There is only so much information you can get from printed material or information on a company website. Information interviews are interviews in reverse. An informational interview is speaking with someone who is currently working for the company you are interested in. An informational interview can not only give you special insight into the company, but also help you get your foot in the door and show them you’re interested in a certain position. But keep in mind and make sure that it is clear to the person you are interviewing that this is not a job request, but a simple inquiry of the company itself.

Informational interviews can also:

  • Give real world information about your chosen profession
  • Give tips and suggestions on how to gain experience and prepare for your job search before receiving your diploma
  • Provide an opportunity to network with professionals from different companies
  • Provide insights into what makes candidates sick out to employers

Just like before a job interview, you need to do your research on the company. Learn as much as you can before you ask for an informational interview with a professional. This way you can ask more in-depth questions and make better use of the professional’s time. They will remember you for doing so.

To find a professional in the field of your choice it is wise to ask people you know like faculty at your school, family, friends, peers, recent alumni or people that are part of your professional association. Also if your university has an alumni house this is a great place to find contact information of people who went through the same program you are. Most of the time informational interviews are obtained by sending an email or simply calling.

After you have arranged your informational interview you need to start thinking about what type of questions you would like to ask. Here are some typical questions one may ask on an informational interview:

  1. What is a typical day on this job?
  2. What do you like most about your work? Least?
  3. Why did you choose to be in (FILL IN PROFESSION HERE)?
  4. How did you find this job?
  5. What qualities are necessary to succeed in this profession?
  6. What is the job outlook for this profession?
  7. If you could go back to college and take different courses to help you prepare for this profession what would they be?
  8. What are your career goals for the future?
  9. If you had one piece of advice to give to a college senior seeking a career in (FILL IN PROFESSION HERE) what would it be?

You should write your questions down ahead of time and it’s ok to take some notes with you. Be prepared, be on time and make the most out of the interview, because after all, the professional you’re interviewing is doing you a favor.

After the interview you may want to decompress. Ask yourself if you got all your questions answered or what new questions do you have and if you missed one you may want to send a follow up email.

The most important thing you want to do after the informational interview is send a thank-you to the professional for their time and assistance. This is a great way to put you back into the person’s mind in case of an opening in the company.