Informational Interviews
Q: What's an informational interview?
A: A brief meeting on Zoom or in person, or a short phone call with a person in a field or job that interests you. It's not an ask for a job. It's not a place to sell anything. It's simply a chance to learn more about a field, an industry, or a person's particular role.
Here are some tips for an effective Informational interview:
Research the person's LinkedIn and company website. Take time to read about the company beyond just a cursory glance. Be curious.
When you contact the person after being introduced, keep it simple. One of my clients did such a terrific job with her "hello" message, that I've broken down below what she did:
Hello, (name of person), Thank you so much for the introduction, (name of person introducing you), and thank you (name of new contact) for your willingness to speak with me! (Say something about your situation) I recently moved to (name of city or area) and am working as an xyz in the xyz field. I have been eager to connect with (professionals doing xyz work) to learn more about their experience. My schedule is (info about your availability). If there is a time that works well for you to talk, please let me know.
Then, prepare for the meeting.
Come up with 1 or 2 sentences about yourself and what you are hoping to learn. This isn't so you read from a script but so you have gathered your thoughts about why you are meeting with this person.
Come up with at least one good question you could ask. It might be what is the greatest challenge they see ahead in their sector. Be genuinely interested. If you have to feign interest, you shouldn't be doing this informational interview.
Ask for other referrals at the end. "I am particularly interested in talking with other folks in xyz fields. Is there anyone you recommend I follow on social media or LI or connect with directly?" might be a way to ask this.
And, finally, offer anything you have. If you're connected to someone they might like to know, offer to be a connection to that person. Be willing to be as generous with your time as they are with theirs.
Keep it short — 20 minutes maximum. We're all busy.
Thank them, thank them, thank them. Do this by email, text, or whatever means you're comfortable with. Always connect on LinkedIn with them afterwards. "Thanks again for speaking with me; I'd love to be connected here, too" is a fine message to send to make this connection.
Don't overthink this, but do take it seriously.
