Informational Interviewing

1. Do your research

• Determine the organization and person/people to contact -- employer directories, yellow pages, professional associations, and web sites are great resources.
• Consider whether you want to speak to human resources, someone doing the work you are interested in, or the decision-maker. Often you may start with one person and then have the opportunity to speak with others.

2. Consider your reasons for conducting the interview

• Integrity is critical in informational interviewing. You need to be clear and up front with any contacts about your reasons for wanting to speak with them.
• In career exploration it is important to remember that information can be as valuable as a job and people are often able and willing to share information. It is not appropriate to set a meeting for information and then ask for a job.

3. Schedule the informational interview

• You can make the initial contact by phone, email, letter, or in person. Decide what you are more comfortable with and what you think will be most effective for this particular contact.
• Take the time to briefly introduce yourself and your background.
• Be specific about what you want - amount of time (approx. 20-30 minutes), type of contact etc.

4. During the Interview (if in-person)

• As with an employment interview, you will want to ensure you know where you are going and arrive on time. Dress appropriately for the work environment.
• Be prepared with 8-10 questions and be ready to listen and take notes.
• Always bring your resume as you may want to ask the contact for some feedback, or it may be appropriate to leave them a copy.
• By being prepared for this interview, you will be demonstrating your interest, your organizational skills, and making a great first impression.

Questions to Ask:

1. What is your job like? A typical day?
2. How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started? How did you get your job?
3. Can you suggest some ways a student could obtain this necessary experience?
4. Why did you decide to work for this company? What do you like most about this company?
   
5. With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before I make a final decision?
   
6. Does your work relate to any experiences or studies you had in college?
   
7. How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
   
8. Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
   
9. Are there other people in the field/company you would recommend I speak with?

5. Last Steps

• Always send a thank you note. This is also an opportunity to send them a resume for their files if they do not already have one.
• Record, analyze, and evaluate the information.

A great resource is the Informational Interview Tutorial.

Check out the Alumni-Student Mentoring Program to speak with Trent Alumni in your field.