If you would like personalized assistance, please contact the CDC for an individual appointment, or stop by during drop-in hours Monday through Friday between 2 P.M. and 4 P.M.
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Researching Majors: Informational Interviewing
Introduction
An occupational information interview is an information gathering session used to obtain first-hand impressions of work in a specific field. An occupational information interview is not a job interview, and has a very different focus and feel. You are exploring alternatives rather than marketing yourself. Some of the other differences are:
- You are talking informally with someone, rather than trying to sell yourself.
- You are the interviewer, rather than the interviewee.
- It is generally limited to 20-30 minutes.
There are many benefits to conducting occupational information interviews to explore career options. They provide you with an opportunity to:
- Obtain firsthand information about particular organizations and career fields.
- Gather information tailored to your specific questions.
- Hear an insider's view of the career area and work environment.
- Talk with several people to get a sense of the range of possible environments for an occupation.
- Make contacts which may lead to future job leads, professional networking, and possible mentor relationships.
- Meet people in your field of interest in a low risk, non-threatening situation.
- Practice your interviewing skills.
Finding People to Interview
Setting up interviews with strangers may be uncomfortable the first few times. There are several ways to get more comfortable and feel more prepared. You might rehearse your approach with a friend or someone in the Career Development Center. Staff in the Career Development Center can also explain the Alumni Resource Notebook, which contains information on alumni who have expressed interest in talking with students about their jobs and career fields. If you cannot find an alum working in your interest area, keep in mind that many people in the area are willing to talk with college students and share their experiences. Make clear your status (as a college student), and make explicit the purpose of the interview (to gather information) in your first contact.
When you call to set up the interview, make sure to:
- Give your name and affiliation with Macalester.
- Explain the purpose of your visit - to learn about their field in order to help you explore various career options. Specify the kinds of information you are seeking.
- Ask for a meeting with them in person, so you can see their work environment.
- Remember to be flexible - you might have to work around their busy schedules. Get complete directions to their place of business, and leave your number in case they must reschedule if something comes up. Also be sure to get their name and title so you know who to ask for when you arrive.
Interview Suggestions
Dress professionally and be on time. Read up on the occupation and organization before you go so you can develop some intelligent questions. Prepare a brief (1 or 2 minute) introduction of yourself. The person you are talking with can be more helpful if he or she has some information about you. Include your work-related interests, skills, values, and personal style. Practice your introduction a few times before the first interview. Ask for a business card to obtain accurate name, title, and address information.
Following are some questions you may want to consider using in the informational interview. However, more important than a prepared script is the ability to be flexible and follow through on topics that come up during the interview. Keep your own interests and values in mind when preparing your questions.
- What does the organization do? (You should have a general sense of this from your reading and can focus on specifics.)
- What are your job responsibilities?
- Does this job go by any other titles in other organizations?
- What background is necessary or helpful for this position?
- What are the most important skills for this field?
- What do you do in a typical day?
- What do you like best about this job?
- What are some of your least favorite things about it?
- What personal characteristics are employers looking for in this position?
- What are typical career paths for people in this field?
- What are the best ways to enter this field?
- What is the occupational outlook? (Local? National?)
- Looking back, what would you have done differently regarding your career path?
- How would you characterize the working conditions? (i.e., closely supervised, supportive management, high pressure, independent, etc.)
- What are current trends, changes, or controversies in the field?
- If I work in this field, what are the big mistakes to avoid?
- What is a typical salary range? How does this vary by setting?
- Can you suggest some recent publications that discuss this field? To which associations do people in this field generally belong?
- Can you suggest other people I could talk to? May I use your name as a referral?
- Are there other insights you have that would give me a greater understanding of this occupation?
After the Interview
- Jot down some notes soon after you have left. You may remember the first interview, but if you do several, they will all start melting together and you won't remember who told you what.
- Be sure to send a brief note thanking them for their time and information shared.
- Did they mention publications, books, or articles that would expand your understanding of the field? Did they suggest professional associations? Did they refer you to other people in the field? Follow up on these suggestions while they are still fresh in your mind. The information will aid you in making career decisions.
Many printed resources are available in the Career Development Center to help you prepare for or follow up on information interviews. Career Counselors are also available to assist you. A cautionary note: people's enthusiasm for their job and their field can be high or low at any point in time for a variety of reasons. Don't let one negative information interview dissuade you from considering that field.
Helpful Links
- Danenet.org - A helpful page about informational interviewing
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