1. Informational Interview
Social Media & Communications
Lauren Taylor – Dardanelle High School

2. What is an Informational Interview?
An informal conversation with someone working in a specific area that interests you or you are researching, who will give you information and advice.
An effective research tool in addition to reading books or exploring the internet for job descriptions.

3. Benefits of an Informational Interview:
Get first hand and relevant information about working in a particular field.
Find out about career paths you may not know about.
Get tips for how to prepare and enter the workforce.
Learn what it is like to work for a specific organization.
Gain insider knowledge on resume writing.
Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network.

4. Steps for Informational Interviewing
Research Career Fields
Identify People to Interview
Prepare for the Interview
Initiate Contact
Conduct the Informational Interview
Follow-Up

5. Research Career Fields
Research a variety of career fields you find interesting
Research any companies or organizations you may want to work for
Branch out and research within the career cluster you are most interested in

6. Identify People To Interview
Ask family and friends for contacts they may have
Talk with teachers or former employees about possible contacts
Use social media to reach out for potential contacts
Contact members of professional organizations

7. Prepare for the interview
Develop an introduction of yourself (Keep it brief)
Plan open-ended questions to ask
Type out your questions so your interview will be organized

8. Initiate Contact Contact the person by phone or email
Mention to the person how you got their contact information
Ask the person permission to interview them about their current position
Emphasize you are looking for information, not a job
(If by phone) Be ready to ask questions on the spot if the person says it is a good time when you call

9. Conduct the Informational Interview
Dress neatly and appropriate – as you would for a job interview
Arrive on time or early (if by phone or call/send at the time you scheduled)
Restate that your objective is to get information and advice, not a job
Give a brief overview of yourself and your education and/or work background
Ask open-ended questions that allow the interviewee to branch off
Take notes
Respect the person’s time (not too many questions)
Ask the person if you may contact them again in the future
Ask for names of other professionals in their line of work that you could contact to gain a different perspective

10. Follow-Up
Keep records – after the interview write down anything you learned
Send a thank you note within 1-2 days to express your appreciation
Keep in touch with the person

11. Sources University of California – Berkeley Career Center