Best Informational Interview Guide

What is an informational interview?

This is a meeting that you arrange to talk to someone in the industry, career or organization that interests you.

Sometimes called a research or exploratory interview, it is an interview that you initiate and in which you ask the questions.

Use this advice and guidance about this interview to make the most of the opportunity.

What is the purpose of an informational interview?

The purpose of the meeting is to get information, not to get the job. It
is a valuable screening process to evaluate whether the career, the work,
the  industry or the company are a proper match for your skills and
interests

Why are informational interviews important?

• You
  are able to obtain current and valid information about a career field
  firsthand from a person who actually works in the field.
• You will get
  tips and ideas of how to successfully enter a certain career and company
  and be better placed to write a convincing Additionally it provides an opportunity to increase your network of contacts which will help in your job search.

Who should I conduct the informational job interview with?

First identify the industry and career or job you want to learn more about. Get valuable company information
by doing productive background research and identify the organizations
you would like to know about and the people who can give you the
information you need.

These interviews should only be conducted with people who are actually
doing the work you are interested in finding out about and have
sufficient experience working in your field of career interest.

You
can use people you know to give you the contact details of these
workers, such as friends, relatives, colleagues, and professors. You can
call the human resources department of relevant organizations and ask
for contact details of people in the position you are investigating.

You
can also get names of suitable workers from career offices, employment
agencies and professional organizations and directories.

An easy resource to use is social media - both LinkedIn and Facebook can help you with this.

How do I set up an informational interview?

To
set up the interview contact the relevant individual and request an
opportunity to talk with them for about twenty to thirty minutes. You can use this letter to ask for an informational interview.

Tell
them straight away that you want to learn more about the industry, job,
company and that you have prepared a list of questions to ask them. You
need to reassure them that you are not asking them for a job but you are
only seeking advice.

This way they will be more comfortable with
meeting you. It is important to arrange the interview at the person's
work site so you can get a feeling for the organization.

Sample informational interview letter to request a meeting.

How do I prepare for an informational job interview?

The key to a successful interview is preparation. Use your background research to understand the basics of the industry, company and specific position. Prepare a list of the questions you want answers to.

Use these sample with you just in case the person you are meeting with offers to distribute it to contacts they have in the industry.

You can also politely ask them to take a look at your resume and offer advice. This will both showcase your skills to the person you are meeting with and facilitate networking.

How to conduct an informational interview

• Stick to the time limit you initially stated
• Stick to information gathering, the purpose is not to ask about available jobs
• Have a list of smart questions ready to ask 
  

• Although this is not a job interview you should follow up with a thank you note

internship interviews to help you.

Job Interviews > Informational Interview Guide

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