How to Use Informational Interviews to Find Better Career Opportunities

An informational interview can be one of the most useful tools for learning about a career path, understanding how a company really works, and discovering opportunities that may not be obvious from a job posting.

Unlike a traditional job interview, the goal is not to convince someone to hire you. It is to have a focused conversation with a professional who can share real-world insight about a role, industry, team, or organization.

This type of conversation can be especially valuable when you are exploring a career change, considering a new industry, preparing for a future job search, or trying to understand what employers actually look for in candidates.

Instead of relying only on job descriptions and online research, you get information from someone who has direct experience.

A good informational interview can help you make better career decisions, improve your networking, and identify skills or opportunities you may have overlooked. The key is to approach the conversation with curiosity, preparation, and respect for the other person’s time.

What Is an Informational Interview?

An informational interview is a professional conversation where you ask someone about their work, career path, company, industry, or area of expertise.

It is different from a job interview because there is usually no open role being discussed. You are not being formally evaluated for a position, and the other person is not expected to offer you a job.

The purpose is to learn.

You might speak with someone who already has a role you are interested in, works at a company you admire, recently moved into a field you are considering, or has experience in an industry you want to understand better.

The conversation is usually short, often around 20 to 30 minutes, and can happen by video call, phone, or in person.

Why Informational Interviews Are Valuable

Online research can tell you a lot about a profession, but it cannot always explain what the work feels like in practice.

A job description may list responsibilities, but a professional can explain which tasks actually take most of their time. A company website may describe its culture, but an employee can give you a more practical sense of how teams collaborate and what the day-to-day environment is like.

Informational interviews can also help you understand what skills matter most in a role. You may discover that certain tools, certifications, communication abilities, or types of experience are more valuable than you expected.

This kind of insight can make your job search more focused. Instead of applying broadly without knowing what employers prioritize, you can improve your resume, build relevant skills, and target roles more strategically.

Informational Interviews Are Not Secret Job Interviews

One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating an informational interview as a disguised attempt to ask for a job.

That can make the conversation uncomfortable.

The person agreed to share information, not to become responsible for your employment search.

You should avoid opening with questions such as, “Are you hiring?” or “Can you refer me?”

A better approach is to focus on their experience and knowledge.

If the conversation naturally leads to a discussion about opportunities, that is fine. But the primary purpose should remain learning.

This makes the interaction more genuine and usually leads to a better professional relationship.

Start With a Clear Goal

Before contacting anyone, decide what you want to learn.

If your goal is too broad, the conversation may become unfocused.

For example, you might want to understand what a product manager does day to day, what skills are most important for moving into cybersecurity, how hiring works at a certain company, or what experience is usually required to transition from customer service into customer success.

A clear goal helps you choose the right person to contact.

It also helps you prepare better questions.

You do not need to know exactly what career decision you will make. The point is to identify what information would be useful right now.

How to Find the Right Person to Contact

You do not need to speak with a famous executive or industry leader.

In many cases, someone closer to the role you are interested in can provide more practical information.

LinkedIn is a useful place to start.

Search for people who work in your target role, company, or industry. You can also look for alumni from your school, former coworkers, second-degree connections, or people with a similar professional background.

Professional associations, industry events, online communities, and local networking groups can also be useful.

If possible, choose someone whose experience is relevant to your question.

For example, if you want to understand how to move from marketing into product marketing, someone who recently made that transition may be especially helpful.

How to Ask for an Informational Interview

Keep your initial message short.

Introduce yourself, explain why you are contacting the person, and ask whether they would be open to a brief conversation.

You do not need to include your entire career history.

A message might explain that you are exploring a certain field and noticed that the person has relevant experience. You could then ask whether they would be willing to share 20 minutes for a few questions.

Be specific about the reason for reaching out.

People are more likely to respond when they understand why you chose them.

It also helps to make the request easy to decline.

You are asking for their time, so the message should feel respectful rather than demanding.

Do Some Research Before the Conversation

Preparation matters.

Before the meeting, learn enough about the person and their company to avoid asking questions that could easily be answered online.

Review their LinkedIn profile, company website, and any relevant public information.

This will help you ask better questions.

For example, instead of asking, “What does your company do?” you might ask how their team contributes to a specific part of the business.

The goal is to use the conversation for information you cannot easily find elsewhere.

Preparation also shows respect for the person’s time.

Ask Questions That Encourage Useful Answers

Open-ended questions usually work best.

You want the person to explain their experience, not simply answer yes or no.

You might ask how they entered their field, what surprised them most about the role, which skills they use most often, or what challenges people should expect.

