Information Interviewing Guide

Introduction

One of the best ways to find out about an occupation or organization you are interested in is to conduct an informational interview with someone who works in that field, industry or organization. Information interviews are very useful because people who are actually working in the career can provide a more complete picture of the occupation than most literature describing job duties.

People who do the kind of work you are considering on a day-to-day basis can tell you the joys and the frustrations of their careers. This data can be essential to your decision-making process when selecting the career you will pursue. Information interviews about an organization can help you find out if the employer is a good match for you and help you learn the best ways to get your foot in the door.

What is an Information Interview?

An information interview is a brief, informal networking meeting with someone in a targeted organization, occupation or industry. The typical information interview is about 15-20 minutes long -- the length of a coffee break. Some contacts may offer a longer session, perhaps over lunch at their discretion.

According to the US Dept. of Labor (2002), Networking is the single most effective strategy for job searching and career exploration. Information Interviewing is a key part of the career networking process.

Purpose

• To learn firsthand about a particular kind of work in a particular organization.
• To get occupational information from an insider's perspective to aid in making a career choice.
• To get information about opportunities in a given field or organization.
• To develop contacts with people in key positions who either do the hiring or give input into the hiring process.
• Organizational or occupational culture (dress-code, traditions, how people communicate and make decisions) and day-to-day life on the job

Who to Contact

You will obtain the best picture of a career field by talking to someone who actually does that type of work. Although you may not know anyone in the occupations you are investigating, you have many acquaintances who can link you with those in your potential career. Make a list of all the people you know in each of the following categories. Add any other categories you can think of. Put down everyone. Typically, these are people you know personally, and they are more inclined to be helpful than are total strangers. View the accordion below to find a list of people you should contact.

After doing a few information interviews with people you know, try contacting people you'd like to meet. Sources for finding names of professionals in your field include online business directories such as ReferenceUSA (formerly Contacts Influential).

Reference USA lists 12 million U.S. public and private companies, including names of company officers. Search by personal or corporate name, location, SIC, yellow-page classification, and other criteria. To access this web site, go to the Regis University Dayton Memorial Library Article indices.

Basic Process of Informational Interviews

Before you decide what questions to ask your contact, you need to know some preliminary information about the context in which they are working -- i.e., the company. Spend an hour in the library researching the organization as well as the occupational description of the job your contact holds. This is an important foundation for your information interview, as it allows you to:

• Further your knowledge and focus on more in-depth information during your interview
• Show your contact that you are sincerely interested in the career field
• Make a favorable impression on this contact, who can become a new networking resource or even a future employer.

1. Before you call your contact, prepare an outline of what you will cover in your phone call.

• Prepare a variation of: "I would like to make an appointment to talk with you for a few minutes about the work you do. I am making some decisions about my career and _______ gave me your name as someone who is knowledgeable about this field."
• Prepare a one-minute professional introduction to give in response to a common potential question: "Tell me about yourself." Your answer may include your education, experience and interests. Leave out personal information.
• Write out the questions you want to ask of your interviewees. These should include thoughtful questions that uncover more than just job descriptions.
• Plan to schedule the time and place an appointment. If possible, meet in their work place so you can see the setting first hand.

2. Practice an informational interview with a friend.

3. Call the people you want to interview and work from your outline.

4. If the person suggests you contact Personnel, a possible response might be: "I am sure that would be a good idea if I were looking for a job. What I would like to get is your perspective, since you are the person who know the field from the inside."

5. You may not always find people in their offices available to talk. Leave messages on voice mail or with receptionists and be sure to follow-up. Be persistent, but respectful of the contact's time.

Common Questions During Interview

Below are questions typically asked during an information interview.

1. What are the duties, responsibilities, and activities of your job? What do you do on a typical day?

2. How did you get to your present position? What kind of education, training, experience is needed? What special skills are needed?

3. What is the employment outlook for this occupation nationally? Locally?

4. What is the average salary range for this field? What is the local average salary range?

5. What opportunities for growth (education, personal, position advancement) do you see in this job area?

6. What challenges do you face in your work? What changes are taking place in this field?

7. What do you like best about your work? least?

8. What are employers in this field looking for in potential employees?

9. What training and experience do you recommend to help me get hired in this type of job?

10. Would you make the same career choice again? Why/why not?

11. How does your job affect your lifestyle (leisure time; home life; vacation; social life, etc.)?

12. Are there related fields or positions I should explore?

13. Is this field growing enough that there's room for someone like me?

14. What developments on the horizon could affect future opportunities?

15. Is there anything else you think I need to know?

16. Who else would you recommend I talk to? May I use your name when I call them?

17. How do you keep up with new developments/trends in your field?

18. Which professional organizations do you suggest I join?

During the Interview

1. Prepare in advance by learning everything you can about the person, their organization and the field. Be ready to take the lead in the conversation, since you are the interviewer.

2. Bring your resume.

3. Follow the same conduct rules that apply to a formal job interview. Be on time. Dress in a professional manner. Shake hands and introduce yourself to the contact. Use appropriate eye contact and non-verbal encouragers to elicit more information. Avoid distracters such as gum chewing, smoking and nervous mannerisms. Act in a professional manner; this person could be your opportunity for an internship or a job after college.

4. Phases of the informational interview:

• Rapport-building, through exchanging pleasantries and discovering something you have in common -- your mutual friend, sports, etc.
• Asking questions to obtain information about your contact's perception of their career field.
• Closure, where you thank the individual for sharing their time and information, and ask if they know of anyone else you could talk with about the career field.

5. Respect the person's time while approaching them as an equal. Be prepared and well-organized in order to keep the interview to the amount of time you requested -- usually a half an hour.

After the Interview

1. Write the individual you interviewed a thank-you letter immediately; it is not only polite, but will help you be remembered. Mention what you talked about, what you learned, or tell them how you will follow up on their suggestions.

2. Keep track of your interviews with an index card file or address book. Include your contact's name, how you got their name, address, telephone number, date interviewed, and what you discussed. Add any action plan you want to pursue with this person. (e.g. researching solutions to the problems they mentioned; books or people they recommended, etc.)