Informational Interviewing

An occupational informational interview is used to obtain first-hand impressions of work from people currently employed in a specific field.  It is not a job interview; it has a very different focus and feel.  You are exploring alternatives rather than marketing yourself.  Some of the other differences are you are talking informally; you are the interviewer rather than the interviewee; and, the interview is generally limited to 30-45 minutes.

This method of collecting information is the best way to find answers to many important questions you may have.  For example, what does someone actually do all day long?  What are the rewards and demands of a particular kind of work?  What are the entry-level jobs? By meeting directly with people, you can also gain deeper insights into the pros and cons of working in a particular organization.

Contacting people may seem intimidating at first, but remember that most people love to talk about themselves and their work.  Moreover, they will be impressed with your initiative and interest.  You may develop a contact that could be valuable to you in your job search, and you will gain practice in the skills of interviewing.

Check out our Informational Interviewing handout for more information on the following topics:

• Identifying Contacts
• Obtaining an Informational Interview
• Interview Suggestions
• After the Interview