Informational Interview: What It Is and How It Can Help You

An informational interview can be one of the most insightful and useful tools in the job-hunting process. Whether you’re looking for your first job, or preparing for a career change, it opens the door for you to learn firsthand about the position, company, or industry you’re interested in. 

Informational interview—its definition easy to understand—is a conversation with someone about their experiences in the company or field that interests you. Some like to call it coffee chat, informational meeting, or in a broader term, networking (it’s a great way to establish connections in a field). 

An informational interview is not a job interview. Although it might bring on opportunities for you, it is not why you do it. In essence, an informational interview is a means for you to collect more in-depth and authentic information, allowing you to make more well-informed career decisions.

It can also boost your confidence with the job search, uncover a new career path, help your interview preparation, and might even let you gain a little access to the hidden job market. 

✅ Step 1. Finding the Person to Interview

If you already have friends in the position, company, or industry that interests you, you’re among one of the luckiest—just ask friends out for a cup of coffee.

If there’s someone in your second degree of the network (those who share a mutual connection with you), ask if that mutual friend can help introduce you for an informational interview. 

Your school’s alumni network and LinkedIn are also great ways to identify someone to interview.

Most people who share a common background or perhaps have even been in the same situation as you are now are very likely to respond positively to an informational interview request.

✅ Step 2. Reaching Out

Sending out an informational interview request to a stranger can feel a bit intimidating and untoward, but keep in mind that most people love to talk about themselves and their experiences!

Chances are it’s a great way for them to reflect on their career too. 

Reach out via email or a simple message on LinkedIn, asking for an informational interview. Keep your message polite and to the point—briefly introduce yourselves, your situation, and ask for their feedback.

If you’re unsure how to write an informational interview request, feel free to use our email template below. 

✅ Step 3. Preparing for the Meeting

There is nothing more frustrating than saving your time for an interviewer who’s not prepared.

Your interviewee has insights and experiences that you can’t learn from the internet, so do your research beforehand and prepare questions to ask in the information interview. 

Take note of the company and industry they’re in, learn about their previous experiences, and reflect on what you want to take away from the conversation. 

✅ Step 4. Holding the Conversation

As casual as a ‘coffee chat’ sounds, an informational interview should always be done in a professional manner.

You want to leave an impression and lead the conversation well enough so that if you have further questions, they’d be happy to extend the favor or introduce a colleague. 

✅ Step 5. Writing a Thank You Note

Don’t forget to follow up with your interviewee! They’ve shared with you their valuable time and hard-earned knowledge. In this day and age where time is money, and knowledge is assets, all you can do is to express your gratitude.

Send them a thank-you email with concrete details of how this informational interview has helped you, how you were inspired by them, or how you will follow their advice. 

If you've built great rapport or benefited greatly from the chat, follow up with them in a few weeks or months to share your progress!

Building a good professional relationship is important for you in the long-run. It helps you set up the right attitude toward your career that will take you further in whichever career path and open more doors for you in the future.

Below are some questions to ask in an informational interview to get you started. After your research, you should be able to tailor them based on your interviewee’s experience, your own career plans, and their company or industry.

Keep in mind that questions you ask in an informational interview should help you make important decisions or progress in a career. 

A good informational interview should be like a smooth chat. With your purpose in mind, lead the conversation and explore what you are genuinely interested in or curious about. 

🖋 Informational interview questions about your interviewee’s career field:

• How did you begin in this field? How does one get into this field?
• What kind of experience or skill is necessary for this industry?
• What kind of people do well and enjoy working in this field?
• How is this industry changing?
• What are some other related fields you’d be interested in working in?

🖋 Informational interview questions regarding your interviewee’s position:

• What does a typical day look like at your job? 
• What do you love the most about your job? The least?
• How does this position fit into the company or industry structure?
• What is something you wish someone had told you before you got into this job or industry?
• What would you recommend I do to be successful in this role? 

🖋 Informational interview questions relating to your interviewee’s company:

• What is the company culture like?
• How do you collaborate with your own team and others?
• What is the average employee turnover? What is the main reason for employee turnover?
• What does a long-term career at this company look like?
• How do you think this company differs from your toughest competitors? 

✏️ Be polite.

If your interviewee is reluctant or uncomfortable sharing certain things, don’t push it. Utilize the list of questions you have prepared to ask in the information interview as a guide. An information interview is not an interrogation. 

✏️ Dress smart casual.

If you are unsure, dress how you would if you were to interview or work at the company your interviewee works at.

✏️ Be punctual.

Plan your route in advance and make sure you are going to be there on time. ‘On time’ for an interviewer means being there early. Arriving before the scheduled time is a simple way to show the interviewee your respect for them. 

✏️ Bring your list of questions and take notes.

To set a comfortable atmosphere, ask your interviewee if it’d be okay to jot some notes down.

✏️ Briefly introduce yourself and be clear with your purpose.

Share your background, education, profession, reason for this informational interview.

✏️ Be ready to listen thoughtfully and steer the conversation naturally.

Set the premise that you’re there to learn from them and allow them to do most of the talking.

✏️ Respect your interviewee’s time.

Confirm in advance on their agenda and set up a time limit, preferably 15-30 minutes. When you’re reaching the end of the allotted time, kindly remind them so they can either extend the conversation or start on a conclusion.

✏️ Voice your appreciation and thank them for sharing their experience.

If you have further questions and the chat went well, ask if there’s anyone they’d recommend for your next informational interview to gain other perspectives.

✏️ Share with them what you learned and how it will affect your future actions or decisions.

Networking goes both ways. Share your learnings and plans keeps to let them know they have impacted your life in a positive way. It also opens the gateway for others to connect and help. 

✏️ Always be ready for an elevator pitch.

Don’t ever ask for job referrals or about vacancies in an informational interview, but if they bring something up, make sure you know how to sell your experiences!

✉️ Informational interview request email:

✉️ Thank you email after an informational interview:

You’re all set! Now get on LinkedIn, Facebook , or any other social media and get some informational interviews lined up. You’re one step closer to building the career you want!

--- Originally written by Yohan Ke ---