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PURPOSE:
Informational interviewing is a lifelong skill which when used properly can have several purposes, including:
• To explore career interests and clarify your career goals
• To build self-confidence in a low stress interviewing situation
• To gain insight into potential employers/organizations
• To expand your network and establish professional contacts
• To learn what skills and educational levels may be needed to acquire a position
• To get advice on how to enter a particular field
• To affirm or reject your career choice
By completing an informational interview you can see what a career is like from someone actually doing the job. Informational Interviewing is networking at its best!
HOW TO SET UP AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
It is your responsibility to either phone or email the person whom you are interested in interviewing. The ideal person to interview is someone who is already doing what it is you would like to do. When you phone the contact, introduce yourself and explain the purpose of your call:
“Hi, thanks for taking my call. My name is Anita Interview and I am a sophomore at Queens University of Charlotte majoring in History. I would like to learn more about museum curators and I am very interested in scheduling an informational interview with you as part of a class assignment. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
If this is an appropriate time…
• Schedule the date and time for your visit
• Give the interviewee your contact information (in case they need to cancel/reschedule)
• Obtain directions and parking information
• Reconfirm the details of the appointment and thank the contact for his/her time.
People generally love to talk about themselves. Do not assume that you are bothering someone or that they are uninterested in meeting you. However, ask for approximately 20-30 minutes of your prospective interviewee’s time and do not go over the limit.
CONDUCTING THE INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
Before the interview: Research the organization. Write down a list of questions that you wish to ask (review sample questions). REMEMBER YOU ARE THE INTERVIEWER – Come prepared! Call to confirm your appointment.
During the interview: Dress professionally. Be prepared to take notes. You may want to ask if it is okay for you to record the interview on a tape recorder. Greet your interviewee with a handshake and a smile. Ask if you can stay in contact and for a business card.
After the interview:
Send a thank you note right away! Evaluate your interview style before you conduct your next interview. Evaluate the information you received.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
• What is your job like?
- A typical day?
- What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?
- What kinds of problems do you deal with?
- What kinds of decisions do you make?
- What percentage of your time is spent doing what?
- How does the time use vary? Are there busy and slow times or is the work activity fairly constant?
• How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
• How did you get your job? What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
• Can you suggest some ways a student could obtain this necessary experience?
• What are the most important personal satisfactions and dissatisfactions connected with your occupation? What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging? What do you like and not like about working in this industry?
• What things did you do before you entered this occupation?
- Which have been most helpful?
- What other jobs can you get with the same background?
• What are the various jobs in this field or organization?
• Why did you decide to work for this company?
• What do you like most about this company?
• Do you find your job exciting or boring? Why?
• How does your company differ from its competitors?
• Why do customers choose this company?
• Are you optimistic about the company’s future and your future with the company?
• What does the company do to contribute to its employees’ professional development?
• How does the company make use of technology for internal communication and outside marketing? (Use of e-mail, Internet, intranets, World Wide Web page, video conferencing, etc.)
• What sorts of changes are occurring in your occupation?
• How does a person progress in your field? What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
- What is the best way to enter this occupation?
- What are the advancement opportunities?
- What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?
• What were the keys to your career advancement? How did you get where you are and what are your long-range goals?
• What are the skills that are most important for a position in this field?
• What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job? How did you learn these skills? Did you enter this position through a formal training program? How can I evaluate whether or not I have the necessary skills for a position such as yours?
• How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work?
• Is there a basic philosophy of the company or organization and, if so, what is it? (Is it a people, service or product oriented business?)
• What can you tell me about the corporate culture?
• What is the average length of time for an employee to stay in the job you hold? Are there incentives or disincentives for staying in the same job?
• Is there flexibility related to dress, work hours, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?
• What work-related values are strongest in this type of work (security, high income, variety, independence)?
• If your job progresses as you like, what would be the next step in your career?
• If your work were suddenly eliminated, what kinds of work do you feel prepared to do?
• With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before I make a final decision?
• How is the economy affecting this industry?
• What can you tell me about the employment outlook in your occupational field? How much demand is there for people in this occupation? How rapidly is the field growing? Can you estimate future job openings?
• What obligations does your employer place have on you outside of the ordinary work week? What social obligations go along with a job in your occupation?
- Are there organizations you are expected to join?
- Are there other things you are expected to do outside work hours?
• How has your job affected your lifestyle?
• What is the salary range for various levels in this field? Is there a salary ceiling?
• What are the major rewards aside from extrinsic rewards such as money, fringe benefits, travel, etc.?
• From your perspective, what are the problems you see working in this field?
