1. What is an informational interview and what can it do for me?
Informational interviewing is a process by which you locate and actually speak with
people who are currently employed in a field that interests you. It is your greatest
source of career information because it gives you a first-hand look at an
occupation—something you can’t achieve by conducting library research or just
taking a class.
Informational interviews can help you to:
Confirm your choice of career by exploring the day to day world of someone
who is working in the field
Build confidence and skill in your ability to talk about your career goals and
interests
Increase your vocabulary of the field
Make contact with potential employers
Gather additional referrals for information and job leads
Practice your interviewing skills in a relaxed environment
PLEASE NOTE: AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW IS NOT A JOB INTERVIEW!
The worst mistake you can make in an informational interview is to ask for a job! At this
stage of your job search, you are only in the business of seeking information about a
particular career path or field of interest.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW?
Preparation is the key to a successful informational interview. You will get more out of it
and you will leave a very positive impression if you prepare in advance. First you will
want to conduct research to gain important background information on specific career
fields or companies.
1. Read a variety of occupational information through links on the Career Services
website and other sites such as www.occsupplydemand.org, www.salary.com
2. Research careers by reading first hand interviews with real people in a variety of
professions.
3. Review professional journals associated with the field you are exploring. The
Library staff at CTC can be great resources for these periodicals. You will also
want to review the online job posting boards to learn about companies and hiring
trends.
4. Use self-assessment inventories to investigate career choices. You can access
FOCUS from the Career Services homepage.
5. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask during the interview.
6. Dress professionally and arrive on time for your informational interview.
QUESTIONS TO ASK IN AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
Think about what you hope to gain from the interview and tailor your questions
accordingly. You may want to consider some of the questions listed below.
ABOUT THE OCCUPATIONAL FIELD

2. Tell me how you got started in this field.
How did you prepare for your position you have now?
What kind of skills and training are required for entry into this kind of work?
What kind of experience is important to have to enter this field?
What kinds of personal qualities are necessary to do this job well?
ABOUT THE PRESENT JOB
Describe how you spend your time during a typical day or week.
What are some of the greatest challenges you face in your position?
What are the greatest rewards?
What experiences have you had that have been most helpful in learning about
your field?
Tell me about the hours and kind of work schedule you generally keep.
What tends to be the average entry-level salary in your field?
EMPLOYER INFORMATION
Explain to me in greater detail what this company/organization does.
What is the size of your company/unit/office? Are there plans for future growth—
in what areas?
Who are your chief competitors? How has the global economy effected your
operations or goals?
What type of on-the-job training does your company/organization offer?
FUTURE CAREER PLANS
Do you have some specific career goals in mind?
If the work you do was eliminated, what different options might be open to you?
What related fields might you explore?
What kinds of employers hire people with your background?
What is the employment outlook in your field?
JOB HUNTING
How do people find out about jobs in this field or organization?
If you were hiring someone today, what would you look for in an employee?
ADVICE
Given what you know about my background, how well suited am I for this type of
work?
What other skills or educational training might I need?
What are some other related fields I should consider?
If you were just starting out, what would you do differently to prepare for your
position?
REFERRALS
Could you recommend any books or trade publications I should read?
Given what you know about my interests, can you suggest other people who may
offer me additional information?

3. Would it be possible for me to use your name when contacting them?
Add your own questions here:
GETTING THE INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
A sample letter
980 S. Cobb Dr.
Marietta, GA 30060
August 30, 2008
Ms. Suzy Becker
Vice President and Manager
ABC Company
Marietta, GA 30066
Dear Ms. Becker,
In my desire to find a good job fit for my skills and experience, I have researched
several career path options and industries where I think I could make a contribution.
I will graduate this quarter from Chattahoochee Technical College. I would like to
speak with a professional working in the ……….field in order to learn firsthand what
kinds of jobs are available.
Your name was given to me by my instructor/Career Center. I am writing to you in
the hope that you will be able to assist me by either spending half an hour with me or
by referring me to someone in the area.
You may reach me at……….or via e-mail…………….. If you give me several
convenient times when I can reach you, I’ll return your call as soon as possible. I
will also take the liberty of calling you within the week to see if we might speak.
Thank you for your consideration.

4. Sincerely,
(your signature goes here)
Your name typed here
GETTING AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
A sample telephone script
Think about what you’d like to communicate to the person with whom you are
seeking an informational interview. Then job down a brief script that will help you
remain focused and clear when you speak with your contact person. Here’s a
sample script to get you started!
1. Hello, my name is_________________. Have I reached you at a convenient
time?
2. I am a _________________major at Chattahoochee Technical College and am
participating in a Service Learning project at your organization.
3. I understand that you are quite knowledgeable about _______________ (career
field, profession or industry).
4. I’m calling to see if I might arrange an informational interview with you to discuss
____________________(career field, profession or industry.)
5. Might you have half an hour sometime in the next week or so to meet with me?
6. If the contact agrees to see you, thank him/her and make sure you have the
address, date and time of your meeting before you hang up the phone. You
might also want to get their e-mail address so that you can confirm the
appointment.
7. If the contact isn’t able to see you, don’t take it personally! Thank the person for
considering your request, and ask if they might refer you to someone else.
Good luck!
NOTES ON INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
Date/time of
interview:___________________________________________________________

5. Name:_____________________________________Positon/title:__________________
_______
Organization/Company:___________________________________________________
_______
Phone:__________________________E-
mail:________________________________________
Thank-you letter
sent:____________________________________________________________
Notes:
1. Three things I learned from my
interview:_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________
2. My next steps in thinking about this career will
be:______________________________________________________________
_______
3. Are there other people I might contact who may be helpful in my information
gathering?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________
A sample thank you letter
Date
Name
Title
Company
Address
Dear_____________________.
Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me on Thursday to discuss some
of the career opportunities in the field of _____________________. It was so helpful to

6. learn about __________________________ and I appreciated the interest you showed
in my academic and future plans.
As you suggested, I will contact ___________________ in the next week or so and
arrange a meeting to discuss ____________________. I look forward to learning more
about ____________________________. Thank you for offering this additional
opportunity.
I will be in contact from time to time, to keep you posted on my career direction.
Again, thank you for your assistance and time this week.
Sincerely,
(your signature)
Your name typed