Informational Interviews

Informational interviews involve talking with people currently working in a career field to gain a better understanding of an occupation, organization or industry. The informational interview provides first hand experiences and impressions of someone in the field. It is also an excellent way to build your network of contacts in that field. However, it is not appropriate to ask for a job during an informational interview.

IDENTIFY CONTACTS
Start with lists of people you already know: friends, fellow students, present or former co-workers, supervisors, neighbors, etc. Professional organizations, organizational directories, and public speakers are also good resources.

REQUEST INTERVIEW
Contact the resource person by telephone or letter. You can also have someone who knows the interviewer make the appointment for you.

Phone - Plan and practice what you will say in advance. For example,

• "Hello, my name is ________________________. I'm conducting career research in your field. I would like to meet and talk with you for about 30 minutes so that I can find out more about your field of expertise."
• "Hi, my name is ______________________ and I'm a student at UNL. I got your name from ________________. You're in a line of work that I'm interested in, and I was hoping that you could help me gain insights into the profession. I'm sure that my questions could be answered in a 20-30-minute informational interview."

Letter, e-mail - If you use a letter or e-mail it should be a professional introductory letter. Be sure to include information about how you can be reached. If you indicate that you will follow up in some way, be sure to follow through on time.

Requesting the interview - Ask politely. If the person you are contacting agrees to the interview, select a time and location that works for both of you. Be as flexible as possible with your schedule and indicate how much time you are looking for. 30 minutes is a good starting point.

PREPARE
Dress professionally and be on time. Research the person and organization as much as possible before the interview. Don't ask basic questions that can easily be answered elsewhere. Ask for the person's insight, opinions and advice.

CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW

• Listen. Be ready with a list of open-ended questions and be prepared to listen more than you talk.
• Take notes. Write down anything that might be important. Ask follow-up questions.
• Be brief. Keep track of time and don't overstay your welcome. Be sure to stick to the amount of time you initially requested of the person.

FOLLOW UP
Be sure to send a thank-you card or letter within one to three days after the interview. This is a great way to stay in touch and leave a positive impression. Indicate that the person was helpful and that you appreciate the time they spent with you.

Sample Informational Interview Questions

This is simply a list of possible questions. Be sure to select questions that are of interest to you.

PERSON/JOB

• How would you describe your job.
• What is a typical day?
• What are your duties and responsibilities?
• What kinds of problems do you deal with?
• What kinds of decisions do you make?
• Are there busy and slow times or is the work activity fairly constant?
• How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
• How did you get your job? What jobs and experiences led you to your present position?
• What are your long-range goals?
• How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work?
• Is there flexibility related to dress, work hours, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?
• What obligations does your employer place have on you outside of the ordinary work week? Are there social events or organizations in which you are expected to participate?  Are there other things you are expected to do outside work hours?
• How has your job affected your lifestyle?
• If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?

CAREER FIELD/INDUSTRY

• What experience, paid or unpaid, would you suggest for someone pursuing a career in this field?
• What do you like and not like about working in this field?
• What abilities or personal qualities do you believe contribute most to success in this field?
• What are the various jobs in this field?
• What sorts of changes are occurring in your field?
• How does a person progress in your field? What is a typical career path?
• How is the economy affecting this industry?
• What are the salary ranges for various levels in this field?

ORGANIZATION

• How does your organization differ from its competitors?
• Why do customers choose this organization?
• Are you optimistic about the organization's future and your future with the organization?
• What does the organization do to contribute to its employees' professional development?
• Is there a basic philosophy of the organization?
• What can you tell me about the corporate culture?
• How does your organization tend to hire new staff?

PREPARATION/EDUCATION

• What are the educational, requirements for this job? What other types of credentials or licenses are required?
• What types of training do companies offer persons entering this field? Does the organization encourage and pay for employees to pursue graduate degrees?
• Does your work relate to any experiences or studies you had in college?
• How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
• What courses have been most valuable to you in your work?
• How important are grades/GPA for obtaining a job in this field?

ADVICE

• Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job?
• Are there any written materials - books, professional journals - you suggest I read?
• Which professional or community organizations would help me learn more about this field?
• Do you have any special words of warning or encouragement as a result of your experience?
• These are my strongest assets (skills, areas of knowledge, personality traits and values) :___________________________. Where would they fit in this field? Where would they be helpful in this organization? Where might they fit in other fields? Where might they be helpful in other organizations?
• How would you assess the experience I've had so far in terms of entering this field?
• How do people in this field tend to identify job opportunities?
• Would you be willing to provide feedback on my resume?