You can also ask how the industry has changed, what makes someone successful in the role, and what they wish they had known earlier in their career.

If you are considering a specific company, you might ask how teams collaborate, how priorities are set, or what the work environment is like.

The best questions create a real conversation rather than feeling like a checklist.

Avoid Asking Questions That Put the Person in an Awkward Position

Some questions can create unnecessary pressure.

For example, asking someone to criticize their manager, reveal confidential company information, or discuss private salary details may make them uncomfortable.

You should also avoid asking directly for a referral during the first few minutes of the conversation.

If the person offers to help, you can respond naturally.

But your main goal is to learn.

Keeping the conversation professional makes it more likely that the relationship will continue after the meeting.

Listen More Than You Talk

An informational interview is not a presentation about yourself.

You should provide enough background so the person understands your situation, but the majority of the conversation should focus on their experience and insight.

Listen carefully.

Take notes.

Ask follow-up questions when something is interesting or unclear.

You may discover that the most useful information comes from a topic you did not originally plan to discuss.

Strong listening also makes the conversation feel more natural and less transactional.

Ask About Skills and Experience

One of the most useful areas to explore is skill development.

Ask which skills matter most in the role and which ones are harder to learn on the job.

You can also ask what experience hiring managers usually value.

For example, a person may tell you that technical knowledge is important, but communication and stakeholder management are what separate strong candidates from average ones.

This information can help you decide where to invest your time.

It can also help you evaluate whether your current experience is closer to the target role than you originally thought.

Ask About the Reality of the Role

Job descriptions tend to highlight responsibilities, but they do not always show the full reality.

Ask what a typical week looks like.

Find out which tasks take the most time.

Ask what people misunderstand about the job.

You can also ask which parts of the role are most rewarding and which are most challenging.

This gives you a more realistic picture.

Sometimes people discover that a role they thought they wanted does not actually match their preferences.

That is still a valuable outcome.

Avoiding the wrong career move can be just as useful as discovering the right one.

Learn About Career Paths

Many careers are less linear than they appear.

Ask the person how they reached their current role and what kinds of positions people usually move into afterward.

You may discover unexpected pathways.

For example, someone working in operations may have started in customer support. A product manager may have come from engineering or marketing. A recruiter may have begun in sales.

These conversations can help you see that there may be several ways to reach the same destination.

They can also help you identify intermediate roles that would make a career transition more realistic.

Ask About Industry Trends

If you are exploring a field, ask how it is changing.

What skills are becoming more important?

What tools are gaining adoption?

What problems are companies trying to solve?

Which parts of the industry are growing or becoming more competitive?

These questions can help you understand where future opportunities may appear.

They can also help you avoid preparing for a version of the industry that no longer exists.

Career planning becomes more useful when it reflects where the market is going, not just where it has been.

Keep the Conversation Focused

Respect the agreed time.

If someone offered 20 minutes, do not automatically extend the meeting to an hour.

Watch the clock.

If the conversation is going well and the person wants to continue, that is different.

But do not assume extra time is available.

Keeping the conversation focused shows professionalism and makes the person more likely to speak with you again in the future.

You can always ask whether they have time for one final question before ending.

Take Notes Without Turning the Conversation Into an Interview Transcript

It is useful to record key ideas, but you do not need to write down every sentence.

Focus on insights that may affect your next steps.

This might include skills to develop, companies to research, job titles to explore, resources to read, or people to contact.

You can organize your notes shortly after the conversation while the details are still fresh.

That makes it easier to turn information into action.

Ask for Recommendations, Not Favors

Near the end of the conversation, you can ask whether there are other resources or people they recommend.

For example, you might ask if there is a book, professional community, certification, or industry publication they consider useful.

You can also ask whether there is anyone else they think would be helpful to speak with.

This is different from asking the person to immediately refer you for a job.

It keeps the focus on learning while potentially expanding your network naturally.

Send a Thank-You Message

Always follow up with a short thank-you message.

Send it within a day if possible.

Mention one or two specific things you found helpful.

This makes the message feel genuine.

For example, you might thank the person for explaining how hiring managers evaluate candidates or for recommending a specific skill to develop.

Keep the message brief.

The goal is simply to show appreciation and maintain the connection.

Follow Through on Useful Advice

If someone gives you a useful recommendation, act on it when appropriate.

Read the resource they suggested.

Explore the tool they mentioned.

Research the role they recommended.

Then, if there is a natural reason, you can follow up later and let them know how their advice helped.

This makes the relationship more meaningful.

