Choosing a career path can be difficult when job descriptions and course brochures only provide part of the picture. An informational interview offers a chance to speak directly with someone working in a role or industry that interests you, giving you practical insight into the realities of the profession.
For postgraduate students and professionals considering a career move, these conversations can help clarify career options, identify useful skills and build relationships with people already working in the sector. An informational interview is not a job interview, but it can become a valuable part of a wider career development strategy.
An informational interview is a structured conversation with someone who has experience in a particular role, profession or industry. The purpose is to learn from their experience rather than directly ask them for employment.
The conversation might cover their career path, typical responsibilities, qualifications, skills and experiences that helped them progress. For someone researching a new field, this first-hand perspective can provide a more realistic understanding of what working in the sector involves.
The person you approach should have relevant experience that matches what you are trying to learn. They could be someone working in your target profession, a postgraduate alumnus, a professional association member or a contact introduced through someone in your existing network.
LinkedIn and professional associations can be useful starting points, while lecturers, former classmates and colleagues may also be able to suggest suitable contacts. A specific reason for contacting someone is generally more effective than sending a generic networking message.
Good preparation makes an informational interview more useful for both sides. Research the person's professional background and the organisation they work for, then prepare a short list of questions based on what you genuinely want to understand.
Useful areas to explore include:
You do not need to ask every question on your list, particularly if the conversation naturally moves into another useful area.
People rarely follow exactly the same route into a profession, which makes career journeys particularly useful to discuss. Asking how someone moved from education into their current position can reveal qualifications, experiences and decisions that may not be obvious from a standard career guide.
For postgraduate students, these conversations can also help determine whether further study is genuinely useful for a particular career path or whether professional experience should be prioritised instead.
An informational interview should feel different from a job application. Approaching someone primarily to ask for a vacancy can make the conversation uncomfortable and may distract from the information you are trying to gain.
Instead, ask about the profession, the skills involved and how the person developed their career. If they know of relevant opportunities or people worth contacting, they may offer that information naturally during the conversation.
One of the most useful outcomes of an informational interview can be a clearer understanding of what employers expect. Someone working in your target field may be able to explain which technical skills, qualifications or professional behaviours are particularly valuable.
This information can then feed directly into your career development plan. You might discover that a particular qualification is useful, that practical experience is more important than expected or that an emerging area of expertise could strengthen your profile.
Informational interviews do not have to be lengthy. A focused conversation of around 20 to 30 minutes can provide plenty of useful information if you have prepared properly and respect the other person's time.
Be punctual for online or in-person meetings, listen carefully and avoid dominating the discussion. A professional approach makes it more likely that the contact will remember the conversation positively.
A short follow-up message can help maintain the relationship after the conversation. Thank the person for their time and mention something specific from the discussion that you found useful.
If they recommended a particular course, professional organisation or contact, following up on that advice can create a natural reason to reconnect later. Professional relationships tend to develop through continued interaction rather than a single conversation.
One conversation can sometimes lead to several useful connections. A professional may recommend another person who works in a related area, suggest an industry event or introduce you to someone with relevant expertise.
This makes informational interviews particularly useful for people entering unfamiliar sectors. Instead of relying entirely on online research, you begin developing a network of people who can provide practical perspectives on the industry.
The real value of an informational interview comes from what you do afterwards. Review the advice you received, identify any skills or experience you need to develop and consider how the conversation has affected your career plans.
For postgraduate students and graduates, this might mean researching a qualification, applying for relevant experience or exploring a different career route. The conversation becomes useful when it influences a practical next step rather than simply adding another contact to your network.
Informational interviews can provide a clearer picture of professional life while helping students and graduates develop meaningful industry connections. They can be particularly valuable when considering postgraduate study, entering a new profession or changing career direction.
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