Whether you’re a recent graduate starting your career from scratch or a seasoned professional looking for a career change, informational interviews are a great way to learn more about positions and industries that interest you.
An informational interview is a casual, get-to-know-you conversation that allows you to ask someone with experience about their work in a field you’re interested in. For example, a journalism student might seek out informational interviews with published news reporters or an entry-level IT worker might seek out an interview with an IT department manager to ask about their progression to a supervisorial role.
Keep in mind that informational interviews are not the same as job interviews. Don’t expect that the person you’re interviewing will be able to help you get a job. The point of the informational interview is to gain valuable insider perspectives from someone who has proven experience in a particular profession. Anything else that comes from the meeting is a bonus.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to ask for an informational interview, what type of questions to prepare and how to follow up after the interview happens. Let’s get started!
How to ask for an informational interview
When asking someone for an informational interview, keep the request brief and simple. Be respectful of your potential interviewee’s time by making your intentions clear. Explain what you want to learn about them and their job and suggest a clear time limit for the interview.
You can ask to interview over a phone/video call, an email exchange or an in-person meeting if you’re in the same city. If you opt for an in-person informational interview, remember to pay for any coffee or food bills as a courtesy to your interviewee guest.
Here’s a short template email that you can use to get started:
Email subject line: Request for Informational Interview
Dear [NAME],
I am currently looking into pursuing a career in [INDUSTRY]. I found your profile through LinkedIn and thought you’d be a great source of information about the industry.
I’d love to chat with you over a coffee for 20 minutes at some point in the next couple of weeks so that I can learn more about what you do and better understand if a career in [INDUSTRY] is right for me.
Please let me know if you have availability on your calendar to meet with me.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR EMAIL AND TELEPHONE NUMBER]
While lots of people are more than happy to give a brief information interview, you may get turned down, too. Don’t take it personally! People are busy and that’s okay. Simply thank them for their time and move on to sending an email to your next potential interviewee.
Questions to ask in an informational interview
When you're conducting an informational interview, it's important to come well prepared with questions that will help give you an in-depth look at the industry or career path you’re interested in. Keep the questions open-ended so that the conversation will flow naturally.
Here are some example questions you might ask:
- What does a typical day in your position look like?
- What is the most challenging part of your job?
- What qualifications, work skills or experience do you need for this role?
- How did you get into this career?
- What changes and challenges does the industry currently face?
- What do you like/dislike about working in this industry?
Use these example informational interview questions to prepare your own set of more specific queries. Make sure you thoroughly research your interviewee, their industry and their company so that you can tailor your questions and get more valuable answers!
Send a thank you note after your informational interview
One to two days after conducting an informational interview, send a brief thank you email to the person who took the time to speak with you. In the email, be sure to mention something specific that you discussed during the interview. This will show that you were paying attention and that you value their insight.
Here’s an example thank you email that you can use as a template:
Email subject line: Thanks for your time
Dear [NAME],
It was lovely to meet you and learn about what a career in your field entails.
It was especially interesting to hear you talk about __________________. The insights you gave me have inspired me to further investigate a career in [INDUSTRY].
Please feel free to contact me anytime if there’s something I can do to return the favour!
Thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Sending a thank you email after an informational interview is not mandatory, but it’s a polite gesture that can go a long way. Plus, you never know — if you make a good impression, that person may think of you the next time they hear of a job opportunity!
The bottom line on informational interviews
If you’re not sure what career path is right for you, informational interviews are a great way to learn about different jobs in an industry. By talking to people who work in the field you’re interested in, you can get a better idea of what the job entails and if it’s a good fit for you.
You may also want to look into our other career advice posts on the Adecco Canada blog – we have tons of resources that will help steer you in the right direction!