Information Interviews

What is information interviewing?

It is a face to face or phone interview to gather information from a professional working in your area of interest.
The informational interview is NOT a job interview or an interview to ask someone for a job.

Purpose:

• helps with your career research by getting a 'reality' check of the career you are researching
• learn if the career suits you
• learn trends or recent developments in the field or industry
• receive tips and advice on the career you are researching
• learn strategies to achieve your career goal
• expand your network

How to start an information interview?

Tip:

Research the career(s) that interests you. Browse through websites such as Career Cruising and O*NET and find some careers of interest.

Find people who are working in the field:

• Ask friends, family, professors, classmates if they know anyone working in the career you are researching
• Use professional associations and company directories in your career resource library
• Visit your career centre and use the Networking binder
• Job shadowing through the Extern program

Make Contact:
Send an email introduction, or call the person directly

• Prepare an introduction script and practice it before you call
• Tell the person where you got their name
• Always thank the person at the end of the call for their time, for agreeing to meet, for a referral and/or for taking time to talk to you

If the person cannot meet with you: Thank them for their time and ask if they can suggest anyone else you could contact.

Be prepared to ask questions then and there in case they have time to do an informational interview over the phone.

During the interview:

• Dress as though you were going to a job interview
• Be on time
• Be thankful and professional with everyone you meet
• Be prepared with specific questions
• Ask questions that you would not be able to answer by doing research online or in your career centre
• Bring your resume but only give it if it is requested

Sample questions to ask:

• Describe a typical day on the job. Is this typical day standard across the industry?
• What are your major responsibilities?
• How are you evaluated in your responsibilities?
• What was your educational background and career path that led to this position?
• What do you find the most/least rewarding about your work?
• What skills/qualities do I need to be successful?
• Are there any significant upcoming changes that you can foresee in this industry/field?
• Are there professional associations to which you belong or professional journals you subscribe to?
• Are there any courses/volunteer positions/internships/jobs you would recommend in preparation for this position?
• What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?
• What is a typical career path for someone in this field?
• What is the average starting salary for someone entering this career field?
• Can you recommend anyone else that I might speak to for more information on this career?

If the person cannot meet with you: Thank them for their time and ask if they can suggest anyone else you could contact.

Be prepared to ask questions then and there in case they have time to do an informational interview over the phone

After the interview:

Thank the person for his/her time.
Send a thank you note within the next day or two, or send a thank you letter by email.

Analyze the information you received:

• Is it similar to what you have already learned?
• Do you see broad trends or patterns emerging?
• Is there any other information you might be missing?

Making Decisions & Setting Goals

Many factors influence decisions. Family, friends and your support network can impact your career decision making process. The amount of information you have regarding careers also impacts how you decide. You might feel as though you have very limited options or too many options. These factors also influence your decision.

When deciding on a career path, the goal is to choose an option that suits you well in terms of your values, interests, skills and desired lifestyle. There is no perfect choice--only choices that are better suited to you than others. You may find yourself in various stages of the decision making process:

Get to know yourself:

What are your strengths, your interests, the skills you enjoy using and your career values? What lifestyle do you envision for yourself? What are your priorities? Self-exploration is the first step in deciding on suitable options. Consider taking an online self assessment, the MBTI or the Strong Interest Inventory. Attend a 'Discover your Skills & Career Options' workshop.

List options:

Make a list of alternatives and options. What are some options you'd like to explore further? Which options require you to do more research?

Gather information:

To make an informed decision you will need to gather information about your options.

• Research labour market information to know the trends of the career
• Education/training required to get into this career
• Use Career Cruising or searching the internet to research career info and education requirements
• Speak with professionals in the fields you are considering by doing informational interviews. This can help you gain an insider's view but remember that what works for one person may not always work well for you

Gain experience:

• Volunteer or job shadow to get a taste of the field and to gain experience and 'test' out the career
• Get a part-time job, summer job or internship related to your options
• Take courses in the field of interest

Evaluate your research:

Do you have enough information? Is it accurate? Can you see any patterns and trends?

Narrow down the options:

Consider the outcomes and relate the options to your values and interests.

Try the following exercises:

• Visualize yourself in each of the options. Find a quiet place, close your eyes, and imagine yourself exercising each particular career. Monitor you body's reaction and your feelings. How does it feel to imagine yourself in this career? Is it in tune with your vision for your life?
• Make a list of pros and cons for each option. Do these options relate to your values and priorities?
• Speak with a career counsellor to clarify your values, priorities and narrow your options
• Grade your options. How likely is each option to satisfy your values and priorities? How likely is it for you to pursue the goal given your geographic location, desire to pursue further training, labour market info etc.?

Decide:

What are your career goals for the next 5 years? The next 10 years?

Set goals:

Choosing a career path is about setting a goal for yourself.

Goals are most helpful when they are broken into smaller, easier, more manageable steps and when you have short term, medium term and long term goals.

Writing down goals can be powerful and motivating and helps keep you organized. What do you need in order to achieve your goal?

In your action plan, include the first, preliminary steps that are manageable and achievable. Each small step will lead to the bigger step (Example, researching volunteer opportunities or calling schools to ask about volunteer opportunities is the first step to becoming a volunteer at a school).