Networking 101: Conducting an Informational Interview

Adapted from Prof. Bob Gustafson’s Senior Seminar class notes

A typical message I receive from college grads goes something like this:

“Who should I contact to help me in career hunting? I search different websites, but it's hard for me to know where to start or where to look.”

Hours spent applying to job board ads and website postings generate the lowest level of response. However, a networking tool known as the informational interview can open doors and invite new contacts into a job search. Over time, I have gleaned a lot of material from multiple sources regarding how to conduct productive and fruitful informational interviews. I attribute some of what I have included here to Barb Bruno’s materials on LinkedIn.

Before conducting an informational interview there are a few things to prepare:

1. Come up with specific questions. In order to make the best use of this person’s time and to obtain as much relevant information as possible, prepare your questions in advance.

2. Polish your online profile(s) and portfolio.

That is all well and good, but how can you ensure that you are finding the right person to talk to? Especially in larger organizations or companies, this can be difficult. Here are some helpful steps to follow in that process.

1. Make a list of everyone in your personal network (family, friends, neighbors, teachers, and anyone you know who’s working).

2. Determine which of these people can best connect you to other people within a specific company or industry.

3. Leverage alumni databases on LinkedIn (or Facebook). Identify and make a list of individuals who are working in your targeted occupation or industry (aim to find people who work for one of your preferred companies and have your dream job). These are the people who will have the best information.

4. Ask for an introduction, or for permission to use their name. The people you’re going to contact for informational interviews are more likely to respond when they know you have a shared connection.

From there, the most effective approach to schedule the informational interview is to send an initial email followed by a phone call. Through that, make sure you:

1. Explain why you’ve reached out to them (something like this, “I’d appreciate your advice,” or, “I hope you’ll be able to help me.”). Appealing to the person’s natural desire to help will improve your chances of getting a positive response.

2. Ask for something very specific. For example, “I’d love to have a quick conversation to learn how you got your start.” Take time to explain exactly why you really want to meet with this specific person. Make it clear that you want to talk to them to learn about their career history and perspective on the job or industry. Do not make it sound like you’re looking for a job because you’ll quickly be redirected to HR.

3. Understand their busy schedule by saying, “I can only imagine how busy you are so even 15 or 20 minutes would be greatly appreciated.” And try to pin down a time to meet. If you haven’t heard back within a week, write to them again. Refer to your first email and reiterate how much 15 or 20 minutes of their time would mean to you. (Most people love to talk about themselves and are happy to help someone who wants to pursue their same interests. You must be persistent and kind.)

Pro Tip (and this is very important): Do not send the same email to every contact. Your email should be personalized based on how and why you targeted each person.

You got the interview? Great! Now what? Let me first provide six things not to do during the interview.

1. Arrive late or unprepared.

2. Talk too much.

3. Disagree.

4. Present your resume.

5. Go over time.

6. Ask for a job.

On the other hand, here are some steps that you should follow during the interview.

1. Be professional. Treat it as if it were a job interview. Dress appropriately. Show appreciation.

2. Let them talk.

3. Listen to understand (eye contact, nod) and take notes (key words).

4. Respond. Seek clarification.

5. Honor their time.

6. Ask for referrals.

Yay, you had the interview! Now what steps should you take afterwards?

1. Hand write and send a thank-you note. Mention what you learned.

2. Keep in touch.

For this purpose specifically, remember you’re asking for advice, not a job. It’s always a good idea to keep that in mind. If it helps, create an outline focused on topics which provide the results you want to achieve from the interview: (1) asking for your contact’s career path, (2) asking about a typical day, (3) asking about the current and future state of the ministry/industry you are targeting, and (4) asking if there’s anyone else they would suggest that you talk to.

By using these tools, you can conduct a helpful informative interview that will hopefully lead you down the right path of attaining a job in your desired field.