An informational interview is a short, focused conversation with a professional in a field or role you want to understand—and the most effective way to run one is a repeatable three-phase process: strategic preparation, a well-directed conversation, and deliberate follow-up. University career centers at Berkeley, Yale, and Texas State, along with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, converge on the same underlying structure, even when they present it as scattered tips. This guide assembles that structure into a single workflow you can execute from first outreach to long-term relationship.
The payoff is concrete. Berkeley's Career Engagement office describes informational interviewing as a way to get firsthand information about the realities of a position, field, or industry; discover career paths you didn't know existed; and initiate professional relationships with people who may share job leads later. One caveat applies throughout: this is career exploration and networking, not job interviewing. Texas State's career services guide is explicit that you should not confuse the two.
Phase 1: Strategic Preparation for Your Informational Interview
Preparation begins with self-assessment, not outreach. Texas State's career guide recommends evaluating your interests, values, personality traits, and skills before anything else, on the reasoning that the more you know about yourself, the more likely you are to pursue career choices you find enjoyable and rewarding. A career counselor can assist with this step if you're unsure where to start.
Next, research. Berkeley's Career Engagement office lists researching career fields, industries, and organizations as the first of its six steps, using online resources to learn about the field before you approach anyone in it. This matters for two reasons: it keeps your eventual questions specific rather than generic, and it signals to your contact that you respect their expertise.
Then identify contacts. The San Diego Workforce Partnership advises requesting interviews with people who hold the jobs you aspire to, especially if their professional, educational, or personal background resembles yours—shared background makes their answers more transferable to your situation. LinkedIn is their recommended starting point because the platform lets you search by background, and the more shared connections and characteristics you have with a person, the more likely they are to respond. They also suggest following up with someone shortly after you first meet them, since a fresh connection is a natural opening.
