5 answers
Kayton
Student
Mililani, Hawaii
3
Questions
Asked
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What is the purpose of an informational interview?
To learn more about a possible career path
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5 answers
Mayra Martinez
Career Coach
9
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Mayra’s Answer
The purpose of an informational interview is to gather information about a specific job, career field, industry or company. It's a conversation you have with someone in a role or industry you're interested in. This type of interview allows you to ask questions, gain insights, and build relationships with professionals, but it's not a job interview. It's a research tool to help you learn more about a career path, improve your job-hunting strategies, and network with people in your desired field.
The key word here is to build relationships, emphasizing that this is not a job interview.
The key word here is to build relationships, emphasizing that this is not a job interview.
Mahi Patel
Student Advisor and Dental
99
Answers
Davie, Florida
Updated
Mahi’s Answer
Gain Knowledge: Learn more about a specific field, industry trends, job roles, and the skills and qualifications needed.
Networking: Build connections with professionals who can provide advice, guidance, and potentially open doors to future opportunities.
Clarify Career Goals: Use the interview to gain a clearer understanding of your own career goals and whether a particular field aligns with your interests and skills.
Expand Professional Network: Connect with professionals who may be valuable contacts in the future or who can introduce you to others in the industry.
Enhance Job Search: Acquire insights into the hiring process, company culture, and potential job opportunities that may not be advertised publicly.
Build Confidence: Develop confidence and improve communication skills by engaging in conversations with experienced professionals.
Networking: Build connections with professionals who can provide advice, guidance, and potentially open doors to future opportunities.
Clarify Career Goals: Use the interview to gain a clearer understanding of your own career goals and whether a particular field aligns with your interests and skills.
Expand Professional Network: Connect with professionals who may be valuable contacts in the future or who can introduce you to others in the industry.
Enhance Job Search: Acquire insights into the hiring process, company culture, and potential job opportunities that may not be advertised publicly.
Build Confidence: Develop confidence and improve communication skills by engaging in conversations with experienced professionals.
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
353
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
This is an excellent question, Kayton, and you have provided a very good high-level answer - to learn about a possible career path. Let's go a little deeper into different types of informational interviews:
- One kind is to find out about a specific profession. In this type of interview, you might ask about how they chose this field, what study was required, the path to their current role, what they currently like and dislike, future opportunities, and advice they may have for newcomers.
- Another kind is to find out about a specific company or organization. Note that you may or may not have identified an existing opportunity. In this type of interview, you might ask about the work culture, what it's like day-to-day, current initiatives, what the individual likes and dislikes, how they joined the company, and (again) advice for newcomers.
- A third kind is to get background for an identified opportunity. In this type, you may ask generally about the organization, but you want to focus on people with knowledge about this role or at least the team it belongs to. You will want to learn as much as you can about the hiring manager, perceptions about the group, the team dynamic, and again advice.
Please note that informational interviews are not intended to identify new job opportunities or to pressure the interviewee to get you a job. If you impress the person being interviewed, they may volunteer to help you, but you should be gracious and grateful even if they don't. That includes expressing sincere thanks then and perhaps written thanks later. Also, if you see articles, videos, etc. in the future that might interest them, send them with a brief note to keep up the contact.
Good luck!
- One kind is to find out about a specific profession. In this type of interview, you might ask about how they chose this field, what study was required, the path to their current role, what they currently like and dislike, future opportunities, and advice they may have for newcomers.
- Another kind is to find out about a specific company or organization. Note that you may or may not have identified an existing opportunity. In this type of interview, you might ask about the work culture, what it's like day-to-day, current initiatives, what the individual likes and dislikes, how they joined the company, and (again) advice for newcomers.
- A third kind is to get background for an identified opportunity. In this type, you may ask generally about the organization, but you want to focus on people with knowledge about this role or at least the team it belongs to. You will want to learn as much as you can about the hiring manager, perceptions about the group, the team dynamic, and again advice.
Please note that informational interviews are not intended to identify new job opportunities or to pressure the interviewee to get you a job. If you impress the person being interviewed, they may volunteer to help you, but you should be gracious and grateful even if they don't. That includes expressing sincere thanks then and perhaps written thanks later. Also, if you see articles, videos, etc. in the future that might interest them, send them with a brief note to keep up the contact.
Good luck!
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
780
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Kayton I want to first thank you for reaching out and asking your questions regarding what an informational interview. I hope the information that I have below provides you with some insight and/or help.
An informational interview serves as a valuable opportunity for individuals like yourself to gain insights into a particular career field or industry. It is a proactive approach to gather information directly from professionals who have firsthand experience. By engaging in informational interviews, you can expand your understanding of specific roles, industries, and career paths.
These conversations provide a platform for networking, allowing you to establish connections with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance, advice, and potentially open doors to future opportunities. It's a chance for you to explore his interests, clarify career goals, and build a network that can be instrumental in your career journey.
Approaching these interviews with curiosity and a genuine desire to learn can lead to valuable insights that contribute to informed decision-making and career success.
An informational interview serves as a valuable opportunity for individuals like yourself to gain insights into a particular career field or industry. It is a proactive approach to gather information directly from professionals who have firsthand experience. By engaging in informational interviews, you can expand your understanding of specific roles, industries, and career paths.
These conversations provide a platform for networking, allowing you to establish connections with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance, advice, and potentially open doors to future opportunities. It's a chance for you to explore his interests, clarify career goals, and build a network that can be instrumental in your career journey.
Approaching these interviews with curiosity and a genuine desire to learn can lead to valuable insights that contribute to informed decision-making and career success.
Divya Kumari
Senior Specialst
4
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Divya’s Answer
Hi Kayton, the goal of an informational interview is to learn more about the interviewee's field of expertise. It's an opportunity to understand their career journey and future aspirations. You get to know what they do professionally to thrive and tackle any challenges. Through an informational interview, you can discover their future requirements and comprehend the skills they deem necessary.