Puentes Abroad Informational Interviewing Guide

PURPOSE

Simply put, the purpose of an informational interview is for you to gain first-hand information from a professional whom you admire about a role, organization, or industry that you are interested in. Think of an informational interview as an informed, focused, conversation. While you aren’t going in with a specific “ask,” you are going to gain knowledge and insights - and just maybe new contacts which can help you secure an internship or job down the line!

GOAL

The goal will look different for every person and for every conversation. Generally speaking, you should come out of an informational interview with:

  • first-hand information about career fields and/or roles you are considering

  • better interpersonal communication skills, with an expanded professional network

  • frank advice about work culture, benefits, and challenges that you wouldn’t be able to find online or through a more formal interview

  • valuable know-how about how to enter into and advance within a field, as well as how to locate job leads

  • good impression left on the contact so that you are top of mind for future professional opportunities that may arise

You should also strive to maintain contact and find excuses to get back in touch with the person with whom you met whenever possible in order to continue to build your professional support network.

Informational interview steps

1. IDENTIFY SOMEONE!

Find leads from your family and friends, professors and advisors, current and past internships or jobs, professional and extracurricular organizations you are involved with (or want to become involved with), internship and job databases available in your university’s Career Services, LinkedIn, or even, in some cases, Instagram influencers. Ensure that you know how to spell the person’s name correctly, and use the correct salutation (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.), if appropriate.

2. CONTACT

Next up… get in touch. Send an email, call, or message your chosen interviewee. Make sure to state the reason you are contacting this person (i.e. that you would like to learn about their career path, that you are curious about their industry, etc.), how much time you are seeking (sweet spot: about 30 minutes), and how you learned about this person’s work. Now is also a good time to respectfully show how much you admire them.

3. SCHEDULE

Ensure that you ask your contact what the most convenient time is for him or her. Think about suggesting a coffee break or a quick lunch. You will have to be flexible and adapt to whatever works for the interviewee, in terms of both timing and place/platform.

4. CONFIRM

…and reconfirm. The meeting time, place, and platform (if virtual) should be clear to both of you. Depending on how far in advance you have scheduled the meeting, you should send a reconfirmation email 1 to 2 days prior, which also serves a reminder to you both.

5. RESEARCH

You probably already know a solid amount about the organization or industry about which you’ll be speaking. Do complementary research to make sure that you are up-to-date on certain general facts so that you avoid asking obvious questions. Do your due diligence on your contact - about their previous roles, their current role, and any key findings on their work in general.

6. PREPARATION

Prepare a list of relevant questions that you want to ask your contact. These should be well-thought-out in terms of different topic points (see examples below). It is okay if you don’t end up asking all of your prepared questions because you should be comfortable to let the conversation flow organically. Also have your updated résumé on hand just in case the contact asks you for it. That said, do not go in to your meeting expecting to hand your résumé over, and only share it if you are asked for it.

7. THE DAY OF

Before you head into your informational interview, ensure you look respectable. Aim to match the formality of the meeting from the tone of your previous interactions plus the time and location of your meeting. Always arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes early; you never know when a contact may call saying they are ready to speak earlier than planned.

8. DURING THE CONVERSATION

Start by thanking the person for the time. Then introduce yourself with a brief elevatory pitch on your academic/professional background and objectives in order to (a) set the agenda/purpose for the conversation and (b) provide context on who you are to help guide the person’s advice. Then ABC (always be capturing)! Take notes so that you remain highly engaged, show the contact your genuine interest, and remember important advice for later. Most importantly, enjoy learning throughout this conversation; soak up the new knowledge and advice that you are gaining from this encounter. Act professionally and sincerely, and show your appreciation to the interviewee for his or her time. At the end of the conversation, ask the person who else he or she would recommend that you speak with in order to continue to learn more about the industry/career path; this is key to give yourself warm contacts for future informational interviewing in order to continue to learn and to keep broadening your network!

9. THANK YOU

Ask for the person’s business card before you leave the meeting, and clarify what communication platform (LinkedIn, email, WhatsApp, etc.) is preferred to keep in touch. Follow up with a thank-you note within 1 to 2 days after your conversation. If the contact mentioned other people with whom they think you should meet, refer to those people in your thank you message and kindly request their emails.

10. KEEP IN TOUCH

Finally, whether the informational interview was the best conversation you ever had or left you feeling like you want to pursue a different career path, always maintain contact because you never know when you’re paths might accidentally or purposefully intersect in the future. Ask to connect with the person on LinkedIn. Update the contact on any of his or her advice that you’ve taken, tell about your career plans and progress, share articles of mutual interest, and if appropriate, ask follow-up advice.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Requirements and Experience

  • How did you get started in the field? Is that typical of most people?

  • Describe a typical work day or work week.

  • Are your responsibilities shared with others with the same title or level within a company, or do they differ?

  • Do you recommend that I take any extra specialized courses to increase my chances of succeeding in future interviews in this field?

Work Environment and Culture

  • How would you describe the professional climate in your office and in your industry?

  • How often do you interact with your colleagues, clients, or other external individuals?

  • Is overtime or weekend work expected?

  • Do you get to travel for your job? If so, what does that look like?

  • Do colleagues typically socialize with one another outside the office?

Benefits and Challenges

  • What do you love most about your job?

  • What are some of your greatest frustrations? How do you cope with these?

  • How are professionals in the field evaluated?

  • What is the salary range for entry-level positions in the field?

Career Path

  • What are the opportunities for advancement in the field? Is there a typical promotion path?

  • Is professional development valued at your company or organization? How so?

  • What are some specific growth areas in the field? What impact may they have on future opportunities?

  • Do you think the field is likely to be affected by technology or globalization?

Other Advice

  • Might you know of any professional organizations that could help me develop my network within this field?

  • Where do people learn about job openings within your company or the field in general?

  • What do you wish you had known about your company or field when you were first starting out?

  • Can you recommend other people for me to talk to?

This guide is crafted from resources offered by various universities’ Career Services offices and from our own experiences.

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