Informational Interview: What It Is and 5 Questions to Prepare

Written by Tiffany Teng • Updated on

Learn what an informational interview is, how you can use this method to gain industry insights and build connections, and which questions you can prepare to ask to get the most out of your meeting.

[Featured Image] Two people in business casual clothing are having an interview.

An informational interview is an informal conversation with a professional designed to provide insight into a role, company, or industry you'd like to learn more about. In this type of interview, you'll want to do research in advance, including preparing questions, so you get the most out of your time.

Discover what an informational interview entails, how to make the most of it, and questions to help frame your conversation. Afterward, keep developing in-demand skills with a Coursera Plus subscription.

What is an informational interview?

An informational interview is a meeting to learn about a person's real-life experiences in a specific role or industry. These informal conversations tend to last 20-30 minutes. However, if you've made a strong connection, they can last up to an hour.

Informational interviews are a strategic tool. Having structured conversations with professionals you want to learn from can help guide the decisions you make about your own career. Ideally, the insights you glean from your conversation can be applied to your job search or professional journey. And while an informational interview is not a job interview, it has great potential to lead to job prospects in the future because of the networking you've done.

Informational interviews are not just for jobs. If you're applying to graduate school, a fellowship (such as Fulbright), or a prestigious scholarship, you might ask someone what made their application succeed or whether their experience was worthwhile.

Benefits of informational interviewing

While you can typically learn about a role or industry by conducting research online, reading articles and blog posts, or watching videos, informational interviews offer unique benefits to deepen your understanding while making valuable connections. Here are the benefits of informational interviews:

  • Learn “insider” information: You can gain valuable insights by speaking with an industry expert, student, or working professional in a field or organization you are interested in. You might walk away inspired—or learn that a job does not align with your personality and goals after all.

  • Build relationships: Networking with a coffee date or a Zoom call without expectations can spark unexpected opportunities and connections. You just might remain top of mind for a future job opening at their company!

  • Practice interviewing skills: Interviewing can be intimidating when you are expected to perform your best in a job interview. Informational interviews allow you to practice expressing yourself in a low-stakes situation.

Whether you are just starting your career or seeking a transition, informational interviews can be a useful tool at any point.

How an informational interview works

An informational interview means you'll request a person’s time, so you should be mindful of that by clarifying what you hope to get out of the conversation and how long you'll need. Let's review some other guidance to keep in mind as you reflect on whether an informational interview is a good use of your time.

1. Decide what you want to know.

Reflect on your goals for requesting an informational interview. In other words, what would you like to learn more about?

Do you want insight into what a job is really like? Or how a person advanced in their career to the role they now hold? Or how an industry works? Or what it takes to start a successful business? Or how to get into a master’s program? Understanding what you hope to achieve from this conversation will make it easier to find the right person to speak to.

2. Find the best person to speak to.

Once you know what you want to gain from an informational interview, begin searching for people who would be good to speak with.

You may already have someone in mind. If not, start by identifying professionals who work in your target role or industry through LinkedIn, professional associations, alumni networks, or personal connections. Look for individuals whose career paths align with your interests and who have several years of experience in their field.

3. Reach out and request a meeting.

Once you have decided who you want to get to know better, reach out (by email or on LinkedIn) and ask them for a 15-30 minute informational interview. If you have a mutual connection with this person, it may be best to ask for an introduction. Otherwise, connecting with someone through social media has become increasingly common. 

LinkedIn is by far the most popular for many professional industries. For creative jobs, you may be able to connect with writers or academics on X or Bluesky, or designers and illustrators on Instagram. If they have a portfolio with their email address listed, then it is best to use that to formally send a request. 

Here is a sample note:

Dear [insert name here],

I hope you’re doing well. I am writing because I recently graduated with a marketing major and I am interested in pursuing a career in sustainability. Given that you are a marketing manager at Sierra Club, I hope to ask you some questions about your background and experience. Would you happen to have time in the next week for a coffee? I am also based in Oakland, so we can meet anywhere that is convenient for you. Alternatively, we can have a 30-minute Zoom call if you prefer. Either way, I am eager to get to know more about you and how you got to where you are. Thank you in advance for your time.

