Informational Interview
Informational interviews are a powerful tool for exploring career paths, building your professional network, and gaining insights that are often unavailable through online research. They offer a low-pressure way to learn about different industries, roles, and career trajectories from professionals in the field.
Why You Should Do Informational Interviews
Informational interviews can help you:
- Explore career options: Get a first-hand perspective on different industries and roles.
- Refine your career goals: Learn how your skills and experience align with potential career paths.
- Expand your professional network: Build relationships with individuals who can offer guidance and connect you with others in the field.
- Access insider knowledge: Understand industry trends, challenges, and opportunities that may not be publicly available.
- Prepare for future job opportunities: Gather advice on how to enter and thrive in a specific field, as well as what employers value most in candidates.
What Information You Should Try to Get
When conducting an informational interview, aim to gather:
- Professional recommendations: Are there other people you should talk to or resources you should explore?
- Career trajectory: How did the individual get to their current position? What were their major career milestones?
- Industry insights: What are the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the field?
- Organizational culture: What is it like to work at their organization? What qualities help people thrive there?
- Advice for newcomers: What skills, experiences, or training would be most valuable for someone entering this career?
How to Request and Conduct an Informational Interview
Start by reaching out to professionals who work in roles or industries you’re interested in, and prioritize people whose career paths align with your interests.
Where to find them:
- Dartmouth Connect. Guarini graduate students have access to Dartmouth Connect, a Dartmouth alumni and student platform for career connections
- Guarini Linkedin group. Guarini also has a Linkedin group where you can reach out to Guarini alumni and Dartmouth.
- Handshake. In addition to job listings, this includes a way to reach out to people working in industry.
- Networks. Your department, faculty advisors, or career services may also recommend contacts. Prioritize people whose career paths align with your interests.
When reaching out, make it clear that your purpose is to seek information and advice—not a job. Keep your message brief and professional. Here’s a sample structure for your request:
Sample Email Template
Subject: Request for Informational Interview – [your name]
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
My name is [your name], and I’m currently [your role/position, e.g., a PhD candidate at Dartmouth studying X]. I came across your name through [how you found their contact—mutual connection, LinkedIn, or professional organization], and I’m very interested in learning more about your work at [Company/Organization Name].
I’m currently exploring career paths in [specific field or industry], and I’d love to hear about your experiences and insights. Would you be available for a brief 20–30 minute conversation at your convenience? I’d appreciate the opportunity to learn about your career journey, your current role, and any advice you might have for someone entering this field.
Thank you in advance for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
[your name]
[your contact information]
Research the person’s background, their organization, and key trends in the industry. Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest and help you gather useful information. Examples:
- How did you break into this field?
- What skills do you consider essential for success in your role?
- What advice would you give someone just starting out?
- Be on time.
- Be prepared. Research the person’s background, their organization, and the industry ahead of time.
- Be respectful of their time. Stick to the agreed length of the interview and stay focused.
- Ask thoughtful questions. Focus on open-ended questions that encourage storytelling and insights (e.g., “What do you enjoy most about your work?” or “How did you get started in this field?”).
- Take notes and listen carefully. Pay attention to details that resonate with your career interests.
- End with gratitude. Thank them for their time and insights. Ask if they can recommend additional contacts or resources.
Send a thank-you email within 24 hours, expressing your appreciation and highlighting specific takeaways from the conversation. If appropriate, keep in touch with updates about your progress and career development.
- Make it easy for the contact to pick a time and method to connect with you
- Send the contact a calendar invite with relevant information
- Be on time
- Show genuine interest
- Take a few notes
- Send an authentic thank you note (example). Resist the temptation to copy and paste! This is important to show your gratitude for the person’s time (their most valuable resource).
