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Informa tio n al+In te rv iew i ng+
An informational interview is!an!opportunity!to!sit !down!with!a !professional in!a !career!field!that
interests you in order to learn more about a particular industry, career path, or even a specific company.
It!gives !you!a! chance!t o!“ int erview” potential employers and is!a !great !way!to! supplement your career
research! by! gaining first-hand!knowledge!of!what !it’s!actually!like!to!work !in!various! careers.!The!
purpose is to gather information, not to ask for an immediate job (although 1 !out!of !every !12
informational interviews results in a job or internship opportunity).
Benefits+ of Informational Interviewing
• Helps confirm! your interest in a certain career path (or helps you see that you!aren’t !as!interested!
as !you thought)
• Gain an inside “day in the life” perspective of a career field or company
• Expand your professional network by building employer contacts and !relationships
• Potentially!uncover!job/internship!opportunities
Scheduling an +Informational+Interview
• Schedule!several! (5-8) informational interviews for each career path so you have a well-balanced
view !of!the!career and !a!larger !network!of !contacts
• To!identify!and!reach!out !to!professionals,!use!the!following!list !as!a !starting!point:
o Personal contacts (family, relatives,!friends,!etc.)
o Acquaintances (neighbors, professors, co-workers,!school!peers,!social!groups)
o Cold contacts (look people up on LinkedIn, company websites, directories, etc.)
• To email someone asking for an informational interview:
1. Start!with!your !connection, such as OCC alumni or the person who referred you
2. Be concise in your email and write professionally
3. Let them! know your intent (for information and insight, NOT a job)
• Sample email message:
Dear Ms. Cervantes,
I* am a student* at* Or an ge Coast* College and am very interested in a ca ree r in marketing. I* am looking
to connect* with OCC alumni who are successful in th e marketing field and my Business* professor, Dr.
Rogers, mentioned you would be good to talk to.
As I explore this career path, would you be willing to meet for about 15-20* minutes to share insight*
into current mar k et ing trends and offer advice to* a* fellow OCC* Pirate? I am generally available
between 2-5p during* the w eek and can* meet you* in-person or talk over the p hon e. Thank you in
advance for your time and* I hope to* connect w ith you soon!
Respectfully,
Marie Smith
Preparing+ for an +Informational+Interview
• Research the company and the person you’re meeting to you have some context
• Prepare!a!list !of!5-10 questions you’d like to ask (job duties, entry requirements, starting salary,
job!openings,!internship!opportunities,!etc.)
• Prepare!responses!to!questions!about !yourself!(e.g.!“Why!are!you!interested!in!this!field?”)
• Bring a copy of your resume, but only offer it when asked (or you could ask the employer to
critique your resume and identify areas for further development)
• Dress! professionally! – wear !clothing! that!is appropriate !for !this !career !field
• Make a good first impression – be !early,!respectful,!grateful for their time, etc.
• Send a thank you note/email within 24 hours of the meeting
• Follow up every! 1-6 months to continue building the relationship, provide updates, etc.
