How to Use Informational Interviews to Gain Clarity in your Job Search
If you’re a recent (or even not-so-recent) grad, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of different jobs out there that fall under your major or professional aspirations. Career paths like marketing and business are relatively broad and encompass a wide variety of more niche roles. Not to mention the abundance of companies you have and haven’t heard of -- how do you figure out where to start and what to look for when applying to jobs?
If this sounds like you, don’t worry. There are an abundance of ways to narrow down your job search. One of the best and easiest ways to do so is through informational interviews.
Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are informal conversations you have with someone who either has a job that interests you or works in an industry that interests you. These are a great way to learn more about a specific position or company to get a better understanding of the reality of the industry you want to get into.
However, don’t get it mixed up. Informational interviews are not like formal job interviews, and the objective is not to secure yourself a job with that person or company. You’re not trying to manipulate someone into giving you an interview or helping you get one. These are simply a way to learn more to inform your job search and possibly even get advice on how to get closer to your professional goals.
Other benefits of informational interviews include:
Learning more about the inner workings and culture at a company
Learning about new positions you didn’t know existed
Get advice on how to stand out in an industry
Create a strong, relevant professional network
Initiating Informational Interviews
Just like your job search, you’ve got to know where to start and what you want to gain when seeking out individuals for informational interviews.
It’s a safe bet to begin with professionals in your immediate network. These could be people you’ve worked with in the past, LinkedIn connections, or even professional friends of friends. If there isn’t anyone you can think of right off the bat, you can also reach out to your friends and network and see if they know anyone they can connect you with.
Make it clear in the initial ask that this is only an informational interview and you’re not trying to sneak your way into getting a job interview. Most people are more than happy to talk to you (and talk about themselves) as long as they know you aren’t trying to get anything out of them.
Here’s a template I used for an initial outreach email that secured me the interview:
Subject Line: Inquiring About an Informational Interview
Hi [NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m a friend of [MUTUAL CONNECTION]. I’m trying to get into the [INDUSTRY] industry/landscape in [LOCATION] and am particularly interested in [JOB/COMPANY]. [GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT WHO YOU ARE/WHAT YOU DO CURRENTLY]
It is my understanding that you work at [COMPANY] as a [ROLE]. This greatly interests me, and I would love the opportunity to ask you questions about your experience with [COMPANY], as well as get any advice or guidance you may have for someone in my position. I want to make it clear that I’m not looking for an in at [COMPANY] by any means, I simply want to speak to industry professionals and leaders to gain insights that might help my job search!
I’d love to set up a time to call and chat. Please let me know if and when that works for you. Of course, it’s a busy time for everyone, so I understand if this is not something you have bandwidth for at the moment.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon!
[YOUR NAME]
If the first person you ask says no, don’t take it personally! Chances are they’re busy and don’t have the time to chat right now. Anticipate and accept “no” as an answer. However, don’t let this discourage you! Keep reaching out to connections. Again, it’s highly likely you’ll get more yes answers than no’s.
Steps to Success
Preparing for the Interview
To prepare for the informational interview, there are a few things you need to do beforehand. DO NOT go into the call unprepared!
Research this person thoroughly. Know their background, career history, and get a general understanding of how they got to the place they are now.
Come up with a handful of open-ended questions. The conversation likely will start to flow on its own at some point, but it’s a good idea to come prepared with structure and questions you’d like them to answer.
Get a notebook or digital place to take notes -- you’ll want to remember what they say!
During the Interview
Do:
Give the person space to talk about themselves freely
Don’t try to dictate the conversation too much. Allow for natural conversational flow
Allow the person to ask questions about you
Don't:
Try and persuade the person to give your resume to someone at their company
Complain about the struggles of your job search
Verbally pity yourself (this will make the person feel guilty and put on the spot)
Again, the point of informational interviews is not to beg or manipulate a person into giving you a job or helping you get a job at their company. Your language and the way you speak will be clear indications of your true intentions during the call. Speak positively, ask a lot of questions, and avoid complaining at all costs.
After the Interview
At the end of the interview, ask if you can connect with the person on LinkedIn. Staying in touch will allow you to foster a more authentic network!
Finally, make sure to follow up with a thank you. This could be immediately after the call, or if they give you advice, sometime down the line after you’ve followed their advice. If you checked out a resource they provided or connected with someone else they suggested, make sure to let them know! This shows you’re genuine about wanting to advance your career, and they’ll feel even better to know their advice was helpful.
Final Thoughts
Informational interviews are an extremely valuable way to gain clarity in your job search. At the same time, engaging in informational interviews is a great way to build your professional network and even get advice from industry leaders to advance your career. Even if you don’t gain anything tangible from an interview, you’re building your connections, and you never know where one relationship will lead down the line. Put yourself out there!