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A good friend of mine said to me that college, and life, is all about connections. I completely agree. But sometimes making connections can be scary, especially when it comes to talking with people who could impact your career (aka your future, aka your life). I'm very Type A and like to think I have some control over my future. However, in reality I don't have much control at all (yikes). But I can take charge of my life through learning, which is where the informational interview comes in. I've been doing a few of these interviews lately as I am exploring some of the fields I'm interested in a bit more. As a reporter for my college's newspaper, I have had some practice interviewing strangers, but things seem a lot more intimidating when I'm interviewing someone in the real world (eep!). Anyway, here are some tips/tricks that I've learned along the way that can make informational interviews a lot more helpful and a lot less nerve wrecking.
Setting up the interview: If you know this person through someone else, ask them to help out (for me I have lucked out as my professors have put me in contact with people). If the person is a bit more random, maybe an alumni from your university/high school or a vague friend-of-a-friend, send them an email explaining (a) who you are/how you got their information and (b) why you want to speak with them. In my experience, people respond more quickly and consistently to emails than to voicemails.
Mindset: An informational interview is just that-- an opportunity for you to get information. Going into the interview with the mindset that there isn't a job at stake should ease your nerves alone. However, the best part of an informational interview is that the other person does most of the talking- you simply ask questions that you want answered. Therefore, the questions you ask direct the conversation and are very important.
Questions (what to ask): Something to consider before an informational interview is making a list of questions to ask and ranking them from most important to least important. These interviews are usually around 20 minutes long, so you might not get a chance to say everything you want. Here are a few example questions:
- How did you get involved in this career?
- What steps did you take in college to best prepare you for a career in this field?
- What is a typical workday? What are your daily responsibilities?
- What skills have you found useful in this field?
- Where do you see this field going in the future?
- What changes have you personally experienced since you began working in this field?
- Are there any other related fields you considered working in?
- What is the biggest challenge you've faced in this field? What is the biggest challenge this industry faces?
- What is the most rewarding part of your job?
- Is there anyone else you would recommend I talk to?
Questions (what not to ask): Under absolutely no circumstances should you ask for a job! Remember: you are asking for information and time.
Follow up: The same day as your interview (or the next morning at the latest), send the person you interviewed an email-- or better yet a hand written thank you note-- expressing your appreciation for their time and information. In the message, consider mentioning something specific you learned and also reiterate that if there is anyone else they could put you in contact with, you would appreciate their information. You will be remembered as someone thoughtful and thorough, which could be helpful if you eventually apply for a job where the person you interviewed works. In today's fast paced world, a good first impression is extremely important.
What next: There's always that wonderful sigh of relief when an interview is over. But forget about it too fast! Jot down any important points the person interviewed said, their contact information and questions you asked. Then, review this information and consider any remaining questions you might have that could be addressed at another time or by someone else. I have a folder on my computer with notes I've taken during lectures/informational interviews/meetings and have used them to generate new questions for future interviews.
I hope you found these tips helpful- good luck and don't stress too much!!
What tips or stories do you have about interviews?
xoxo