Houghton College

Career Services

CONDUCTING AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

What is it like to work as an accountant?

What do youth directors do with their time each day? 

As a recreation therapist, what do you find to be the toughest parts of the job? 

How did you prepare yourself to be a journalist? 

What types of employers hire people in your line of work?

 One of the best ways to learn about a particular area of work is to talk with people who are already doing that type of work.  We call that process INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING.  The purpose of this interview is to find out what it is like to perform a certain job in a particular organization.

Benefits of Conducting Informational Interviews

·        You learn about what is currently happening in the field.

·        You get to find out about career paths and job opportunities.

·        You are provided with an introduction to an area of employment which you may not have previously considered.

·         You develop contacts and networks with people who may later be able to assist you in your job search.

Identifying Organizations and People To Interview

·        Who do you know who may be able to connect you with someone in your field of interest?
(family, neighbors, church members, peers, Career Services, Alumni Office, faculty)

·        Identify key people through printed organizational literature
(public relations brochures, annual reports, etc.)

·        Contact the organization’s offices directly and ask for the name of someone to speak with in a specific area.

Arranging An Informational Interview - Three Ways To Make The Contact

·        Write a letter and then follow up with a telephone call.  In the letter indicate your interest in their occupational field, organization, or work area; express your desire to meet with them to talk about their work.  State that you will telephone in a few days to arrange a time that is mutually convenient.  Follow-up.

·        Telephone the person directly.  Introduce yourself and the reason for your call.  Request 20-30 minutes of their time to talk about their work.

·        Have an individual contact of yours who knows the person you are interested in interviewing arrange the appointment for you.  Follow-up to confirm the meeting date/time/location.

Conducting The Interview

Remember, you are collecting information to help you understand the realities of working in a particular field and you are trying to identify where job opportunities might be for you in the future.  Also, try to have a good idea of your own skills, interests, and abilities prior to the interview. This will enable you to judge your own fit in this type of work and also be better equipped to ask how someone with your background might fit in this organization.

Some suggested questions to ask:

·         Before graduating form college, what did you think you would be doing?

·         How did you get in to this type of work?

·         Could you describe your career progression?

·         What credentials, degrees, licenses, etc. Do you need for this work?

·         Are there prior experiences that might be helpful to have?

·         What do you do during an average work day?

·         What do you like most and least about your present position?

·         What skills or talents do you find are essential to be effective on this job?

·         What are some of the problems, issues you confront trying to accomplish your goals?

·         What types of skills do you look for when you hire someone?

·         How do people find out about job openings with your organization?

·         How frequently do people change jobs in this organization?

·         What obligations does your work place upon you, outside the ordinary work eek?

·         How many hours of work do you average each week?

·         What kind of flexibility do you have for dress, vacation, schedule, etc.?

·         What kinds of people do you deal with in your work?

·         How do you describe yourself as a supervisor?

·         Are there trends or activities in this field that I should be aware of?

·         What types of professional groups do you belong to?

·         Are there professional journals, articles, or books of which I should be aware?

·         Do you have any advice for people interested in this field?

Helpful Hints:

·        Before leaving the interview, ask if the person has names of others you might contact.  Would they be willing to give you a referral?

·        Express your appreciation before leaving the interview for the person’s time and inquire as to whether it would be okay for you to keep in touch with them for additional information or questions.

·        Be sure to send a thank you note to the person you interviewed.

·        Keep good records of your interview; evaluate what you learned.  Organize your new contacts; keep your database current.