INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING/NETWORKING

Purpose
Who to Contact
The Approach
How to Prepare
Format
Etiquette
Follow-up & Thank-You Letters


PURPOSE
Informational Interviewing is an excellent way to refine your career goals by getting information about a specific field or position, about a particular organization, or about the job market in a specific industry or geographic region. You can also use it to get advice on strategies for pursuing a particular job or career path, to make connections/get referrals for people to contact about potential jobs or other organizations to explore, and even get feedback or assistance gearing your résumé to the market. However, remember that the purpose of an informational interview is to obtain information, NOT to conduct a job interview!

THE APPROACH
When you make the initial contact by telephone, introduce yourself, state your purpose, and ask for thirty minutes to meet to discuss your questions. If your contact person is unable to meet with you, ask whether you should call back at a more convenient time, or ask if the person has time to answer some of your questions during that phone conversation. Be prepared to conduct the informational interview over the phone at the time you make your initial contact.

Making a connection with an approach letter, followed up with a phone call, is also appropriate. The letter should introduce you, state your purpose and request an appointment for a time to gain information about a particular career or company-not a position. Mention that you know the person whom you are contacting is busy and that you hope to schedule a mutually convenient time for a meeting. State that you will call to see if an appointment can be arranged, and be specific about when you will make that phone call.

If you decide to go with an approach letter first, do NOT enclose a copy of your résumé. A résumé included as part of an approach letter appears as though you want a job interview rather than an informational interview. At this point in time, your only agenda should be to gather as much information about a particular career track and/or organization as possible.

HOW TO PREPARE
Be prepared, just as you would for a regular job interview!

• Research your field of interest by reviewing resources available at the CEL, the library, and by requesting materials from the organization/company itself.



• Be prepared to answer questions about yourself that relate to your experiences, skills, interests, and goals.



• Practice with people who are "low threat," such as family, friends, and alumni/ae. Come to the CEL and use the Career Advising Network to locate alumni/ae working in your area of interest.



• Think through several areas you want to probe, and generate specific questions you want to ask. Click here to obtain a separate list of the following questions. Some questions you may want to ask in an informational interview are:


1. What do you do in a typical day?
2. How did you first enter this job/career?
3. What are the career prospects of this field?
4. How would you recommend someone break into this field?
5. What kind of background is required for this type of position? What kind of background do you (the contact person) have, and did it help you in this field?
6. What kind of experience (internships?) would be advantageous in this field?
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this field?
8. What motivated you to pursue this work, and what motivates you to stay in it?
9. What values do you find in this job environment? Are there any general characteristics that are typical of someone in this field?
10. What are the typical working conditions of this job? (Probe for specifics about workload, expectations, dress codes, degree of independence, amount of supervision, closeness of relationships, pressures, degree of cooperation or competition)
11. What kind of compensation can one expect when deciding to pursue this career (salary & benefits)?
12. What is the philosophy of the company like in terms of time share, flex time, sick leave, personal days, daycare, etc.?
13. Is there much travel involved?
14. What are the mobility possibilities in this career? From one level to another? Between companies? Between states? Outside of the country?
15. What technologies are integrated into this career?
16. What is the management style of this organization?
17. Is there something you would recommend I do to test whether this type of job is a fit for me? Is there any other information you can give me to help me understand what it might be like to work in this sort of job?
18. Who else would you recommend I contact for more information about this career track/organization?
19. Could you recommend a person or organization that might provide a shadowing/externship experience for a day?

An excellent resource to review when preparing is the book, Interview for Success: A Practical Guide to Increasing Job Interviews, Offers, and Salaries. 7th Ed., by Caryl Rae Krannich and Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D' s pages 44-47 and Chapter 6.

• Emphasize your appreciation for the interview


• Give an overview of your experiences, skills, interests, and goals, and why the interview will be helpful for you.


• Ask "how" and "what" questions concerning specific jobs or careers or questions regarding a job search in this field (see examples in "How to Prepare")


• Request contacts/referrals


• At the end of the interview, if you still feel interested in this field, ask for a critique of your résumé. Ask if the format is appropriate for this career field and if you are selling your skills and experiences in the best possible way.


• Thank your contact for meeting with you, mentioning specifically how the informational interview helped you in your career search

ETIQUETTE
Whether you conduct the informational interview in person or over the telephone, treat this interview as an important screening interview. Informational interviews can quickly turn into job interviews, should you happen to contact an individual who also has a vacancy or who may create a new position around your qualifications.

• NEVER use an informational interview to ask for a job.


• Keep in mind that you are asking for a person's valuable time. Prepare questions in advance and prioritize them so that you gather the most essential information in the time allotted.


• Make the purpose of the interview very plain on the phone and stay true to that.


• Dress for the job you want, or a little better. Invest in yourself by having your attire pressed, your hair neat, and your shoes polished.


• If you are unable to keep the appointment you made, cancel. Don't just fail to show up!


• Be on time, or a few minutes early (15 minutes at the most).


• Respect the limits of what a person can do for you. (Don't ask for a large block of their time or expect an introduction to the company president.)


• Do not be overly assertive - tact and diplomacy go a long way.


• Be friendly and be yourself.


• Be genuinely interested in the person you are interviewing. Each individual wants to be valued and not seen as just another connection.


• Remember to follow-up. A THANK-YOU LETTER is a necessity.