The short and sweet guide to informational interviews
What’s an informational interview?
It’s like asking someone on a virtual date. You’re asking them about their job or company, what they like about it, what they don’t (equally important), what special skills are needed (so you can identify what you already have and where the gaps are), and what kinds of things they recommend reading or listening to in order to stay up-to-date with industry trends. This is so you can get a good feel for what it’s like in their field or at their company.
Why should I do one?
Ever heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Yeah… But don’t come thirsty to a first date - or to an informational interview. They already know you’re looking for a job. The purpose of an informational interview is to build relationships, identify any skill gaps (so you can spend your time looking for a job also upleveling where you need to), and stay front of mind. Connect on LinkedIn, reach out occasionally to share resources that made you think of them, but please don’t do anything you wouldn’t do on a date.
What if I’m awkward?
Hey, it’s me, imposter syndrome. Listen, I feel you. Glassdoor, The Muse, and Indeed all have great guides and templates for reaching out to folks asking for informational interviews. And YouTube has great examples of the interviews themselves.
When in doubt, you can also ask Chat GPT. Ask it to help you draft a letter reaching out to someone for an informational interview. Ask it, “what kinds of questions can I ask on an informational interview in [your target] industry?”
Ok, so what do I do?
Find a job title or company that looks interesting. See if you have any connections on linkedin (either that you know personally or alumni from your school). If you’ve never done an informational interview before, I’d recommend asking a 1st connection to practice with you so it’s less awkward. The next level would be asking a friend or 1st connection for a “warm handoff.” And the final level is asking via a cold email.
Ask them to meet with you (examples below). Craft a personalized and concise message to request an “informational interview” or “virtual coffee chat.” Clearly state your purpose, which is to gather insights about their career and industry. If you’re nervous about sending cold emails, you can use any template you find online (including written by Chat GPT). Personalize it to your voice and tone and just hit send. Don’t stay too hung up on this, when was the last time you read an email from someone else as closely as you read your own? Ask if they prefer Zoom or by phone. DO NOT SEND THEM A LINK. If you send a link on a cold email, it will likely go to Spam so it’s best to wait until they respond.
Set up a calendar where they can book 20-minutes with you. Calendly has a great free option and integrates with Gmail & Zoom. Again, please do not send them a link on 1st contact.
Then you just chat! Pretend like you’re catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen for a while (professionally, of course). Ask them how they got into their job or career, what they’re most interested in, what skills you’d need, what they like about it, what they don’t like about it (their field, not the company). The vibe will be like a coffee date, just relaxed. You can't come across like you're looking for a job at their company, they already know you're looking. What they can do is keep you top of mind if anything opens up and put your resume in front of the hiring manager, if it’s a good fit.
Thank them! Send a follow-up email thanking them for their time. Be sure to include at least one memorable thing they said in your follow-up. If you have trouble, ask Chat GPT or Glassdoor for help, there are a ton of templates out there for this. Just don’t forget to do it :)
Templates:
Example 1:
Dear [first name],
My name is [your name], and I’m a [job title] who works in [your location]. I’m reaching out because [reason why you want to speak with this person]. I’d love to learn more about [two or three things you’d like to learn from the person].
I’m sure you’re busy, so even 20 minutes would be appreciated.
Thanks so much,
[Your name]
Source: The Muse
Example 2:
Subject: 15-20 min. Virtual coffee chat - Person’s name suggested I reach out to you (or interested in learning about “role” or “company”)
Hi (name of the person)
My name is (name), I’m a Kenan-Flagler alumni (or any connection to the person, like professional associations or school), then (here is where you state the connection to your ask) a)”name of person” suggested I reach out b) found your information on alumni database c) found your contact information on LinkedIn. I’d appreciate 15-20 min of your time for a virtual coffee to chat about (industry, or role).
I have x-years of experience in (your closest role to what they do), and I'm currently looking for my next role (or looking to pivot in my career), and I’d like to learn about your take on (the industry/ your role as) and how can my skills transfer.
I’d really appreciate any advice that can help me find my next role.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[Your name]
Do’s and Don’ts
Do
Come prepared. Read their profile on Linkedin. Learn as much about their company and industry as possible before your call
Send a follow-up email thanking them for their time
Dress professionally if you’ll be on camera.
If you don’t have a background, use a virtual one or have your back against a blank wall (make sure your lighting is good so you don’t look like a hostage!)
Do some power-poses before your call if you need to build confidence!
Don’t
Ask questions you could Google
Ask them rapid fire questions. You want it to feel like a conversation they’d have with a future colleague!
Ask them about their salary
Ask them for a job
Take your call from bed
Resources:
Glassdoor’s Guide on Informational Interviews
Guide from YouTube with great examples
Good luck out there, fam! You’ve got this! Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of further help.
