What is an information interview?
We all have heard the term ‘interview,’ but what is an information interview? Let’s make it clear, it is not a job interview. An information interview is a conversation with someone you admire or whose job you would like to do where you ask them questions to get their story.
Information interviews are a great way to take a glimpse into the industry, company or position through another person’s eyes to determine if it’s right for you. An information interview, among other things, helps you learn about the company’s policies, culture and hiring process. It serves an additional purpose of getting ‘your foot in the door’ and letting you in a hidden job market. Last, but not least, it assists you with expanding your professional network, and if done right, it may even land you a job.
How to arrange for an information interview?
You may already think that an information interview is a good idea, but you don’t know how to go about planning it. Here is a breakdown of steps to take when arranging for an information interview.
Step One: Research the person you would like to interview.
You can start by making a list of your dream companies, or dream job titles. You can start by researching the companies and then look for specific people from the industry you are interested in. People’s bios may appear on the company’s website, specifically team page. You could also search for names via LinkedIn. Looking at their work history, educational background, and past awards or certifications is going to give you a good overview of the person’s experience. You can also Google the people of interest to see, if someone has interviewed or featured them in any publications on the web. Twitter is another great resource.
Step Two: Write the person an e-mail.
Once you have chosen the person and researched them, you need to decide for yourself why specifically you would like to interview this person. The ‘why’ is very important here. The person needs to feel singled out for their special achievements.
Before you contact the person, you should ask yourself these two questions:
- What do I hope to gain from the interview? This question is very important, because if you want to be clear about your intentions (and you want to be clear about your intentions!), you need to know what you want. Are you looking to change industries, or see what this particular job involves to determine if you want to do it, or, maybe, you just want to offer to volunteer, or make a professional connection with the company. Whatever it is, you must know what you seek.
- What do I have in common with this person? How are we similar? Maybe you share a friend or a previous employer? Maybe you have graduated from the same university? Maybe you have met at a training? Or perhaps you just share a common belief or have similar work ethics that is very dear to you? If you can find some commonality with the person, it will be easier to write the e-mail, establish the connections, and get a ‘yes’ answer.
Once you can answer these two questions, follow these steps to write your e-mail:
- Tell the person who you are and what you do
- Share your common acquaintance(s) or shared experience
- Point out how you think they can help you
- Include a clear request or a call-to-action. Do you just want to send them some questions about their job? Do you want to meet up in person? Are you looking for a mentor? Ask directly, so they know how to respond.
- If you wish to schedule a time to meet them, include a list of your available times, so making an appointment is as hassle-free as possible.
Step Three: Prepare your questions.
Do not waste the person’s time and come unprepared. After you do your research, you need to prepare information interview questions that you wouldn’t find the answers to on the web. Be specific and show off the research you have done as well as your passion for the position and/or admiration for the company/ person you are interviewing.
Step Four: Write a thank-you e-mail within 24-hours.
Write the person a note within a day just the way you would in case of a job interview. It is a great final touch that may set you apart from other people. Also, stay in touch by sending follow-up notes every three-to-four months regardless of whether or not you are looking for a job.
Sample information interview questions to ask:
To give you a clue what the information interview questions may be like, here are some examples. I have divided them into questions about the industry, company and specific job, and the questions about the person’s career path depending on where YOU are in your job search and what you need.
Questions about the industry, the company and specific job:
- How did you get started in this industry?
- How did you find out about this company?
- What is the company culture like?
- What responsibilities do you have?
- How/when is your job performance measured?
- What kinds of decisions do you make?
- What do you like most about the company?
- Is there any question that I didn’t ask, but I should ask?
Questions about the person’s career path:
- What is your professional background (education, training, experience, skills, qualities)?
- What were some of your earlier roles in the industry?
- What are some exciting projects you’ve worked on?
- What are the most challenging parts of your job?
- What part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?
- What part of the job do you like the most?
- What do you enjoy the least about the job?
- What do you wish you had known before starting the job?
These are just some examples of the questions you may ask. You need to tailor the questions to the specific person and the industry. Lastly, you need to know the answers to which questions are going to provide a tangible benefit to your career advancement.
Good luck!
