If you haven’t been on the job market for a while or are contemplating a change in career, you need to know about informational interviewing. An informational interview is an opportunity created to interview someone for information about their career and/or company. This practice is not new but is becoming increasingly popular with job seekers and career changers. Here are some things you should know about and “how tos” if you’re interested in trying this out for yourself.

What’s in this for you?

If you’re contemplating a new career, this is a great opportunity to get some authentic information about what it’s like to work in a field, what it takes to get there and both pros and cons for you to consider. Insight is a huge benefit from this process, and as you’ll be having a conversational interview, it is likely you will be asked some questions as well. This exchange will provide you with not only with information about your proposed career, but about yourself as well. For example, you may find that there are qualities, not just knowledge and skills that are required that you may have to develop to be successful in this career that you were not aware of. Getting this inside information can really help you assess how strong your desire for the career really is, as you may find you have more work and development ahead of you than you originally thought.

Another benefit to this process is that you’re expanding your network and increasing your professional contacts. As I said earlier, you’re having conversations with people and not just asking questions. All relationships start at basically the same place – an introduction and a first conversation. If you connect well, you stay in touch and keep the conversation going. You will come to mind when opportunities come up. One connection usually leads to another, and these connections can lead to potential job or internship opportunities. As a recruiter, I can attest that referrals and recommendations do influence interview opportunities and hiring decisions. 

An added benefit of this process is that you get an opportunity to practice your networking and interviewing skills. You are putting yourself “out there” when you request a meeting with someone you don’t know, so if that’s tricky for you this will help you gain more experience and become more confident.  Another bonus – you’ll likely be asked some questions and will get some practice of answering questions on your feet.  This may give you some insight on what it’s like to interview for that role in the future. You may or may not be speaking with someone who hires, but they definitely were interviewed at one point and may draw on that experience.  

How do I do this?

The easiest place to start is with people you already know. Get the word out to family, friends and other acquaintances that you’re interested in finding out more about the job or company and see who has some connections they can put your with. Another avenue is through LinkedIn. You can do some “cold-calling” there – search for people that match what you’re looking for and reach out to them. You can meet virtually or in a more perfect world, you could treat them to a cup of coffee but you can always send a gift card so they can treat themselves – a nice thank you for their time.

When you land your informational interview, be respectful of that person’s time. Don’t take up more than 30 minutes or otherwise scheduled time with them. Also, be sure and dress for the interview. Yes, you’ll be asking most of the questions, but it’s a show of respect to dress for the occasion and it’s an opportunity for you to make a good impression on someone who could be your greatest advocate in getting your foot in the door of a new opportunity.

Most important – be prepared for the interview. Get the questions you need or want answered most, at the front of the interview and save the nice to know questions for the end. You want to make the most of the time this person has so generously offered to spend with you. Keep your questions professional aka don’t ask for “dirt.” Ask your question and let them talk and if they pause, let the silence hang for a moment. They will either fill it with more information or not but give them time to think and say what they will. As I previously mentioned, prepare yourself to answer some questions. This is a conversation, so it’s likely that you will be asked some questions and will want to be prepared. Be able to easily talk about what has led you to reach out to them, the whys behind your curiosity and your future plans. They should be curious about you, so think about what you’ll tell them about yourself, your past career and future plans. 

After the interview, be sure to send them a thank you note. Like a job interview, you want to thank them for their time and the information they’ve shared with you. It’s amazing how many people don’t take this step, so in doing so, you’ll likely set yourself apart which is a good thing. One more thing, don’t forget about the connection you’ve just made. Every now and then, reach out and say hello and ask them how things are going. Keep it short and friendly – that’s all you need to maintain the connection. It keeps you in their thoughts, which could be good for your future, but it also lets them know that you really do appreciate knowing them and value the connection you’ve established. Who doesn’t appreciate someone asking how they are?!

Last thing to keep in mind – much like job interviews, you may have to hear silence or a few no’s before you get any yeses to your request for these interviews. Like with job hunting, don’t take it personally. Just keep going and remember that those no’s put you one step closer to your next yes.

You can do this!

J