Informal Discussion Hat

An Informational Interview: A New Perspective.

An Information Interview may be defined as ‘a way to obtain advice, gain valuable insight, and explore a career path through an informal, non-job-related discussion.’ The stress is placed on ‘informal’ and ‘advice’ as this framework is not geared toward a direct dialect of a role to be filled.

How to: Identify And Reach Out

At first, start with the alumni.

Use the alumni resources or LinkedIn functions provided by your institution.

Reach out to alumni who may be working in the fields, companies, or roles that capture your interest.

They will be more likely to respond as they share some similarities (same program, same school).

Target The Practitioners

Diverse, accessible professionals can be found at meetings, LinkedIn engagements, or even other social arrangements of the sort.

Mutual connections can help you establish this linkage.

Drafting The First Email or LinkedIn Communication

Personalize: Mention the commonality that you share (such as a common interest, a university, or an event).

You can also establish a mutual connection and, within three or four sentences, plainly state the interest you have in obtaining advice on a certain topic rather than obtaining a conversation related to a job interview.’

An example of a LinkedIn message

Hello [Name]. I am studying [Field] in [University]. I saw that you also graduated from [University], and you are now working at [Company/Role]. I intend to pursue a career in [Field], and I am interested in your experience. Could you spare 15 to 20 minutes for a short discussion?

Setting Up Discussion

Avoid asking questions that require scant research. Investigate their profile on LinkedIn first.

Five to seven thoughtful questions should suffice. For example:
"Do you have a typical day at work or you just go in and work on random tasks?"
"What steps helped you to transform from an academic to a corporate professional?"
"What advice would you give to a beginner in this industry?"

Have a short introductory speech prepared that outlines your educational qualifications, areas of interest, and goals.

During the interview

Let the interviewee spend more time talking than you. Pay attention and listen carefully.

Record some important points.

Make sure that you should not exceed 15-20 minutes

"Are there other people in this domain you would recommend I speak to?" is a soft question to ask toward the end in case the conversation is going well and they have more to say.

Checking in

A day after the discussion, send a thank you message or an email.

What are one or two specific things you perceived as valuable?

Try to remind them of your status after every few months.

Example of Follow up

Thank you again for today’s session and for allowing to me to discuss your career with you. Your perspective… on this certain matter was best. Thank you for the suggestions and I will implement them when I… apply for a few internships for example.

Key Takeaway: With informational interviews, the focus is on building relationships, not quickly gained opportunities. Relationship with a professional, approached with gratitude and curiosity, can potentially blossom to a mentorship or a referral.