Best wishes,

[your name]

This sample can be tailored to your needs. Note that your communication should reflect a polite and cheerful attitude. To further establish trust with your interviewee, you might want to be upfront about the fact that you are only seeking advice, not asking for a job. If your interviewee does not respond, follow up in a week or two. Emails and other messages can unintentionally get ignored when life gets busy—it’s nothing personal. 

If you get a positive response, be proactive and suggest an exact time and place to meet, or be the one to send the Zoom invite.

4. Develop a list of questions to ask.

Once you have secured a meeting with your interviewee, it’s time to prepare. Prepare a list of questions to have on hand. Remember to conduct as much background research as possible to make the most of this person’s time and expertise. Only ask questions that you cannot possibly find without asking them directly.

5. Get to know your interviewee.

When meeting with your interviewee, express your enthusiasm and gratitude before, during, and after the interview. The interview itself should be enjoyable—more of a conversation than a formal interview. It may be helpful to think like a journalist: Practice active listening, take notes, and engage in the conversation. Ask about the person, their job, and the sector, in a manner that is both polite and positive. Be sure you don’t take up more than the allotted time.

6. Send a thank-you note.

After the meeting, be sure to send a thank-you email as soon as possible. This can be done through email or on the platform where you initially reached out. Write a thoughtful note with a couple of sentences specific to your conversation while expressing your gratitude for taking the time to meet with you.

7. Keep in touch. 

Given that it was a positive interaction, this step is essential to continuing a bond with your interviewee. If they tell you to keep them updated on your future plans, then do so. By keeping in touch, you’re more likely to stay top of mind for potential jobs, conferences, and ideas that might be helpful. Actively engaging with and building a network based on intentionality and like-minded individuals can be an empowering experience.

5 questions to ask in an informational interview 

When conducting an informational interview, it’s important to ask the right questions to allow the conversation to flow openly. If you ask open-ended questions, the interviewee may explain their trajectory and insights without you having to ask many questions.

We've also included follow-up questions so you can deepen your understanding of your professional's answers.

1. Can you tell me about your career trajectory? How did you get to where you are now as [current role or title] after you graduated from university/high school?

This question begins the interview on a high note, filling in the gaps and decisions that factored into their career choices that cannot be gleaned from a LinkedIn page. It shows you did your research and know where they were educated, where they work now, and what position(s) they currently hold. It invites the person to share relevant details about key milestones that got them to where they are today.

Follow-up question: Did you feel it was necessary to [get a master’s degree, complete a bootcamp, stay at the same job for five years, get a mentor, etc.]?

2. What made you decide to pursue this career path?

Asking why this person chose this path can be a jumping-off point for building a connection. They might discuss how someone in their life inspired them to follow their passions from an early age, or they might explain that their trajectory was merely a series of timely opportunities and calculated risks. At this point, you can decide whether to continue this discussion of your aligned passions or steer the conversation toward how you can achieve a similar path.

Follow-up question: What do you predict for the future of [role or industry]?

3. What does a typical week look like for you?

This question demystifies what they actually do on a daily or weekly basis—the concrete, actionable things they do each day. Sometimes, a job or industry can seem glamorous or interesting from the outside, but the day-to-day duties are actually tedious or dull. It might not align with your preferred work (or study) style or provide the fulfillment you imagined this path could offer you.

Follow-up question: What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job?

4. What skills do I need to succeed in this career?

At this point in the conversation, you’ll have a solid understanding of their trajectory and how this person achieved their goals. In addition to learning what skills you need, you’ll learn how you can build yours from where you are. Perhaps your interviewee attended an in-person coding bootcamp, but they know others who succeeded by taking an online course and creating a portfolio to land their first job. At times, you may find that you possess all the skills you need and simply need to reframe your resume to strategically position yourself to the right companies.

Follow-up question: How can I break into [role or industry] with my current qualifications?

5. Can you recommend anyone else in [role or industry] that I could speak to?

Nearing the end of the interview, this question can help you make the most of this new connection you’ve made—by speaking to more people that you wouldn’t have had access to before meeting this person. This opens you up to potential networking opportunities to gain even more comprehensive and targeted insights.

Follow-up question: What are your favorite podcasts, blogs, magazines, or professional organizations related to [role or industry]?

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Updated on
Written by:

Writer, SEO Strategic Content

Tiffany Teng is a writer based in Brooklyn, NY. She writes about culture and technology, and has a m...

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