Write a good subject line. A boring or irrelevant subject line might get your email deleted immediately. Write a clear, concise subject line to get the person’s attention. For example, you can include your name and the purpose of the email, such as “Jane Smith—Informational Interview Request.”

• Explain your intentions. Briefly describe why you want to meet with the person. For instance, you might write, “I’d love to learn more about how you got started in public relations and what it’s like to work at your agency.”

• Stress that you’re not looking for a job. Some people may feel uncomfortable meeting with you if they think you’re actively looking for a job, especially if they don’t know about any potential opportunities right now. Make it clear that you only want to get their perspective on the job or company for your future development.

• Personalize your request. A personalized request has a much better chance of working than a generic message. Mention a shared contact you have, a reason you’re impressed by their career, or a similarity in your backgrounds.

• Be flexible. Make it easy for the person to say “yes” to your request. Suggest places where you can meet and be flexible with dates and times. For example, you can write, “I’ll be in your area next week, and I’d love to grab a coffee whenever it’s most convenient for you.”

3. Prepare for the interview

Just as you would prepare for a job interview, you should also thoroughly prepare for an informational interview. It’s perhaps even more important, because you’ll be the one guiding the conversation. Prepare questions in advance to get the most out of the informational meeting.

Start with some icebreaker questions to build a connection with the person you’re interviewing. From there, you can ask specific questions about their career or the company where they work. 

Here are some potential questions to ask during your informational interview:

• How did you get started in this industry?

• What recent projects have you been working on?

• What’s your opinion on [an industry trend or recent development]?

• What are the biggest challenges in this industry? The biggest rewards?

• What made you choose to work at this company over others in the same industry?

• What do you like most about working in this role or company, and what do you like the least?

• Do you think my studies and experience will make me suitable for a role in this industry?

• Do you have any key advice for someone like me who is looking to build a career in this field?

• What do you wish someone had told you when you were at the same point in your career that I am now?

4. Express your gratitude

Close the informational meeting by thanking the interviewee for their time and showing your appreciation for the insightful information they’ve given you. Before you part ways, you can also ask if they know any other relevant people you could speak to about your career goals.

5. Follow up

Remember to send a thank you note or email to the person who spoke with you, just as you would with any other type of interview. After all, they willingly made time in their busy schedule to meet with you.

After your informational conversation, you can even stay in touch with the person you interviewed. For example, send them a short email if you take their advice or land a job in the same field.

Tips for conducting an informational interview

Even though informational interviews are fairly casual, it can feel intimidating to conduct one, especially if you don’t know the person you’re interviewing very well. 

Here are some additional tips to help you get the most out of this informational meeting:

Prepare a pitch

Prepare and practice a short pitch (around 30 seconds) to tell the interviewee about you and your long-term career goals. The informational interview is generally focused on learning about the interviewee’s position and company, but they can give you more relevant advice if they also know about your background and career.

Be on time and professional

Don’t be late for an informational interview. Give yourself plenty of time to get there and arrive early if you can. Dress professionally and choose an outfit that aligns with the job or industry. For example, if you’re interviewing someone who works in finance, wear traditional business attire for the meeting.

Bring the essentials

Make sure to bring the questions you’ve prepared. If you want, you can also bring something to take notes, which could help you remember the conversation later. Other items you may want to bring include water, mints, or mouthwash.

Get more tips in our article about what to bring to an interview.

Keep the conversation flowing

Once you start talking, allow the conversation to flow naturally. Ask the questions you’ve brought, but be ready to pivot if the conversation goes in another direction. Use nonverbal cues, like smiling and nodding, to show the other person that you’re paying attention. And ask follow-up questions if they say something that you don’t understand.

Stay within the time limit

If the other person agreed to meet with you for 30 minutes, don’t go over your allotted time. Keep the conversation on track to ensure that you have time to ask all of your questions. Always be respectful and end the conversation by thanking them for their time.

Feeling nervous about an upcoming interview? Boost your confidence with career.io’s Interview Prep tool, which gives you a chance to practice and get personalized feedback!

Key takeaways

1. What is an informational interview? It’s an opportunity to interview a professional who’s working in your desired field or job, so you can learn what it’s really like.

2. Do your research, tap into your network, and send a personalized request to the person you want to interview.

3. Keep the questions focused on the interviewee’s experience and advice for someone aspiring to follow their path. Never ask for a job outright.

4. Remember to send a thank you note after the interview and express your gratitude for the person’s time and insights.