Informational Interviews: The Career Tool Most People Never Use

What Makes Informational Interviews Different

Most people think of career networking as attending events, collecting business cards, or cold-applying to job postings. Informational interviews operate differently — and that is exactly what makes them effective.

In a conventional job interview, the employer holds the power. In an informational interview, you hold it. You chose the person. You set the agenda. You ask the questions. That shift in dynamic changes everything about how the conversation feels and what you can learn from it.

Because there is no position on the line, professionals tend to be candid. They will tell you what the job is actually like, what skills are genuinely valued, and what paths have worked or failed — information that rarely appears in a job description. If you are trying to research a career before committing to a training path, a few well-chosen conversations can tell you more than months of online searching.

How to Request One Without Feeling Awkward

The most common reason people skip informational interviews is that asking feels uncomfortable. It helps to reframe the ask: you are not asking for a favor, you are offering someone the chance to share something they have worked hard to understand.

Keep your outreach short and specific. Introduce yourself in one sentence, explain why you are reaching out to them in particular (their career path, a project they worked on, a mutual connection), and make a clear, low-commitment request — 20 minutes, at their convenience, via video or phone. Do not bury the ask in a long paragraph.

A message that says "I am a junior studying environmental science and I admire the work you have done in urban sustainability planning. Would you be open to a 20-minute call? I would love to hear how you got started." is direct, personal, and easy to say yes to.

LinkedIn is a natural starting point, but do not overlook your school's alumni network, professional associations, or even mutual contacts who can make a warm introduction. A warm introduction dramatically improves response rates.

What to Ask When You Get the Meeting

Go in with a focused set of questions — five to seven is plenty. Avoid questions that could be answered with a Google search. The goal is to access their personal experience, judgment, and perspective.

Questions that consistently generate useful answers include:

• How did you get into this role, and what did that path actually look like?
• What does a typical week involve — and how does that compare to what you expected?
• What skills do you see making the biggest difference in people who advance?
• What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
• Are there resources, communities, or experiences you would recommend to someone in my position?

End by asking if there is anyone else they would suggest you speak with. A single informational interview can lead to a chain of connections — each one adding context and nuance to your understanding of the field. Understanding your own skills gap relative to the role you want becomes much easier when a practitioner has described exactly what matters.

Turning One Conversation into Long-Term Value

The follow-up is where most people lose the gains they made. Within 24 hours, send a thank-you note that references something specific from the conversation — not a generic template. This signals that you were genuinely listening and helps them remember you.

Over time, stay on their radar without being intrusive. Share an article relevant to something they mentioned. Congratulate them on a visible professional milestone. If you act on their advice, let them know how it went. These small touches transform a single meeting into a real professional relationship.

It is also worth thinking about the broader picture. Informational interviews give you a clearer sense of which transferable skills are most valued across different roles, which can help you prioritize where to invest your learning time. Many people who use informational interviews regularly find they make far more confident decisions about education, career pivots, and even whether freelancing or full-time work makes sense for them — because they have heard from people who have lived both paths.

The career tool most people never use is also one of the most accessible ones available. No application required. No experience threshold. Just a direct, respectful ask — and genuine curiosity.