Students

Informational Interviews

The informational interview is your chance to get the inside story about a specific job or career from someone with first-hand experience. It can be an informal interview like asking your neighbor questions about their job or a formal appointment to talk to a professional in a field of interest. The purpose of an informational interview is to get your questions answered so you can make good choices about your future career goals.

Informational interviews are less scary than a job interview. That’s because it is about collecting information and not asking for a job. You should still try to make a great impression though because sometimes it can lead to a job offer or referral. Look at this as a sharing experience. You have questions; they have answers.

TIP:

Prepare for the interview by researching the person, job, company, or industry so you can ask meaningful questions. Tailor the questions to your own interest, skills, and values.