1. What is an informational interview?

An informational interview is a conversation you have with someone who works in the field that you are interested in. You interview the person in an informal way to get information and advice that could guide your career path.  It is a specific form of networking.

Do not confuse an informational interview with a job interview.  And informational interview is a way for you to find information that will help you make a career decision.

Informational interviews are becoming more common as ways for people to network and explore new career options. Even though the Internet has a lot of updated information, the best information often comes from people who are actually working in that career field.  Informational interviews allow you to

• get up-to-date and personal information about a field
• learn about other career options
• find out new trends
• be familiar with the Canadian workplace culture of the field
• inside ‘tips’ on how to get work in the field
• expand your network

Some people may think it is strange to ask someone about their work, but most people are actually very open to talking about their professional life and giving advice to someone with an interest in their field.

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2. Who can I interview?

You should speak to as many people as possible who work in your profession or related profession.  One person is not enough -- you need to get a broad understanding of the issues in your profession.  Often at the end of an informational interview, you can ask the person to recommend other people in the field for you to speak with.

For information on how to find people in your profession, check out our Networking page.

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3. What kind of questions should I ask in an informational interview?

Step 1. Research

Before you conduct an information interview, you need to first learn about the issues, people, and anything else related to your occupation in Canada.  Search on-line for information.  Visit libraries to find magazines and newspapers on different topics.  Join on-line forums and e-mail lists that talk about your interests.  The purpose of this research is to give you a better focus and show the person that you are prepared and have a strong interest in the field.

Step 2. Prepare

Prepare a list of questions based on your research.  It is good to have both general and specific questions.  You will not have the chance to ask them all, but you should have a good list.  Here are some examples:

• What are the duties/responsibilities of your job?
• How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
• What part of your job do you like the most?  What part do you like the least?
• What are the most important hard and soft skills that employers are looking for?
• Can you suggest some ways a newcomer could obtain this necessary experience?
• What are the typical entry-level job positions in your organization?
• How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work?
• How does a person progress in your field? What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
• What are some current trends and/or issues in the field?
• Are there any written materials you suggest I read?
• Which professional organizations would help me develop a network?
• If you have time, would you be able to give me some feedback on my resume?

• Do you have any advice for my situation?
• Is there anyone else in the profession you think I should speak to for more information?

Step 3. Ask for an informational Interview.

Please see below.

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4. How do I ask for an informational interview?

When you speak to the person (by phone, e-mail or in person) use the following steps as a guide:

1. Introduce yourself.
2. Explain how you got their name (or remind them of when you last met).
3. Tell them you are conducting informational interviews with people in the profession to get a better understanding of the situation in Canada
4. Explain briefly your professional background and interests (in 30 seconds).
5. Politely request a 15-20 minute meeting at their convenience. 
6. Give examples of questions or topics that you would like to talk about during the information interview.
7. If they are willing to speak with you, schedule a proper meeting.  If they are busy, ask them to suggest other people or organizations to contact.

The best way to interview is in person.  However, if they are very busy, they may prefer to have a phone or e-mail conversation only. 

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5. How do I follow up after an informational interview?

After the interview, send the person a thank you letter/card/e-mail.  This shows that you are thoughtful and professional.

It is important to maintain contact somehow and keep them as part of your network.  Call or e-mail them if you think of more useful questions.  Or if you read an article that is related to what you talked about in the interview, send the article and ask for their opinion.  Another good idea is to let them know how you are doing in your career search and ask for their feedback (i.e. "Based on this, do you think I'm on the right track?"  "Do you have any suggestions for me at this point?").

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6. Resources and Links

Canadian Newcomers Magazine

http://www.cnmag.ca/iss_13/iss_1_2007_informationalinterview.html

Resume Edge

http://www.mun.ca/cdel/career_dev_stu/Informational_Interviews.pdf

Quintessential Careers

http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html

Go back to STEP Useful Facts page

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