Informational interviewing advances career knowledge and develops new professional relationships while requiring little effort beyond setting up the appointment. Here are some steps to ensure your informational interviewing is effective.
There are some moments in your career journey when you need a new perspective. Maybe you are interested in a career field, but don't know what jobs interest you in that field. You might have a particular job in mind, but you're not sure if it's right for you. Conducting an informational interview can help give you clarity in these situations.
An informational interview gives you a chance to sit down with a professional from a field of work that interests you and learn about it. Don't confuse an informational interview with interviewing for a position – your goal here is not to get a job or internship from your interviewee. Instead, an informational interview enables you to learn more about a field of work and what it takes to succeed in that field.
The professional you interview can give you advice on how to build your career, and the information you gain from talking to them can help you decide on the next steps to take. Informational interviews are also a networking opportunity. Not only is your interviewee a professional connection, but he or she can also direct you to other professionals to connect with.
Now that you have decided to conduct an informational interview, how do you prepare for it? If you come to the Career Center, staff can assist you with all the following steps: goal assessment, finding a contact, developing questions, and final preparation.
Once you have completed these steps, you are ready for your informational interview! As the adage goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know. let who you know help you expand on what you know by setting up an informational interview today. For more advice on how to conduct an informational interview, visit the Career Center.