Beatrice Gauthier
Want to know more about a certain industry? An informational interview is the way to go — at least it was for me. So, what is it exactly? It is a casual conversation with someone working in an area you’re interested in. The purpose is to learn things you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
However, the thought of interviewing someone and figuring out how to get started can be daunting. In this guide you’ll learn the following:
– How to find and contact your interviewee
– How to prepare for your interview
– How to conduct your interview
– What to do after you’ve completed your interview
How Do You Contact Your Interviewee?
As a Penn State student, you have over 500,000 alumni to connect with on LinkedIn.
First, find the Penn State page and use the “Alumni” tab to search by your career interest or job title. Alumni in that keyword will populate. Look through and pick a few to connect with (some may not respond).
Second, connect and add a note with your request. It is important to relate with them on some aspect (hobbies, volunteering, etc.) and ask if they’d be willing to share their experience. Remember you’re only given 300 characters, so keep it short & sweet.
Here’s an example:
“Hi Mrs. Williams, I am a PSU student interested in film/tv marketing, and I see you are Penn State graduate working at Warner Bros. I would love to connect and hear about your Penn State journey and your career. Would you be open to an Informational Interview?”
You can also find an interviewee through a company you’d like to work at. Look under the “People” tab and follow the same process.
Lastly, be prepared to respond with your availability for the next 2-3 weeks noting your time zone (you may live in different time zones). Keep in mind, most professionals have about 15-30 minutes of spare time. Note the form of communication (teams, phone, etc.).
How Should You Prepare?
Create a list of questions, ranging from how they got their position to what their day-to-day looks like and more. Rank the top five questions you’re interested in most and the rest can follow (in case you have time for additional questions). The number of questions is dependent on the amount of time you have scheduled for the interview.
15 minutes: 1-2 questions
30 minutes: 3-5 questions
Next, have a quiet and clean space ready for you interview. Whether you are on video or phone you want to be able to hear the interviewee and vice versa. Consider booking a study room at the library or interview room at the Bank of America Career Services Center. Bring a sign that says, “Interview in process”, so others know not to enter and don’t interrupt your session.
How Do You Conduct Your Interview?
This is casual so no need to wear professional attire — but when in doubt, take the professional route.
Get to your space and log in to your call early. Make sure everything works properly and you know how to use the system. Have a pen and paper handy.
You should start with an introduction, talk about yourself (year, major, what you want to do in life, etc.) and connect that to what you would like to learn from the interviewee.
Then ask about the interviewee and go into questions; this is the time where you will write down their responses (for your reference). Stay engaged but let them do most of the talking.
After your questions, make sure to thank them, ask if you can contact them in the future, and wish them well (a good week, holiday, etc.).
What Should You Do After?
Highlight the information you found most valuable and within 1-7 days send them a thank you note. Also, send along anything they may have asked you to send to them.
Final Thoughts
This process may seem like a lot but the information you receive could help guide your career path. You gain insight from working professionals and a connection you could use in the future. It is one step to ensure your future success. Good luck!
Happy Valley Comm 