Informational Interviewing

Overview

Informational interviewing is the process of having an exploratory conversation with someone in a career role or industry you’re considering. Rather than being about finding a job or interviewing for a specific position, the main focus is on learning more about a particular field you are curious about or interested in, gathering information, and expanding your connections for future opportunities.

Finding People to Interview

There are several ways to find people to interview with this “informational” focus:

  • Close contacts such as professors, other students in your major, coworkers, or friends.
  • Alums from UMass who already have something in common with you. You can find UMass alums in a few ways:
    • Connect UMass is a platform where you can search for alums by college, major, title/role, or career interest. Unlike other platforms, the alums here have specifically signed up to be resources for current UMass students.
    • The University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni finder on LinkedIn is a great way to find an alum at a company or in a role you’d like to learn more about.
    • The HFA Career Services LinkedIn page also connects you with alums and local employers. By becoming a follower of the page, you can more easily connect with anyone else who is a member.
  • Second degree connections are people connected to someone you know. For example, a professor might know someone at a company you’re interested in, or a family friend might know someone who works in a job you’re considering. 

How to Set Up an Informational Interview

Once you’ve identified a person to interview, email or call the person to introduce yourself and request time to speak with them. Remember: If someone else is making the connection, you still need to take the step of making “first contact” (see below).

First Contact Example: In-Person/Phone

Develop a 10 second sound bite to introduce yourself in person or on the phone. 

Example: “Hello, Joe Serra suggested I contact you. My name is Dana Brown, I’m a University of Massachusetts Amherst junior majoring in History, and I wonder if I could have 15 minutes at your convenience to ask you about your experience as a policy maker in Washington.” 

The person you’re calling may be able to continue the conversation right then, or you may need to schedule a time in the future. 

First Contact Example: Email

There are two ways an email contact can be made:

  1. Someone introduces you to a contact via email and you need to follow up.
  2. You are reaching out to someone directly after being given their contact information from a mutual connection.

The way you craft your email will differ slightly based on which scenario you’re in.

Scenario 1

One of your professors recommends you contact their friend, Bob Green. The professor emails you both, with Bob copied. A sample reply from you (sent with in 24-48 hours) could look like this:

Hello Bob,

As Professor Smith mentioned, I’m a junior at UMass Amherst studying history and would love an opportunity to learn more about your experience as a Washington policy-maker. Please let me know if there is a good time in the next week or two where you have 15-20 minutes available. I’m happy to meet via phone, video, or in-person - whatever works best for your schedule.

Sign it with your name and contact info if that’s not part of your email signature.

Scenario 2

Your professor provides you directly with Bob’s email address, and you need to reach out directly to set up a time to talk. Your email would then look something like this:

Email subject: Referral from Sarah Smith at UMass

Hello Mr. Green,

Professor Sarah Smith suggested I contact you. I’m a University of Massachusetts Amherst junior majoring in History, and I wonder if I could have 15 minutes at your convenience to ask you about your experience as a policy maker in Washington.

If so, please let me know what timing works best for you and how you’d prefer to meet.

Thank you,
[Name and Contact info if not in email signature]

Conducting the Informational Interview

Once you’ve gotten a “yes” to talk, prepare your questions. Do background research: Read up on the field and browse the website of the organization where your contact works. 

If you’re meeting face-to-face, bring your resume (but don’t offer it unless they ask), your questions for them, and a way to take notes. 

Sample Questions for Informational Interviews 

  • What led you to your current role?
  • What do you like best about your job and/or field? Least?
  • How would you describe a typical day or week? Does your work change during the year?
  • How did you learn how to do your work? On the job? At a previous job? Formal training? If you were starting out in your field now, would you train in the same way?
  • What makes someone successful in your work? (Listen carefully for the skill-based words in their answer. You’ll need those terms for your resume).
  • As you look back on your experiences, is there anything you wish you’d known? Anything you would do differently?
  • Which graduate programs do you like to see on the resumes of job applicants?
  • Do people in your field belong to professional associations or organizations? Is there a local chapter? Do you think it would make sense for me to attend a meeting?
  • What are some ways you keep current in your field? Do you have recommendations of what I should be reading?
  • What advice do you have for someone starting out in this field?

One of the best ways to keep growing your network and learning is to always use this as your final question:

  • Is there anyone else you’d suggest I contact, and would it be okay to use your name when I reach out?

Never Forget: Follow-Up

A thank-you email is always the final step for an informational interview. Let the person know you appreciated their time and share any follow-up information you may have discussed, such as: 

  • Your resume or portfolio (if they asked for it).
  • A link to something that came up during your conversation (e.g., article, video, website).
  • Your next steps; for example, reaching out to someone they recommended or taking action on their advice.

Staying in Touch

Once you’ve conducted an informational interview with a new contact, this person has become a part of your professional network. Just as with anyone else in your network, it is a good idea to check in periodically. 

Easy ways to do this include:

  • Following the person on social media.
  • Interacting with their posts, news, or other milestones.
  • Emailing when you have news to share (reaching out to a mutual contact, getting a new job, or sharing other exciting news).

Informational Interviewing Best Practices

Determine your purpose. Before you reach out to someone new, make sure you are clear on what you hope to gain from the conversation. 

Do your research ahead of time. Make sure you have a sense of who this person is, what roles they’ve held, and where they currently work. 

Prepare good questions and put things into your own words. Think about what you are most excited to learn or where you feel the most personal confusion. 

Communicate professionally. Whether you’re reaching out via phone, email, text, dm, or other method - keep things genuine and polite.

Stay on schedule. Whatever time you set for your conversation, don’t be late and stick to the agreed-upon time frame. Immediately communicate any unexpected delays that come up and don’t use more time than originally agreed upon.

Keep notes. Record thoughts on your conversation, suggestions the contact made, the date you sent a thank you, and any follow-up actions you took.

Be thoughtful when you follow up. Adding details that connect to your conversation show your appreciation more than a form email.

Build the relationship, rather than abandon it. Stay in touch and grow the connection. Share positive updates and be available to help your contact in the future.

Informational Interviewing Resources