• What are the major frustrations of this job?
• What interests you least about the job or creates the most stress?
• If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?
• What are the educational, requirements for this job? What other types of credentials or licenses are required? What types of training do companies offer persons entering this field? Is graduate school recommended? An MBA? Does the company encourage and pay for employees to pursue graduate degrees?
• Does your work relate to any experiences or studies you had in college?
• How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
• What courses have proved to be the most valuable to you in your work? What would you recommend for me?
• How important are grades/GPA for obtaining a job in this field?
• How do you think my university’s reputation is viewed when it comes to hiring?
• How do you think graduation from a private (or public) university is viewed when it comes to hiring?
• How did you prepare for this work? If you were entering this career today, would you change your preparation in any way to facilitate entry?
• What abilities or personal qualities do you believe contribute most to success in this field/job?
• What are the typical entry-level job titles and functions? What entry level jobs are best for learning as much as possible?
• Who is the department head or supervisor for this job? Where do you and your supervisor fit into the organizational structure?
• Who else do you know who is doing similar kinds of work or uses similar skills? What other kinds of organizations hire people to perform the functions you do here? Do you know of other people whom I might talk to who have similar jobs?
• Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job? Are there any written materials you suggest I read? Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
• What kinds of experience, paid or unpaid, would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field?
• What special advice do you have for a student seeking to qualify for this position?
• Do you have any special world of warning or encouragement as a result of your experience?
• These are my strongest assets (skills, areas of knowledge, personality traits and values):___________________________________. Where would they fit in this field? Where would they be helpful in this organization? Where might they fit in other fields? Where might they be helpful in other organizations?
• How would you assess the experience I’ve had so far in terms of entering this field?
• [If you feel comfortable and it seems appropriate:] Would you mind taking a look at my resume?
• Include the individual’s name, position and several paragraphs describing the job. The job description should include day to day activities as well as any special projects someone in this role might take on.
• Include the individuals education and previous work experience, why you selected them, how and why they became involved in this career; did they major in this area or just “fall into it”?
• Skills, personal qualities or experiences employers look for when hiring in this field.
• Working conditions; hours worked per week, etc.
• Describe the culture of the organization—what did you observe and how do you feel about what you observed?
• Describe in several paragraphs the way the interview experience affected your knowledge about careers in general and careers in this field specifically.
• What new insights, information or ideas did you gain?
• Did the interview increase or decrease your interest in the field?
• Does this job match your skills, interests, values, personality and skills?
• Is the work environment one that comfortable for you? Why? Why not?
• Can you picture yourself doing this job and/or working in this type of environment? Why? Why not?
• This report should be typed and a minimum of 3 pages; it should address all the content listed above.
• Report should be carefully developed (organized) with logically related ideas in coherent, sequential paragraphs.
• Report should include careful reflection on the knowledge you gained from your interview.
• Introduction: Is it interesting and will it grab the reader’s attention?
• Organization: Sequential paragraphs with smooth transitions
• Content: Information is complete and includes your reflections
• Writing: Do you use workplace communication and is your writing succinct?
• Spelling and grammar mechanics are correct
• Conclusion: Does it summarize your key thoughts and reflections.
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• Individual’s name, position and description of the job (what it involves).
• Background about the person, why you selected them, how and why they became involved in this career; did they major in this area or just “fall into it”;
• Skills, personal qualities or experiences employers look for when hiring in this field; working conditions; hours worked per week, etc.
• Describe the organizational culture (dress code, how people treat each other, the office environment—physically as well as the “look and feel”). What are satisfying and stressful aspects of this type of work?
• What is a typical day like?
• What is the entry-level salary range in this field? (O*NET or the on-line Occupational Outlook Handbook will provide this information)
• What advice did you receive about going into this profession or line of work? What is the employment outlook in this field?
• Can you picture yourself in this type of job? Why? Why not?
• What did you learn from this interview?
• This report should be prepared and presented on PowerPoint.
• Presentation should be 5-7minutes in length.
• Practice in advance so you do not go under or exceed the time limit and so your delivery flows smoothly.
• You should wear presentation/interview attire (no flip flops, excess skin, ball caps or athletic attire).
• Introduction: Did it grab attention and establish a focus?
• Organization: Was your message clear to your audience and did you observe the time restraints?
• Delivery: Were your verbals and nonverbals clear and appropriate? Did you avoid vocal fillers (Uh, um, you know, like)?
• PowerPoint: Was your visual support easy to read and did it reinforce the message?
• Conclusion: Was it effective in summarizing your presentation?
• Feel free to view the Informational Interview Presentation rubric online for more specific evaluation information.
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