Originally written by Juliana de Souza at the UBC Career Centre.
An informational interview connects you with people who may have useful knowledge to help you decide on a career path to follow.
These are casual conversations over coffee or lunch where you take the lead on asking questions to better understand something you are curious about. As a result, informational interviews will empower you to make educated choices about your future career and connect you with professionals in your field of interest.
Here are 6 steps to get you started:
1. Identify people of interest
Family and friends are a great resource to start with. However, if you want to expand your options, LinkedIn is a great tool to find people with different experiences. Try the LinkedIn alumni feature to connect with people who share your academic background. Find out what they’re doing now. New to LinkedIn? Here is a free workshop you can attend at the Centre for Student Involvement & Careers (CSI&C).
2. Create connections
If your person of interest was referred to you, ask them for an introduction. However, if you don’t have a personal connection, call or email to ask for an informational interview. You should clearly state the reason you are connecting and how you learned about them. Remember, people are busy and may not respond right away. If this happens, don’t get discouraged and move on to your next contact. Keep persevering and it will pay off soon.
3. Plan and prepare
How are you going to show up? During an informational interview, you are in charge of the meeting, so take the time to prepare questions. Be curious – there are no right or wrong questions. Be mindful of the other person’s time and dress for the appointment as if you were a professional in that industry.
4. Say thank you
Send a thank you email. It can go a long way.
5. Reflect
Take a step back and reflect on the information you’ve gathered. What have you learned? How does it align with previous beliefs? Is this the right path for you? What resources do you need to explore? Who are the next people you need to talk to?
6. Start again
The more people you talk to, the more you will be exposed to different paths and develop ideas about paths that are worth pursuing.
Other resources to meet people of interest
Have questions or want to have a career conversation? Sign up for an appointment with Arts Career Strategist Robyn Stalkie through CareersOnline by clicking the “Advising” tab at the top.
