9/20/2022
Informational interviews are not as spoken about or utilized as they should be. For example, have you ever heard of the term “the world is your oyster?” It means to make the world your own, but why oysters? The proverb initially came from a Shakespeare play. You can look at the meaning from different angles. In terms of the oyster, it may mean you grab an oyster, and if you’re lucky, you can get a pearl out of it. Therefore, the entire phrase might mean we, as humans, are blessed with natural resources.
An informational interview aims to gather information about a job/career we might be interested in and, thus, help us decide on a career path. It is not as much pressure as a job interview, and it is more information than you would get from Google, YouTube, Bing, etc. So in terms of “the world is your oyster,” – we’d say, why not take advantage of the resources out there and learn more about a topic? Who knows, you might get lucky and find your pearl (e.g., potentially give you a future position or build a stronger network).
Where do you start?
The best part about an informational interview is that it is intended to be a relaxing conversation. You’re just trying to gather more information about a possible career path – gain firsthand knowledge of a field or company. So why not start with just that? First, list career choices you might be interested in - caregiver, mechanic, nanny, dishwasher, etc.
Next, do a basic internet search and learn more about the position. Again, the information you can gather from a professional in that field will be much more valuable. Finally, take what you learned from the search, and write down any questions you may have that you didn’t get answers to from the internet search or want to know more about what you did find.
Prepare! Search some companies within that position, and make a spreadsheet or a list of the person to contact, their job title, company, phone number, etc. Then, do more research through the company website. Contact them. Tell them you’re looking to gain more information about the position and would like to speak to so and so. You want to keep the informational interview short - less than 30 minutes - people are busy. Keep in mind that you don’t want it to be a Q & A where it’s boom boom boom done, but your contact will expect questions prepared to drive the conversation.
Tips:
You can mutually agree to be in person, via phone, email, etc., and make an appointment. Wear appropriate attire if in person. Arrive a bit early if you’re meeting in person. Send a thank you email for their time after the meeting. Begin the discussion by thanking them for their time. Remember, you’re there to gain information, to collect that pearl, not to sell yourself. Hopefully, by the end of your informational interview, it’ll take you one step closer to helping with your career decision. Good luck!