The Value of Informational Interviews, Written by GJ Morris

Informational interviews are informal interviews that involve having a conversation with a person working in your field of interest. These types of interviews are useful for learning more about jobs you’re looking to pursue, as well as exploring different career paths within an industry. In this article, I’ll discuss my experience with informational interviews and what I learned, provide an overview of how to conduct your own informational interview, and give tips on reaching out to SNHU alumni who work in your area of interest.

Collage of images: person at desk behind computer meeting with person on other side; two people meeting at desk with sign that reads Career Development

What I Learned During My Informational Interview

In 2019, I conducted my first informational interview. My work-study supervisor suggested that an informational interview could be beneficial after I expressed interest in Human Resources (HR) careers. Soon after, I connected with an SNHU employee working in HR and completed an hour-long informational interview with them.

Overall, my experience with conducting an informational interview was fantastic. I learned a lot about Human Resources jobs, especially those related to recruiting, as that was the employee’s main responsibility. I especially appreciated their honesty when I asked about some of the downsides of their type of position and how they navigate the challenges. Meeting with this individual helped shape my view of HR jobs and determine if I should continue pursuing HR as a potential career.

While I consider this experience to have been an all-around pleasant one, there are a few things I would have done differently. Firstly, I would have prepared more questions about working in higher education. Most of my questions revolved around HR jobs in general, which meant I wasn’t gaining as much insight about how it related to working in a university setting, even though I had a strong interest in doing so. Secondly, I would have better prepared my computer setup. I hosted this interview virtually and depended on the natural lighting from my window; unfortunately, this led to inconsistent lighting on what ended up being a partly cloudy day. Next time I carry out a virtual interview, I will find an indoor space with a more reliable lighting source.

After finishing the interview, I determined that I’m still interested in Human Resources careers, but my personality type and career goals may not be suited for jobs focused on recruiting. Since then, my career research has focused on other aspects of the industry. I’ve also identified that, as mentioned before, I could see myself working at a university as the missions of many higher education institutions align with my interests and values.

How to Conduct Your Own Informational Interview

1. Researching the Industry
One of the most important ways you can prepare for an informational interview is by having a solid understanding of the industry you’re interested in. Even though you may not have any work experience yet, simply having some related background knowledge will allow you to make the best use of your time during the interview by skipping surface-level questions. Ideally, you will use your time to have an in-depth conversation.

2. Finding and Contacting People to Interview
For your first informational interview, it’s best to stick with one interviewee so you don’t find yourself getting overwhelmed during the preparation stage. However, as you gain interviewing experience, you may want to set up meetings with multiple people to explore different career paths and gain a better understanding of the overall industry. You can scout for possible contacts on LinkedIn, through the SNHU Career Center, and within your personal network. Be polite and professional when reaching out to potential candidates, whether it’s over the phone or through email. You may not always receive a response, but when you do, make it clear that you value the time they are taking from their busy schedule to meet with you and want to conduct the interview at a time that works well for them.

Woman sitting at a computer in an office3. Preparing for the Interview
Once you’ve found someone willing to participate and set up a meeting, it’s time to prepare! If you are meeting virtually (recommended), have everything set up before you join the call. Adjust your lighting, test your camera and mic, and make sure your background is distraction-free. If you’re meeting in a public space, consider the noise level and other aspects like traffic or parking.

Regardless of where and how you meet, you’ll want to dress appropriately with business casual attire – leave the sweatshirt in your dorm. Additionally, you should prepare by bringing a notebook to take detailed notes, as well as creating a list of questions you want to ask. Make sure you’ve prepared enough talking points for your allotted meeting time. Some examples you may want to include are:

  • How did you get into this line of work?
  • Did you go to college before starting this job? What did you earn a degree in?
  • What do your day-to-day tasks look like?
  • What do you enjoy/what are some challenges you face in this position?
  • Questions related to the industry, including how it is changing, personality types that tend to do well, etc.

4. Conducting the Interview
The most important thing to remember when conducting your informational interview is to express enthusiasm. If you show genuine interest in the interviewee and their experiences, they will feel more comfortable providing the honest, detailed answers you’re looking for.

As mentioned previously, it’s advised that you take notes during your conversation. You may find yourself looking back to their responses as you continue your career research. In addition, remember that you do not have to stick to your “script.” In fact, it is encouraged to ask follow-up questions after you receive a response. The questions you prepared ahead of time are a general guide, but if you find that new questions come to mind, be sure to ask them.

5. Following Up
It’s important to keep in touch with the interviewee afterwards. At the very least, you should send them a follow-up email thanking them for their time and stating that you found the interview to be helpful to your career search. If the interaction went particularly well, you may want to stay in contact to establish this person as a permanent part of your network; sending them a connection request on LinkedIn is a great way to accomplish this. More likely than not, putting in the extra effort now will be beneficial to you down the line.

Reaching out to SNHU Alumni

SNHU alumni are fantastic resources for informational interviews. You can find alum that not only work in your field of interest, but also earned the very same degree you are pursuing. This will allow you to learn about how people have applied their SNHU degree to their careers.

Career Center

One of the best ways for campus students to connect with SNHU alumni for an informational interview is though the Career & Professional Development Center at the Manchester campus. Located in the Gustafson Center, the Career Team is readily available to help you with not only finding candidates willing to be interviewed, but also evaluating your career plan and adjusting your resume. I have visited the Career Center several times in the past and would absolutely recommend other students do so as well. If you are interested in setting up a meeting, email careerdevelopment@snhu.edu with your weekday availability, and make sure to specify whether you want to meet in-person or virtually!

Screen grab of Southern New Hampshire University LinkedIn Alumni searchLinkedIn

You can also connect with SNHU alumni by joining the SNHU Community on LinkedIn. There, you can view posts from alumni (as well as students), which will not only help you form connections with others from SNHU, but also keeps you updated on job openings alumni may post on the platform. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check in on the SNHU Community page every now and then, both now and after you graduate.

You can also simply search for SNHU alumni on LinkedIn to find graduates working in your field of interest. If you search for Southern New Hampshire University and click on its LinkedIn profile, you will see a tab titled “Alumni” where you can then further refine your search by job title or company.

Conclusion

As stated earlier, informational interviews are a valuable tool for students looking to learn more about the types of jobs they’re considering. By interviewing people working in a role you’re interested in, you’re getting an in-depth look into what your ideal job entails and how that same job may differ between organizations. You may also learn new ways to apply your education to your future job by interviewing SNHU alumni. From recent grads to workers with 20+ years of experience, you’re bound to find alumni that can aid you in your job search. On top of these benefits, you will gain valuable interview experience, which will set you up for success when you start interviewing for a full-time role. Informational interviewing has been an immensely helpful resource for me, and I hope that this article has encouraged you to try it for yourself!

About the Author:

Woman looking forward smilingHello! My name is GJ Morris and I’m a student worker at SNHU, graduating in 2023. Join me here as I share some of my passions, what I’ve learned in my classes and how I’m keeping busy outside of classes. Stay tuned for future blog entries from me.

 

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