The Value of Informational Interviewing

From career exploration to preparation for a job interview, there are many reasons why you should consider setting up an informational interview. It is a valuable tool to gather insights, build your network and gain clarity about your career interests. 

Speaking with a professional already in the field of work you want to be in and asking questions about the skills needed to succeed and day-to-day expectations lets you explore options that will lead to your goals. It also makes sure that this position is the right fit for your work style and skill set. Your informational interview doesn’t have to be with a stranger—it can be someone already in your extended network or a mentor at your current workplace.

“Networking is one of the cornerstones of a successful career and job search,” states Andrew Seaman, editor-at-large for jobs and career development at LinkedIn News, in a 2019 article. “One of the most effective networking tools is known as an informational interview, which is a discussion focused on learning—about a role, a person’s career, a company, industry and so much more. Informational interviews can help you plot your next career move and create strong bonds with people who can help you along the way.”

So how do you approach the conversation? First, you need to determine where the value of informational interviews lies with you and in your career growth.

Learn About an Industry or Role

Maybe you want a fresh start in a different industry or field. Having an informational interview with someone in the know can provide firsthand insights into a specific job, industry or company, which can then help you figure out if it really is what you want to pursue.

These one-on-one interviews don’t need to be high-pressure, like formal job interviews. They’re meant to help you understand the day-to-day realities, challenges and rewards of a particular role. They can also give you a sense of industry trends and the skills that are in demand.

They don’t need to be for a new job—you may be looking to better understand a field to help support and guide you on your current career goals. Meeting with someone in the field can help you understand industry jargon.

For example, maybe you work as a journalist or influencer. As you become familiar with the language and terminology used in the field, you become better prepared for conducting interviews and leading discussions around those topics.

After all, according to Jennifer Herrity on Indeed.com, “The goal of a successful informational interview is to leave the conversation with a better understanding of a career, industry or company knowledge.”

You might also gain “insider knowledge” as you research different types of positions or organizations. You might receive insights into workplace culture, the day-to-day responsibilities or current trends to help you make informed career decisions.

This is what editing graduate Stephanie Martch discovered when she was considering a career move. She conducted an informational interview at her workplace to see what options were available at her current employer, MD Anderson. She had spent many years writing cancer research–based materials there, but felt that she’d have to leave the organization to switch careers. 

“Nevertheless, I continued to investigate writing options—via networking and informational interviews—and applied for related positions,” Stephanie tell us. Then, she got inside information.

“During an informational interview with an MD Anderson scientific editor, I mentioned off-hand that I loved editing, and she replied, ‘The world has too few good editors.’ Bingo. Her words carved out a new passage for me: editing—an evidence-based skill.”

That informational interview led to her eventual completion of ourProfessional Sequence in Editing and relevant experience to add to and tailor her revamped résumé. This, combined with her informational interview knowledge, allowed Stephanie to align her skills for an editor role at the company.

Design Your Career Goals

Talking to colleagues and other professionals in your desired field can help you refine your interests and align your skills with potential career paths. It helps you avoid mismatched expectations and determine whether a certain path aligns with your interests, values and skills. 

Jeff Eyet, co-founder of big and one of our instructors, explored this idea in his talk entitled Using Design Thinking to Plan Your Career, during the prototyping phase of your career thinking. Part of design thinking is iteration, and you can apply that to the interview process. 

Prototyping asks that you expand those informational interviews into a continual process through shorter meetings—coffee chats (both real and online)—that give you a quick look at a future career and a quick contact. Informational interviews demonstrate curiosity and genuine interest in the field or industry, as well as show initiative.

When you do have an interview, you are more prepared and can confidently engage in conversations about what you want in your follow-up questions.

Improve Your Communication Skills

Informational interviewing allows you to practice articulating your career goals and improving your ability to navigate professional conversations.

Your résumé showcases your technical knowledge and accomplishments, but it is your people skills that are honed in an informational interview. You need to have strong soft skills—that is, emotional intelligence (EI), interpersonal skills, social communication skills—to open doors.

By improving your communication skills through informational interviewing, you also can expand your network. How?

• Relationships with people in your desired field increases your visibility and access to more and a variety of opportunities, including connections that can lead to referrals, mentorships or future job leads.
• Having connections in your field of interest opens the door to potential future collaborators and fellow entrepreneurs.
• Once someone with whom you’ve conducted an informational interview sees that you are serious about the work, it can increase your reach and the likelihood of learning about unadvertised job opportunities.
   

Tips for Success:

• Prepare thoughtful questions to maximize the value of the conversation.
• Approach interviews with a learning mindset rather than expecting job offers.
• Always follow up with a thank-you email to maintain goodwill and keep the connection alive.
   

The Role Technology Plays

When I asked an AI chatbot to tell me the pros of the technology in an informational interview scenario here’s what it came back with:

• AI-powered search engines and platforms identify professionals in your target field. It can help you gather information about their career paths to see if they are similar to what you want to know more about and be potential connections for informational interviews. 
• Chatbots can simulate informational interview scenarios, providing feedback on your responses and communication style, helping you prepare for real-life interactions. 
• Access AI-generated summaries of company information, industry trends and recent news to better understand the context of your informational interview. 

But remember to prioritize genuine conversation and rapport. It is still you who wants the information, the connection, the career.

Setting Up an Informational Interview

Do you know anyone who knows anyone (who knows anyone) who is working in your target area and can facilitate an introduction? Think about all of your various networks: LinkedIn, Facebook, fellow alumni, people on your recreational soccer team, etc. If you do not want particular colleagues in your current work environment to know that you are thinking about a career change, you may want to limit who you share your informational interview search with.

If you do need to start contacting companies and individuals without an introduction, identify a specific person doing the job you’re interested in and send him/her/they an email requesting an informational interview. Once secured, have an “elevator speech” ready that includes a brief explanation of who you are, your background and what you’re hoping to gain from this conversation.

Sample Informational Interview Questions

Keep in mind your informational interview should last no longer than 30 minutes, unless the person you are interviewing welcomes you to continue the conversation.

Here’s a selection of broad question areas to get you started:

1. How did you end up in your current position?

2. What does your average day look like? What do you like the most? The least?

3. What experiences, training or education do you feel best prepared you for your current position?

4. What are the entry-level opportunities in this field? What skills or training do you think I would need to begin in this field?

5. How do you balance work with your personal life?

6. What future trends do you anticipate in this field? What external factors affect your work?

7. Do you supervise a team or participate in any other team projects? Or are you expected to work fairly autonomously?

8. How do you measure your own success in your current position? What about those that supervise you?

9. What organizations or groups should I join to connect with others in this professional area?

10. Can you suggest anyone else doing this work who might be willing to talk with me about their experiences?

What’s Next

Record your initial thoughts as soon as the interview is over; you may have even taken notes during the discussion. What information was appealing to you? What didn’t sound as interesting?

Does this seem like a pathway you’d like to pursue? If so, can you get into the entry-level positions with the training that you have, or will you need additional skills? Does this training require a new degree, a professional certificate or a class?

Did you find value in your informational interview that will lead to your career growth?