Informational Interviews

An informational interview is an important part of the career exploration process. It allows you to learn about education requirements, career-path options, industry standards, and other relevant information from a professional working in their field. Typically, you interview someone either in their office/workplace or over the phone/video.  Informational interviews are usually 30 minutes in length and are not interviews for employment.

BACK TO PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS

Why do an Informational Interview?

 

To gather career information from a professional in your career and/or field of interest

To gain a better sense of the necessary steps to enter your desired profession, usually by interviewing someone about their career path

To develop personal relationships and build your personal creative network or to find a mentor

 

How do you find someone to interview?

You will need to find someone to interview through a referral, through research, or by networking within your desired field.  Click here to get help building your creative community.

 

Outreach should include

  • Introduce yourself and include your background (school, major, year, your professional area of interest.)

  • If someone referred you, let the reader know who and what the connection is (school, alumni, organization, family, etc.)

  • Briefly describe the type of interaction, in case the reader is not familiar with the term “informational interview”.

  • Ask for a 30-minute meeting and suggest a way to meet (video, phone, in-person).

  • Explain your professional area of interest. Why are you interested in this area of art or design? What are your career goals?

  • Be specific about why you want to meet and what are you hoping to learn (Is it about education? possible career paths? what a job is really like? industry knowledge, etc.?)

  • Express appreciation for their time (to read the email, to possibly meet with you).

  • Give the reader your availability and how to reach you in order to schedule a meeting.

  • If you would like to receive professional feedback, include a link to or attachment with your portfolio.

Questions to Ask During an Interview

 

  • How did you get started in this industry?

  • What education is required for this position?

  • Is an internship required for this position?

  • Can you start this position at entry level?

  • What is a salary range for this type of position?

  • What are the culture and benefits of working for a larger/smaller company?

  • What is the professional path to this position?

  • What type of skills does a person need to be successful in this position?

  • What advice would you give to someone starting out in the profession?

  • What are the challenges in this industry and/or position?

  • How competitive is the field?

  • What are strategies to set myself apart from other applicants?

  • Is there anyone else you can refer me to that might have additional insight into this career field?

Follow-Up

1-2 days later, send a thank you email or even a hard-copy thank-you note if you have their physical address.