Informational Interviews

Start with lists of people you already know including friends, fellow students, faculty, advisors, career coaches, co-workers, supervisors, and neighbors.  Husker Connect is also a great resource for identifying someone to interview.  If you need additional assistance finding a person to interview, schedule an appointment with Stephanie Osterthun, Career and Student Experience Coach.

Contact the person you would like to interview via phone or email.  If they agree to the interview, select a time and location that works for both of you.  The interview could also be conducted via phone or Zoom.  Do not e-mail them a list of questions to answer.  Be as flexible as possible with your schedule and indicate how much time you are looking for (20 - 30 minutes is a good time frame.)

Be professional. If you plan to ask for an interview over the phone, practice what you plan to say in advance. If you plan to ask for an interview via email (refer to the example below) it should be addressed in a professional manner and free from grammatical and punctuation errors.  Be sure to include information about how you can be reached.  If you indicate that you will follow up in some way, be sure to follow through in a timely manner.  
 

Dear Ms. Smith,

I am a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Currently, I am strongly considering _____ as my major/career and am hoping to connect with professionals in the industry to learn more about the field. John Doe provided me with your name and contact information.  I would love to set up a time in the near future to briefly meet in person or by phone to ask you a few questions about the ____ industry.  Are you available for a 20 - 30 meeting so that I may ask you a few questions?  I can be reached via email at herbiehusker@huskers.unl.edu or on my cell at 402.xxx.xxxx.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Herbie Husker

Conduct Research 

Review the organization’s website and become familiar with the organization's mission, product, services, customers/clients, and culture.  Also look at their social media and news outlets to see if they have been in the news lately.  

Also review the LinkedIn profile of the person you will be interviewing to become familiar with their background and experience. 

Prepare Questions 

Develop questions that will help you make an informed decision as to whether the occupation you are researching is one that is right for you.  While you can refer to sample questions to get started, make sure to develop additional questions tailored to what you hope to learn from the conversation. The TIARA method can help you think through potential questions.  If you have an interest in working for this organization specifically, develop questions to help you gain insight into what it is like to work there. 

Additional Sample Questions:

• Why did you choose this career?
• Describe the educational path you chose to get to your current profession.  Is this the typical path?
• What does a typical work day look like?
• What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?
• What else could I do to explore this career?

In-person informational interviews

• Dress appropriately. It is a good idea to ask the person you will be interviewing about appropriate attire for their workplace.
• Get directions.  Ask where you should park and which door you should enter.  If possible, drive to the site the day before to ensure you know how to get there and how long it will take. 
• Arrive about ten minutes before your scheduled appointment. If you arrive early, do not go in until a few minutes prior to 
  your appointment. 
• Greet everyone with a smile and a firm handshake. 
• Have your questions ready and bring a notepad and pen to take notes.  During the conversation, ask follow-up 
  questions.  Keep track of time and don't stay longer than the amount of time you originally requested.
• Be prepared to discuss your background and interests. Informational interviews are two-way conversations.  The professional you are interviewing is interested in getting to know you as well.  
• Bring a résumé, but do not share it unless asked.  You want to be prepared, but not presumptuous. 

Phone or virtual interviews

• Contact the person at the scheduled time, taking into account potential time zone differences. 
• Make sure you are in a quiet location. Put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door to avoid interruptions and let your 
  roommates know you have an informational interview scheduled. 
• Have your questions, a pen and notepad, and a glass of water available. 
• Be prepared to talk about yourself in addition to learning about the individual you are interviewing. They will want to 
  know about your background and interests. 
• Take notes and ask followup questions if you are unclear about anything. 
   

When finished, thank your host for their time and ask if you can contact them in the future if you have additional questions.  You may also consider asking if there are other individuals they would recommend you contact to learn more about the profession. 

Write a Thank You Note

This thank-you note can be a handwritten card or an email, but it should be sent within 24-48 hours of your meeting to express your appreciation for their time and information.  Be sure to identify some of the key takeaways from your meeting, as well as the steps you plan to take as a result of the information you learned.  Do not immediately ask for a favor.  For an example, refer to the networking guide.    

Connect on LinkedIn 

If the professional you met with has a LinkedIn account, consider connecting with them so you can follow and comment on updates they post.  You can also celebrate their accomplishments when they receive a promotion, congratulate a work anniversary, or start a new position. 
 

Reflect on the Experience 

Take time to think about what you learned from your interview.  Are you more or less excited about the field than you were before the interview?  If you are still considering this field, what steps will you take to set yourself up for success professionally? If not, what aspects about this career made you decide that it was not a good fit?  Do you still need additional information to help you decide?  If so, what steps will you take to gather the needed information?  

Follow-up with Referrals 

If the professional you met with advises you to contact other professionals in the field and provides you with their contact information, make sure to reach out to them.  Refer to the networking guide for an example.  Then, touch base with your original contact to let them know you have done so. Do not forget to add these referrals to your professional contact list.

Stay in Touch 

How do you want to build and maintain this professional relationship moving forward?  Is this professional someone you see as 
a potential mentor that you would like to meet with regularly?  Or, are they a contact that you only see yourself connecting with every once in awhile to ensure that they will remember you in the future?  

Ways to stay in touch: 
• Update professional contacts on your professional activities
• Inform contacts on how their suggestions or advice have helped you 
• Share a link to an article that is related to something you discussed or related to their role and industry. 
 

Refer to the networking guide for examples.