Pros and Best Practices of Informational Interviewing

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Pros and Best Practices of Informational Interviewing

By: PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES

What is an Informational Interview

Informational interviewing is an informal meeting with someone working in a field that interests you. It is not a job interview, however it’s a great opportunity to learn information about the organization, roles, and experiences of current employees.

Benefits of Informational Interviewing

  • Gaining valuable firsthand, relevant information about working within a particular area, industry or position of interest
  • Explore more about career paths you did not think about before
  • Get advice from professionals about how to prepare for your first career position and strengthen your application
  • Discover what it is like to work in at a specific organization and an industry
  • Develop a professional relationship with someone who may forward job leads to you in the future
  • Expand your network in a particular career field
  • Boost your confidence in a job interview

Best Practices of Informational Interviewing

Step 1: Research

Identify and research on the field/industry/organization that you are interested in exploring or/and the employers using internet and take notes. 

Step 2: Find people to interview

  • Reach out to those you already know, including your family, friends, professors, previous employers, teaching assistants, school alumni, and acquaintances. Ask them if they know anyone in the field to your interest so they can lead you to those working in the field. 
  • Cold-contacting people through LinkedIn or email if they work in the organization you want to learn more about. 
  • Contacting those you met at networking events or career fairs. 

Step 3: Prepare for the interview

  • Prepare a brief introduction of yourself
  • Do some research on the person you are meeting and the company 
  • List open-ended questions questions to ask: the questions should go beyond what you could learn through a quick online search. Some questions you might ask include the person's journey to this position, a description of their day-to-day duties, and tips they would provide for you as someone interested in working in the specific field

Step 4: Request an interview

  • Email or LinkedIn Message the person you want to meet
  • Mention how you know his/her name
  • Ask for a time that works for both of you to have a 15 minute meeting (shorter time frames will more likely br accommodated)
  • Emphasize that your objective is to get information and advice, not a job
  • Thank the person for their time and expertise 

Step 5: Conduct an informational interview

  • Dress appropriately and neatly as you would for a business appointment
  • Conduct yourself in a professional manner 
  • Arrive promptly or a few minutes early for your interview (if remote, make sure your technology works)
  • Bring your list of questions and be prepared for the questions your contact may ask
  • Emphasize again that your goal is to gain advice,l
  • Introduce yourself briefly and your education and/or work background
  • Be prepared to steer the conversation and let the conversation flow naturally
  • Limit the meeting to the timeframe you've agreed on
  • Ask the person if you may contact him/her again in the future
  • Ask for names of other people to meet to gain different perspectives

Step 6: Follow-up

  • Take note of what you learned and what you'd like to learn more
  • Write a thank-you note to your contact within 1-2 days to show your appreciation for the time and information given
  • Keep in touch with the person, especially if you had a particularly good interaction
  • Report back to them if you followed up on their advice and the outcome
  • Connect with them on LinkedIn 
** Learn more about how to ace an interview by visiting Guidelines & Tips to a Successful Job Interview by Chilombo Careers

PHR Offerings

The PHR Professional Development Platform will allow job seekers to connect to public health professionals for virtual informational interviews! To learn more, visit our Campaign Page!  

References

https://career.berkeley.edu/Info/InfoInterview 
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-an-informational-interview-can-help-your-career-2058564#the-benefits-of-informational-interviews

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