Benefits of informational Interviewing:

• Get firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field, industry or position. This kind of information is not always available online.

• Find out about career paths you did not know existed. • Get tips about how to prepare for and enter a given career. • Learn what it’s like to work at a specific organization. • Gain insider knowledge that can help you in writing your resume, interviewing, and more. • Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network of contacts in a specific career

field; meet people who may forward job leads to you in the future.

Six Steps for Informational Interviewing:

1) Research Career Fields a. Do some initial research on the career field or employer using internet and print

resources. 2) Identify people to interview

a. Find people to network with through faculty, advisors, LinkedIn, Pioneer Connect (du.alumnifire.com), family, friends, extracurriculars, athletics, clubs, volunteer work, members of professional associations, etc.!

3) Prepare for the interview a. Develop a brief introduction of yourself and your hopes for the meeting. b. Plan open-ended questions to ask.

4) Initiate contact a. Contact the person by phone, email, or LinkedIn message. b. Mention how you got his or her name/found their profile. c. Ask when they have time to talk for a few minutes. d. Emphasize that you are looking for information, not a job. e. Ask for a convenient time to have a 20-30 minute appointment. f. Be ready to ask questions on the spot if the person says it is a good time for him/her

and that s/he won’t be readily available otherwise.

Sample Telephone/E-Mail/LinkedIn Script for Requesting an Informational Interview: "Hello. My name is Jane Wilson and I'm a current [insert field of study] student at the University of Denver. I found your information through my research on professionals in the [field/industry] industry. I have become very interested in [industry/company] and would like to learn more about your work. Would it be possible to schedule 20 to 30 minutes with you at your convenience to ask a few questions and get your advice on how best to prepare to enter the field?"

5) Conduct the informational interview a. Dress neatly and appropriately, as you would for a job interview. b. Arrive on time or a few minutes early. c. Restate that your objective is to get information and advice, not a job. d. Give a brief overview of yourself and your education and/or work background. e. Be prepared to direct the interview, but also let the conversation flow naturally, and

encourage the interviewee to do most of the talking. f. Take notes. g. Respect the person's time. Keep the meeting length within the agreed-upon timeframe. h. Ask the person if you may contact them again in the future with other questions. i. Ask for names of other people to meet so as to gain different perspectives.

6) Follow-up a. Keep records. Right after the interview write down what you learned, what more you'd

like to know and your impressions of how this industry, field or position would fit with your lifestyle, interests, skills and future plans.

b. Send a thank-you note within 1-2 days to express your appreciation for the time and information given. Based on whether the informational interview was relatively informal or more businesslike, this may be a brief handwritten note, an email, or a business letter.

c. Keep in touch with the person, especially if you had a particularly nice interaction; let him or her know that you followed up on their advice and how things are going as a result. This relationship could become an important part of your network.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS: What Work is Like

• Could you describe one of your typical workdays for me? • What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis? • What parts of your job do you find most challenging? • What do find most enjoyable? • Are there any negatives to your job? • How many hours do you work in a typical week? • Which seasons of the year are toughest in your job? • How would you describe the corporate culture?

State of the Industry

• Is this field growing enough so that there's room for someone like me? • Are too many or too few people entering this profession? • What developments on the horizon could affect future opportunities? • This industry has changed dramatically in the past five years. What have you seen from inside

your company? Where do you think the changes will happen in the next five years? • How frequently do layoffs occur? How does it affect the morale of employees? • Why do people leave this field or company? • Who are the most important people in the industry today? • Which companies have the best track record for promoting women and minorities? • Are there opportunities for self-employment in your field? Where?

Money and Advancement

• What would be a reasonable salary range to expect if I entered this field? What is the long term potential?

• What is the advancement potential in the field? What is a typical path? • How did you get your job? • If you could start all over again, would you change your career path in any way? Why? • How long does it take for managers to rise to the top? • What is the background of most senior-level executives?

Skills and Experience • What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in

this field? • What qualifications do you seek in a new hire? • How do most people enter this profession? • Which of my skills are strong compared to other job hunters in this field? • What do you think of the experience I've had so far? For what types of positions would it

qualify me? • Can you recommend any courses I should take before proceeding further with my job search? • What companies or industries do you think I should target?

Fitting In

• Do you think my objective is clearly stated, realistic and achievable? • Considering my background, how well do you think I would fit in this company and/or

profession? • How does your company compare with others we've discussed? • Would the work involve any lifestyle changes, such as frequent travel or late-night business

entertaining? • Considering all the people you've met in your line of work, what personal attributes are

essential for success? • Taking into account my skills, education, and experience, what other career paths would you

suggest I explore before making a final decision? o An internship-focused alternative to #36 might be: “Thinking about the most successful

interns you have had, what was it about their character, work ethic, abilities, etc. that made them exemplary?”

More Information • Where can I write to get up-to-date information on salaries, employers, and industry issues? • What professional journals and organizations should I be aware of? • Is there anything else you think I need to know? • Who else would you recommend I speak with? When I reach out, may I use your name? • The more I learn about [insert job/organization name], the more interested I become. What

steps would be involved in exploring how someone like me could become part of your organization?