Interviewing For Information

Interviewing for information is a wonderful way to learn more about an occupation that you are considering. Whether you are deciding on a major in college, planning to make a career change, or looking for volunteer ideas, I encourage you to do some research, including informational interviews. As I mentioned in last week's blog, I do encourage you to do some reading first so you have at least some basic information about the occupation(s) in which you have interest, but reading alone will not usually provide the same sense about the work that you could get in informational interviews.

When you interview for information, your goal should not be to get a job offer, but to learn more about a particular occupation. In an ideal situation, though, it may allow you to make a connection with a person who might work for a prospective employer or someone you would otherwise like to add to your network of contacts. The purpose of interviewing for information is to do just that, talk to someone who has information that could be useful to you - information about a particular career/occupation, a particular industry, or a particular organization. You may have an opportunity to discuss your transferable skills with someone who is doing the kind of work you would like to do. It can also serve as a test of your interviewing skills, in preparation for a job search.

Of course, you will need to identify people in the line of work in which you are interested. It may help to ask people you know if they know anyone you might wish to interview. Generally, your initial contact is through a letter introducing yourself, explaining what you would like, and indicating when you will follow-up. Some people prepare a script to help them through the follow-up and you want to be sure to prepare your questions before the interview. If at all possible, you would like to meet the person at their place of work and have at least 15 to 30 minutes to talk.

Following the interview, you should send a thank-you note to the individual. If the two of you made a real connection, you may offer to keep in touch and let them know how you are progressing. It is also a good idea to review your performance to determine if there is anything you need to do differently next time.

Look for my next blog entry for some potential questions you may want to ask when you are conducting your interviews for information.


Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person in Cincinnati and on-line. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.

To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.