NYU Silver
Informational Meeting
Guide
What is an Informational Meeting?
Informational meetings are brief and informal, but extremely valuable conversations with someone working in an area of interest to you. This can be with alum, a faculty member, a professional in the field, or even a peer. The objective of informational meetings are not to ask for a job, but rather focused on gaining information and insights on a particular setting or organization, as well as advice on how to break into your area of interest.
How can I start?
Choose who you would like to do an informational meeting with:
Note: Do not be afraid to reach out for an informational meeting, even if you have never met the person before. Requesting informational meetings is a common and expected practice, especially on LinkedIn and in graduate school. If you don’t receive a response, don’t be afraid to follow up!
Alums
Utilize the LinkedIn Alumni tool to find an alum who is working in an organization or agency that is of interest to you.
Faculty Member
Connect with a faculty member you currently are taking a course with or have previously had a course with.
Read Silver faculty bios and see whose background is of interest to you.
Professional in the field
Visit the websites of organizations/agencies you are interested in and view their staff pages to choose someone you would like to connect with.
Utilize LinkedIn’s search tool and search organizations/agencies of interest to you and reach out to people who are currently working there.
Connect with someone from the New York City Social Workers Facebook group.
Peer
Connect with a peer who is currently in a field internship that is of interest to you.
Connect with a peer from a Silver student group that you would like to learn more about.
Utilize our NYU Silver CPD Connections Builder Template to organize information as you build connections. Go to 'File' and click 'Make a Copy' to edit your own spreadsheet.
Send a message to connect with whomever you have chosen:
Subject Line: Informational Meeting Request
Body:
Hi [THEIR NAME],
I hope this message finds you well. My name is [NAME], and I’m a current MSW student at NYU Silver School of Social Work with interests in [YOUR INTERESTS]. I’m reaching out because I see you have a background in [THEIR BACKGROUND] and I was hoping to learn more about [XYZ]. If available sometime in the next couple of weeks, would you be willing to meet with me for 20 minutes to share your experiences and insights in the field?
Please let me know if you would be available and I’d be happy to coordinate further details. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to your response.
All the best,
[YOUR NAME]
[EMAIL]
[PHONE]
[LINKEDIN]
Conduct the informational meeting.
Do’s
Research the person, their background, and the organization they work for to have an informed conversation.
Have a goal in mind for your conversation and be prepared with 3-4 questions that will meet that goal.
Be on time and be respectful of their time by keeping it brief.
Although informational meetings are more informal in tone, do take the meeting seriously and make a good impression — you never know if the person you’re speaking with could be the person who refers or recommends you for your next job opportunity.
Don’ts
Avoid outright asking for a job — remember that this is not the purpose of an informational meeting.
Don’t make it all about you and your needs — remember to be a good listener and that the focus is to gain insights and information.
Try not to be too casual; remember to be respectful and show up how you want to be remembered.
Don’t rely on the person you’re meeting to assume what you want, lead the conversation, or give you all the answers you’re seeking — be prepared with questions, be specific with asks (“Would you mind introducing me to the person you mentioned?”), and follow up by researching the people and topics discussed during your conversation.
Sample questions to ask:
What is a typical day at your job like? What is the breakdown of how you spend your time? Is your use of time consistent or are some times busier than others?
How did you become interested in this field?
How did you get your first job in this field?
What suggestions do you have for someone looking to break into this area?
What is your favorite part of your job/organization? What is your least favorite part?
What are some trends and challenges within the profession someone looking to enter this field should be aware of?
How does a person progress in your field? What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
What are the skills that are most important for a career in this field?
What do you think is unique about this organization as opposed to others in the field?
What are some particular challenges to this organization?
What are some important skills that you think employers look for when hiring in this field?
Did you attend graduate school before entering this career? If so, how do you feel the skills you gained in graduate school have helped to prepare you?
Based on my research, it seems like the typical salary range for this role is $X-$Y. Is that consistent with what you see in this field?
Are there other people in this field/profession/organization you think might be helpful for me to speak with?
4. Send a thank you email to your connection within 24 hours.
Subject Line: Thank You
Body:
Hi [NAME],
Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me yesterday about the field of [XYZ] and your experience working at [THEIR ORGANIZATION]. I really appreciate your guidance about [XYZ] and plan to [XYZ] as you recommended. I will keep you updated on my journey and please don’t hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do to support yours. Thank you again for your time and looking forward to staying connected.
All the best,
[YOUR NAME]
