You may have heard the term “informational interview,” but what does it mean? Informational interviewing is an intentional form of networking where you plan a time to ask a person about their work. The purpose is not to ask them for a job, but rather to learn about their path and insights to see if the work sounds like something you’d like to pursue.
That said, informational interviewing can help you land a job as well. The person you are interviewing might be able suggest organizations for your target list, online news sources or social media accounts you can follow, or even a company that is hiring. You can also ask for a name or two of people you can talk to next. If you prepare well and ask smart questions, your contact might activate their own professional networks to help you out.
How do you set up an informational interview? What questions should you ask? Check out these resources:
- Handout: Networking and Informational Interviews
- Handout: How to Write Ridiculously Good Emails
- Article: The Ultimate Guide to an Informational Interview
- Article: How to Get the Most Out of an Informational Interview
Video of the Week: Designing Your Career: The Informational Interview, from the Stanford Life Design Lab, gives an overview plus five tips for how to do informational interviews well.