It also shows that you valued their time.

Stay in Touch Naturally

An informational interview does not need to be a one-time interaction.

If the conversation was useful, stay connected.

You might send a brief update a few months later, congratulate them on a professional achievement, or share something relevant to a topic you discussed.

Do not force the relationship.

Occasional, relevant contact is enough.

Professional relationships often become valuable over time rather than immediately.

Use Informational Interviews During a Career Change

Informational interviews are especially useful when you are considering a career transition.

Before investing heavily in training or applying for jobs, talk to people who already work in the field.

Ask what skills are truly necessary, what entry paths are realistic, and which parts of your current experience may transfer.

This can save time.

You may discover that you do not need as many new qualifications as you thought.

Or you may learn that one important skill is missing and should become your priority.

Real-world feedback can make career transitions more practical.

Use Informational Interviews Before Applying

You do not need to wait until you are actively unemployed or searching for a job.

Informational interviews can be useful months before you apply.

This allows you to learn without the pressure of needing an immediate result.

You can research companies, understand roles, and build relationships gradually.

Then, when a relevant opportunity appears, you are better prepared.

You may also already know someone who can provide context about the company or role.

This makes your job search more informed.

Do Not Expect Every Person to Respond

Many people will not respond to informational interview requests.

That is normal.

They may be busy, receive many messages, or simply not have time.

Do not take it personally.

You can send one polite follow-up if there is no response, then move on.

Avoid repeatedly contacting the same person.

A professional networking strategy should involve several potential contacts rather than depending on one person.

Track What You Learn

If you speak with several professionals, keep simple notes.

Record who you spoke with, what you learned, and any follow-up you want to complete.

Over time, patterns may appear.

If several people mention the same skill, tool, or industry challenge, that information may deserve more attention.

Tracking conversations also helps you avoid forgetting important recommendations.

It can turn networking into a more organized learning process.

Turn Information Into Action

An informational interview is only useful if it influences what you do next.

After each conversation, ask what changed.

Did you identify a skill gap?

Did you discover a new role?

Did you learn that your resume emphasizes the wrong experience?

Did you find a company worth researching?

Choose one or two concrete next steps.

This prevents the process from becoming endless networking without progress.

The purpose is not simply to collect conversations. It is to make better career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an informational interview?

An informational interview is a professional conversation where you learn about someone’s role, company, industry, or career path. It is focused on information and career insight rather than applying directly for a job.

How long should an informational interview last?

Around 20 to 30 minutes is usually enough. Respect the amount of time the person originally agreed to give you.

Who should I ask for an informational interview?

Look for professionals who work in roles, companies, or industries you want to understand better. Former colleagues, alumni, LinkedIn connections, and industry contacts can all be good options.

Should I ask for a job during an informational interview?

Usually not. The main purpose is to learn. If a job opportunity naturally comes up, you can discuss it, but avoid making the conversation feel like a disguised job request.

What questions should I ask?

Ask about the person’s career path, day-to-day work, important skills, industry trends, common challenges, hiring expectations, and advice for someone entering the field.

How do I ask someone for an informational interview?

Send a short, respectful message explaining why you are contacting them and asking whether they would be open to a brief conversation.

Should I prepare before the conversation?

Yes. Research the person and company beforehand so you can avoid basic questions and use the time for deeper insights.

Should I send a thank-you message afterward?

Yes. A brief thank-you message helps show appreciation and keeps the professional connection positive.

Can informational interviews help with a career change?

Yes. They can help you understand skill gaps, realistic entry points, transferable experience, and what the new field is actually like.

Can an informational interview lead to a job?

It can sometimes lead to future opportunities, referrals, or introductions, but that should not be the expectation. The primary goal is learning and relationship-building.

Conclusion

An informational interview can give you career insight that is difficult to find through job postings, company websites, or general online research.

A short conversation with someone who already works in your target field can help you understand the reality of a role, identify useful skills, evaluate career paths, and make more informed decisions.

The most effective approach is simple. Choose the right person, explain why you want to speak with them, prepare thoughtful questions, listen carefully, and respect their time.

Avoid turning the conversation into a direct request for employment. Focus on learning first.

If the relationship develops naturally, future opportunities may come from it, but that should be a secondary benefit rather than the main purpose.

Informational interviews work best when they are part of a broader career strategy. Combine them with research, skill development, job applications, networking, and regular reflection on what you are learning.

Over time, these conversations can give you a clearer understanding of where you want to go and what it may take to get there. Instead of guessing what a role or industry is like, you can make decisions based on real experiences from people already doing the work.