Informational Interviews

An informational interview should be an integral part of your career-planning strategy. An informational interview is an interview that you initiate — you ask the questions. The purpose is to obtain information, not to get a job.

Basically what this entails is talking to people who are currently working in a job that looks or sounds interesting to you. The benefits of doing this are many:

• You gain a better understanding of an occupation or industry
• You learn about the educational requirements for the job
• You build a network of contacts in that field

Ask the people you interview to explain what they really do and how they got to where they are now.

Start with these questions:

• Did you go to college?
• Did you go to graduate school?
• If yes, was it necessary?
• What was your major?
• What kind of jobs, internships, volunteer work or apprenticeships, if any, did you take on?
• How did you get your first job in your choice career?
• How long have you worked in this job?
• What are your primary responsibilities?
• What do you like most about your job?
• What frustrates you the most about your job?
• What are your long-term career goals?
• If you could go back and re-do your training for this job, how would you better prepare?

Lastly, ask them if you can join them for a day or more at their work to job shadow.