When you are scouting out a field experience, a volunteer opportunity, an assistantship, or a full-time professional position, it can be tempting to check online job postings boards and submit your generic cover letter and résumé for opportunities that catch your eye. You may get the job, but it may not be the best fit for you because you didn’t do your homework and the job is not what you expected.

This is why career counselors emphasize the need to conduct informational interviews. You need to talk to the people who are working at the organizations you’re interested in  and who are doing the work or job that you think you would like to do. This is a time- and energy-consuming process, but it may be one of the wisest investments you’ll make. You will expand your professional network and more importantly, help increase your confidence that the position you accept is the right one for you.

There are other benefits to conducting informational interviews: As you meet with professionals in your field of interest, you may get more clarity about your career goal; you may discover employment opportunities that weren’t advertised; you will build confidence for going to actual job interviews; you have an ear to the latest development in your field; and you identify your own professional strengths and weaknesses.

Here are five simple steps for effectively conducting informational interviews:

1) Prepare your introduction. Script out how you want to introduce yourself, because you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Be concise and articulate and provide your listener with a few salient points about your skills and identify what you hope to get from your meeting. Your introduction may also serve as your response to the “tell me about yourself” question that you are likely to get in an interview or during networking events. 

2) Identify the organization or person you wish to learn about. There are resources available through the School of Public Health that can help you with this. One is to connect with our applied practice coordinator who can give you ideas about places and people to contact. Another great resource is our SPH alumni group that can connect you with alumni to interview.

3) Schedule the interview. Send an email or call, using your prepared introduction, and indicate that you are requesting a brief meeting to learn more about the person’s job and/or place of work. Make it as convenient for the other person as possible — remember that they are doing you a favor! Once the interview is scheduled, prepare the questions* you would like to ask.

4) Conduct the interview. Dress appropriately, arrive on time, and be polite and professional. Repeat your introduction if needed. Refer to your list of prepared questions; stay on track, but allow for spontaneous discussion. Before leaving, ask your contact to suggest the names of others who might be helpful to you and ask permission to use your contact’s name when contacting these new contacts.

5) Follow up. Immediately following the interview, record the information gathered. Be sure to send a thank you note to your contact within a day or two.

One note of caution regarding informational interviewing. While on occasion, informational interviews may lead to a job offer, do NOT use the informational interview to ask for a job. Keep in mind that your goal is to simply research different kinds of positions and organizations. If the person you are meeting requests your résumé or tells you about a position opening, that is a bonus, but do not expect it.

No matter what kind of position you are seeking, the importance of making personal connections cannot be overstated. The time and energy you invest in meeting professionals in your field will help you find a field experience, volunteer work, or a professional position that matches your interests and career goals, and ultimately be the piece of the puzzle that makes you successful.

*See a list of suggested informational interview questions (PDF).