What is an informational interview?
An informational interview is a short, informal conversation with someone who works in a career, field, or company that interests you. CareerOneStop, the career site sponsored by the US Department of Labor, describes the goal as learning information to help you make a career decision, not getting a job offer.
You run the meeting. You ask the questions, watch the time, and handle the follow-up.
Informational interviews are most useful when you’re:
- Choosing a major or a first career
- Considering a career change
- Moving to a new city or industry
- Weighing two different paths
- Targeting a specific company and wanting to understand how it works
How is an informational interview different from a job interview?
| Informational interview | Job interview | |
|---|---|---|
| Who asks most questions | You | The employer |
| Goal | Learn and get advice | Get hired |
| Who requests it | You | The employer |
| Typical length | 15 to 30 minutes | 30 minutes to several hours |
| Follow-up | Thank-you note, occasional updates | Thank-you note, then wait for a decision |
How do you find someone for an informational interview?
Start with people one or two steps ahead of where you want to be. They remember the path clearly and often have more time than senior leaders.
- Your own network: former coworkers, classmates, friends of family
- Alumni: your school’s alumni directory or alumni groups online
- Professional associations: local chapters often host events and list members
- People you’ve met: a speaker at an event or a vendor you’ve worked with
A mutual connection is the easiest way in. Ask that person if they’d be comfortable introducing you.
How do you ask for an informational interview?
Keep your request short. Say who you are, why you picked this person, and how much time you’re asking for. CareerOneStop suggests offering a few dates and times so it’s easy to say yes.
Email template 1: Referral from a mutual contact
Subject: Maria Santos suggested I reach out
Hi Ms. Chen,
Maria Santos suggested I contact you. I’m a medical assistant at Brightside Dental, and I’m exploring a move into healthcare administration. Maria mentioned you made a similar move a few years ago.
Would you be open to a 20-minute call or coffee in the next few weeks? I’d love to hear how you made the switch and which skills mattered most. I’m free Tuesday or Thursday afternoons, but I’m happy to work around your schedule.
Thank you for considering it.
Jordan Lee
(614) 555-0147
jordan.lee@example.com
Email template 2: Cold email to an alum or stranger
Subject: Fellow Riverside College grad with a question about UX research
Hi Sam,
I found you through the Riverside College alumni network and saw that you moved from marketing into UX research at Fabrikam. I’m a marketing coordinator thinking about the same move, and I’d value 15 minutes of your perspective.
I’m not asking about job openings. I’d just like to understand what your work looks like day to day and which skills helped most when you switched.
Would a short phone or video call in the next two weeks work for you? I’m happy to fit your schedule.
Thank you,
Jordan Lee
If you don’t hear back in a week, send one polite follow-up. If there’s still no reply, move on to someone else.
How do you prepare for an informational interview?
- Confirm the details. Once they say yes, CareerOneStop suggests confirming the date, time, and format (in person, phone, or video) and sending a calendar invitation.
- Research the person. Read their company bio or professional profile so you don’t ask about anything already public.
- Set one goal. Decide what you most want to leave with: a clearer picture of the job, a list of skills to build, or names of other people to contact.
- Pick your questions. Choose 8 to 10 from the list below and put the most important ones first.
- Bring something to write with. A notepad looks more attentive than typing on your phone.
40 informational interview questions to ask
You won’t get through 40 questions in 20 minutes. Choose 8 to 10 that match your goal, and put your top three first in case time runs short.
To understand the day-to-day work
- What does a typical day or week look like for you?
- What takes up most of your time?
- What do you enjoy most about your work?
- What’s the most frustrating part of the job?
- What surprised you most when you started?
- Who do you work with most closely?
- Which tools or software do you use every day?
- How is success measured in your role?
To learn how they got here
- How did you get started in this field?
- What did your career path look like before this role?
- If you were starting over, what would you do differently?
- Which job or experience prepared you most for this one?
- Was there a turning point that shaped your career?
- How did you land your current job?
- What do you know now that you wish you’d known in your first year?
To check the skills and experience you need
- Which skills matter most for success in this field?
- What experience do employers look for in entry-level candidates?
- Which certifications or degrees are worth the time and cost?
- Which skills are becoming more important in your field?
- How can someone build experience before landing a first job here?
- Based on my background, which gaps would you work on first?
- Which courses, books, or other resources would you recommend?
To learn about the company
- How would you describe the culture here?
- What do people who do well here have in common?
- How does the company usually hire for roles like yours?
- How are new employees trained?
- What chances are there to move up or across teams?
- What changes is the company going through right now?
- How does your team work with other departments?
To understand the industry
- Which trends are changing your industry?
- Which employers in this field have the best reputations among people who work there?
- Where do you see the industry heading in the next five years?
- What are the biggest challenges facing people in this field?
- Which professional groups, newsletters, or events are worth following?
To get advice and next steps
- What advice would you give someone trying to break into this field?
- What would make my resume stand out for a role like yours?
- Is there anyone else you’d recommend I talk to?
- May I mention your name when I reach out to them?
- Is there anything I should have asked but didn’t?
- May I stay in touch and let you know how things go?
Before you ask anything, have a 30-second introduction ready. Our guide to tell me about yourself works well for this. If you later interview at their company, our list of questions to ask at the end of an interview picks up where this list leaves off.
What is good informational interview etiquette?
- Be on time. For a call, be ready a few minutes early. For coffee, arrive first.
- Dress the part. CareerOneStop advises dressing as you would for a job interview.
- Watch the clock. Stick to the 15 to 30 minutes you asked for. When time is nearly up, say, “I want to respect your time.”
- Don’t ask for a job. It changes the tone. Let them offer help if they want to.
- Take notes. It shows you value their advice, and you’ll forget details otherwise.
- Pay for coffee. You asked, so you pay.
- Do your homework. Don’t ask anything a quick look at their company website or profile would answer.
- End with a next step. Ask if there’s anyone else you should talk to.
For a phone or video meeting, the setup advice in our phone interview tips applies too.
What should your informational interview follow-up note say?
Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Mention one specific piece of advice and what you plan to do with it.
Subject: Thank you for your time today
Hi Ms. Chen,
Thank you for talking with me this afternoon. Your advice to earn a medical billing certificate before applying for office manager roles was especially helpful, and I’ve already looked into the community college program you mentioned.
I’ll reach out to David Park this week as you suggested, and I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thank you again,
Jordan Lee
For more wording ideas, see our guide to the thank-you email after an interview and tips on how to end an email professionally.
Then check in again in a month or two with a short update, such as “I took your advice and enrolled in the billing course.” People like hearing that their advice helped, and it keeps the connection warm.