Benefits of Informational Interviewing

• Firsthand knowledge about the realities of a particular field / position

• Advice on how to prepare for certain careers

• Networking! Meet people who may help you get a job in the future

TYPES of Informational Interviewing

• Interviews - In Person, Phone, Email, Social Media

• Job Shadows - In person "a day in the life" experience

HOW TO SET UP job shadows

• Job Shadowing is an "excused absence" from school

• Students can set up Job Shadows on their own through their own "network"

• Mr. Maccarini can help set up Job Shadows too!

Six Steps of Informational Interviewing

1. Research Career Fields

   • Conduct initial research on the career field/cluster

   • Know the "basic researchable" information

2. Prepare for the interview

   • Briefly introduce yourself, your future plans / ideas, & your goals for the interview

   • Plan open-ended questions to ask

   • Be prepared! People might say they have time to talk now

   • If you email - include your questions

3. Identify people to interview

   • People love to talk about themselves & what they do

   • Your "network"... People you know, even if they aren't in fields of interest to you, can lead you to people who are...family, friends, friends families, teachers, coaches, former employers, & E.L. alumni

   • LinkedIn ... build your professional network

   • "Google" it ... ex. if you are interested in "information technology" then google "information technology near 01028" then cold call them

4. Initiate contact

   • Contact the person by email, phone, twitter, drop-in, etc.

   • Mention how you found their name

   • Emphasize that you are looking for career information, not a job

   • Ask for a convenient time to talk for 20-30 minutes

   • Be ready to ask questions on the spot if the person says it is a good time for them!

   • Nervous? Write a script! ... "Hello. My name is Jenny Smith, I'm a junior at East Longmeadow High School, and I’m considering getting into the physical therapy field and had some questions. Would you be willing to set up a time to talk about the field of physical therapy so I can ask a few questions and get your advice on how best to prepare to enter the field?"

5. Conduct the informational interview

   • Dress appropriately

   • Arrive 15 minutes minutes early

   • Bring your list of questions to ask & take notes

   • Restate your goals for the meeting

   • Be prepared to direct the interview, but also let the conversation flow naturally, and encourage the interviewee to do most of the talking

   • Respect the person's time

   • Ask the person if you may contact them again in the future with other questions

   • Ask for names of other people to meet so as to gain different perspectives

6. Follow-up

   • Keep records. When you leave, go to the nearest parking lot and write down what you learned, what more you'd like to know, and what your next steps should be. 

   • Send a thank-you note within 1-2 days to express your appreciation for the time and information given. Based on whether the informational interview was relatively informal or more businesslike, this may be a brief handwritten note, an email, or a business letter.

   • Keep in touch with the person, especially if you had a particularly nice interaction; let them know that you followed up on their advice and the outcome. This person could become an important part of your professional network.