Students: Career Planning: Informational Interview

Informational Interviews are different from job interviews
As in a job interview, an informational interview is a two-way conversation. However, it is generally more relaxed and informal. The informational interview occurs in a context of extraordinary freedom and control; you define its focus and structure and conduct it entirely for your benefit. You decide what information is needed, and your questions should reflect this.

Who to interview?
Essentially, any individual can be targeted for an informational interview. Do not assume potential employers are the only ones that have good information for you. Look for individuals who:

• Share a common interest, enthusiasm, or involvement in some activity or lifestyle that appeals to you.
• Work in settings you like (e.g., hospitals, politics, big business, theatre).
• Work in career areas in which you are interested (e.g., broadcaster, stockbroker, criminal lawyer, market researcher).
• Work in specific jobs in specific organizations (e.g., a newscaster in a local radio station, a stockbroker at Dean Witter, a criminal lawyer in a legal aid office, or a market researcher at IBM).

Finding individuals to interview can start with family, friends, and neighbors, both as potential individuals to interview and to ask for recommendations. Contact faculty advisors and instructors to generate additional contacts. Other helpful resources may include trade organizations, community service agencies, and the IUPUI Alumni Mentor Database.

People are generally interested in talking about what they do and how they do it. In fact, you may have some ideas that may be of interest to them. However, be careful to not waste their time. Be prepared and leave within appropriate time limits. Ask for a business card to ensure you obtain correct information regarding the person's title and name for a brief, handwritten thank you note and for future follow-up.

How to Prepare
Know exactly what kind of information you want from the informational interview. Generally, do not ask something routine if it is readily available elsewhere (do your research first). Know your own interests, skills, values, and how they relate to the person you are interviewing. Know as much as you can about the organization for which the interviewee works, as well as the industry in which it operates. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask and be familiar with this list to help you relax. Suggested Informational Interview Questions

How to Initiate Contact
Contact the individual by phone or email and identify yourself as a student doing a project for a career development class or exploring career areas of interest. Explain to the person that you would like to meet him/her to learn about his/her occupation. Emphasize that this is a career that you are considering pursuing. Establish a date, time frame (20-30 minutes), and place for the meeting. If the person is not able to do the interview with you, thank him/her and ask if he/she can suggest someone who might be able to help. If you encounter difficulty arranging an informational interview, talk to your instructor or a career counselor.

Adapted from Choices and Challenges: Foundations for Career Planning by the Career Development Center, Indiana University. Bloomington, Indiana: IU Custom Publishing, 1996.