Informational Interviews: Learn and Network Through Conversations
Informational interviews are one of the most effective networking tools available. They allow you to learn about a career, industry, or company while building a professional relationship with someone who has relevant experience. Unlike job interviews, informational interviews have no immediate stakes. You are there to learn, not to ask for a job.
The informational interview format creates a low-pressure environment for both parties. The person you are speaking with gets to share their expertise and help someone. You gain valuable insights and build a connection that may lead to future opportunities.
Preparing for Informational Interviews
Preparation determines the quality of the conversation and the impression you make.
Identifying the Right People
Identify people whose experience aligns with your learning goals. Look for people in roles, industries, or companies you want to learn about. Alumni networks, LinkedIn, professional associations, and personal referrals are all good sources.
When reaching out, be specific about why you are contacting this particular person. I am interested in learning about product management in the healthcare technology space, and your background is exactly what I am hoping to learn from.
Researching the Person and Their Field
Before the conversation, research the person and their field. Review their LinkedIn profile, read articles they have written, and understand their company and role. This preparation allows you to ask informed questions and demonstrates respect for their time.
Good preparation also helps you make a positive impression. People are more willing to help someone who has done their homework.
Preparing Your Questions
Prepare a list of thoughtful questions in advance. Focus on questions that cannot be answered through public research. Ask about their career path, the challenges and opportunities in their field, the skills that are most valuable, and the advice they would give someone starting out.
Avoid questions that are easily answered through Google. Avoid asking for a job directly, which puts the person in an uncomfortable position.
Conducting the Interview
The conversation itself should be professional and respectful.
Setting the Tone
Start by expressing gratitude for their time. Briefly explain your background and what you hope to learn. Then transition to your questions. Keep the conversation focused and respectful of their time.
The tone should be professional but conversational. You are having a conversation, not conducting an interrogation. Follow their lead on formality.
Active Listening
Listen more than you speak. Your goal is to learn from their experience. Ask follow-up questions based on what they share. Show genuine interest in their perspective.
Active listening in informational interviews means being fully present. Do not think about your next question while they are speaking. Listen, then formulate your response based on what you heard.
Asking for Advice
People enjoy giving advice. Asking for advice is more effective than asking for information. What advice would you give someone who wants to follow a similar path? What do you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Advice questions engage the person’s experience and wisdom. They also create a sense of investment in your success.
Following Up
The follow-up is where the relationship is solidified.
Thank You Note
Send a thank you note within twenty-four hours. Express appreciation for their time and mention something specific you learned from the conversation. A specific reference shows that you were truly listening.
A handwritten note can be memorable, but email is more practical and faster. The key is sending it promptly.
Staying Connected
Follow through on any advice you received and let them know about your progress. Connect on LinkedIn. Share articles that may interest them. The goal is to build an ongoing professional relationship, not just a one-time conversation.
Periodic check-ins every few months maintain the connection without being burdensome.
FAQ
How do I ask for an informational interview? Send a brief, respectful email or LinkedIn message. Introduce yourself briefly. Explain why you are reaching out to this specific person. Be clear that you are not asking for a job. Suggest a specific time frame. Keep the request concise.
How long should an informational interview last? Twenty to thirty minutes is standard. Respect the person’s time by ending promptly. If the conversation is going well and they seem engaged, they may extend it. Let them set the pace.
What if the person says no? Thank them for their response and move on. Many people are happy to help, but not everyone has time. Do not take rejection personally. Try someone else.
Is it okay to ask for an informational interview if I am not job searching? Yes. Informational interviews are valuable at any career stage. They help you learn, build relationships, and stay connected to your industry. You do not need to be job searching to benefit from informational interviews.
For a comprehensive overview, read our article on Alumni Networking.
For a comprehensive overview, read our article on Building Relationships.
Related Concepts and Further Reading
Understanding informational interviews requires familiarity with several interconnected ideas and principles that together form a complete picture. Exploring these related concepts deepens your knowledge and provides context that makes the core material more meaningful and applicable. Each concept builds on the others, creating a web of understanding that supports deeper learning and practical application. Taking time to explore how these elements connect reveals patterns that accelerate comprehension and retention of new information.
The relationship between informational interviews and adjacent fields is worth particular attention. Many of the most important insights emerge at the boundaries between disciplines, where ideas from different areas combine to create new approaches and solutions that neither field could produce alone. Exploring these connections pays dividends in both breadth and depth of understanding, revealing patterns and principles that might otherwise remain hidden from view. Cross-disciplinary knowledge is increasingly valued as problems become more complex and interconnected.
For those looking to go beyond introductory material, several excellent resources provide deeper treatment of specific aspects of informational interviews. Academic journals, industry publications, authoritative reference works, and online courses each offer different perspectives and levels of detail. The key is to match your reading to your current learning goals and build knowledge progressively, focusing on quality over quantity in your study materials. A well-chosen resource that matches your current level is worth more than dozens of resources that are too basic or too advanced.
Practical Applications
The concepts discussed in this article have numerous practical applications across different contexts. Whether you are applying this knowledge professionally or personally, understanding how to translate theory into practice is essential for achieving meaningful results. The most successful practitioners actively seek opportunities to apply what they have learned, recognizing that knowledge without application remains merely abstract information rather than usable skill.
Start with small, manageable applications that build confidence and refine your understanding before tackling more complex challenges. Each application provides feedback that deepens your grasp of the underlying principles and reveals nuances that theoretical study alone cannot provide. This iterative cycle of learning and application accelerates skill development far more effectively than passive study or memorization alone can achieve.
Real-world application also reveals which aspects of informational interviews are most relevant to your specific goals. Not all knowledge is equally useful in every context, and practical experience helps you prioritize what to focus on. As you gain experience, you will develop intuition about which approaches work best in different situations — a hallmark of genuine expertise in any field. Documenting your experiences and reflecting on outcomes accelerates this learning process.
Common Questions
Many people have similar questions when they first encounter informational interviews. Addressing these questions early helps build a solid foundation and prevents common misunderstandings that can slow progress. Having clear answers before diving deeper makes the learning process more efficient and enjoyable, reducing frustration and building confidence as you move forward.
One common question concerns the time required to develop competence in informational interviews. While the answer varies based on individual circumstances, research and experience both point to consistent practice as the single most important factor determining success. Regular engagement with the material, even in small doses of twenty to thirty minutes per day, produces better results than sporadic intensive sessions spread weeks apart.
Another frequent question is about prerequisites needed to study informational interviews effectively. While some background knowledge is helpful in providing context and accelerating initial progress, most people find they can start learning with minimal preparation. The key is to begin with fundamentals and build upward systematically, rather than waiting until you feel fully ready — readiness comes through action, not preparation alone.
Getting Started
Taking the first steps in informational interviews can feel daunting, but the key is to begin with clear objectives and realistic expectations. Start by identifying what you hope to achieve and what specific aspects of informational interviews are most relevant to your personal or professional goals. This focused approach prevents overwhelm and ensures your efforts are directed toward what matters most for your particular situation.
Create a simple plan that breaks your learning into manageable phases, each with a clear objective and a way to measure progress. Celebrate small wins along the way and adjust your approach based on what you learn from each phase. The journey of mastering informational interviews is as valuable as the destination, bringing insights and capabilities that extend far beyond the subject itself.
Remember that everyone progresses at their own pace when learning informational interviews. Avoid comparing your progress to others and focus instead on your own improvement over time. The most important factor is simply to start and maintain momentum — each small step builds on the previous one, and before long you will look back and realize how far you have come.