An informational interview is for learning about a field or organization, not asking for a job. A clear reason, short duration, and prepared questions make the request easier to evaluate.
A decision process you can repeat
State explicitly that you are asking to learn, not interview for a vacancy. Give a time limit, a specific reason for choosing the person, and two or three questions about their experience. Close by thanking them; do not ask for a referral unless they offer or the conversation naturally supports it.
A candidate sends, “Can you help me get hired?” to a professional they do not know. They instead mention a shared alumni group, a specific interest in regulatory operations, and ask for a brief conversation about day-to-day work.
A complete worked example
- Starting task:Fictional career changer Nina is moving from retail scheduling toward healthcare operations. She reads a public profile from an operations coordinator who has written about patient appointment workflows. Nina wants to learn about the work, not ask for a job.
- First output:“Can you help me get hired in healthcare?”
- Mistake or risk:The request is broad, job-seeking focused, and asks a stranger to solve a large problem.
- Human correction:Replace it with one public reason, one learning goal, a bounded time request and an explicit no-pressure close. If the person accepts, prepare three questions, listen, and ask permission before requesting another contact. Do not turn the conversation into an unannounced referral pitch.
- Quality check:Record whether the ask was clear and respectful, not whether a referral followed. CareerOneStop describes informational interviews as learning conversations; it does not promise access or employment. This is an illustrative scenario; outcomes are not guaranteed.
- Final usable output:
“Hello Pat, I’m learning about healthcare operations and found your public post on appointment scheduling. Would you be open to a 20-minute conversation about how coordinators handle schedule changes? I’m not asking for a job; I’d value your perspective. I understand if you’re unavailable.”
Illustrative resume bullet: “Requested a brief informational conversation with a specific learning goal and completed a respectful follow-up.” These are fictional scenario details, not claims about the reader’s work.
Practice ask for an informational interview with a real input
Input: a person with relevant public experience, one reason you chose them and one career question you need answered.
- Find a legitimate contact path through an existing connection, professional group or public directory. Do not seek private personal contact details.
- Write a request that says you want to learn, names one specific reason, asks for 15–20 minutes and offers an easy decline. Avoid attaching a resume or asking for a job.
- Prepare three open questions about the person's work, entry path or skills. Check that each is something they can reasonably answer.
- During the conversation, ask permission before note-taking if appropriate, listen, and end on time. Do not request confidential employer information.
- Afterward, record three takeaways and one action, send a brief thank-you and update your career research. Keep any future referral request separate and voluntary.
Keep a quality and follow-through record
Evaluate whether the invitation names a real learning goal, the conversation stays within its agreed time, questions are relevant and the notes create a next action. Track preparation and follow-through effort, not how many contacts you collect. A conversation can be successful even if it leads to no job or referral.
Make the choice in a few steps
- Set your boundary: Select someone whose experience can answer a question you actually have. A shared alumni group, professional association, public directory, or mutual contact can provide context, but do not imply an introduction if there is none.
- Verify the information: Ask for a short, defined amount of time and name the topic. Explain what you have already learned so the person does not need to start from the beginning. Make clear that you are requesting perspective, not asking for a job interview.
- Choose the channel: Prepare three questions and prioritize them: daily tasks, entry routes, skills to practise, or how the field is changing. Listen for details that may differ from what you read online. Do not ask for confidential information about an employer or client.
- Decide what to retain: End on time, thank the person, and write down what you will do next. A useful follow-up might be a resource they mentioned or a brief thank-you. Avoid sending a resume or requesting a referral unless the contact invites that next step.
Common mistakes to avoid
Prepare three questions and prioritize them: daily tasks, entry routes, skills to practise, or how the field is changing. Listen for details that may differ from what you read online. Do not ask for confidential information about an employer or client.
A realistic example from the field
A useful informational interview is not an unstructured coffee chat. Agree on the time, open with the question you are trying to answer, and let the person’s experience shape the conversation. Ask about actual tasks, entry routes, difficult skills, and what surprised them about the work. Avoid asking for confidential hiring information or pressing them to introduce you to a manager. Close on time and summarize what you will investigate next. In the thank-you note, mention one specific insight so it is clear you listened. If the conversation suggests that the field is not a fit, that is valuable information too; the goal is better judgment, not a job lead at any cost.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I ask for?
A short, clear request such as 15–20 minutes gives the person a boundary. Respect the time they offer and do not extend the conversation without asking.
Should I bring my resume?
Not unless the person asks or the conversation requires it. An informational interview is about learning, not having someone evaluate or forward your application.
How do I end the conversation?
Thank them, recap one point you learned and respect the agreed end time. Follow up with a brief message that reflects the real conversation.
Can I ask for a referral afterward?
Only if it fits the relationship and the person can make an informed choice. Do not treat the informational conversation as a hidden job interview or a promise of access.
A respectful invitation, a real conversation and a clean close
Prepare a 20-minute plan: 2-minute introduction, three questions about tasks/skills/entry paths, 10 minutes listening, and 2-minute thanks. Ask “Is there a public resource you recommend?” rather than “Who can get me hired?” Afterward send one short thanks noting a specific insight, record one action you will take, and do not share their comments publicly without permission. If unanswered, one polite follow-up is enough; then close the loop. See how to ask about referrals without pressure and lower-pressure networking options.
Should I ask for a job during the informational interview?
No—the stated purpose is learning. If the person independently raises an opening, ask how to apply through the official process. Do not convert the conversation into an unannounced referral request or share the person’s advice publicly without permission.
Sources
- CareerOneStop: Informational interviews — CareerOneStop recommends clear, learning-focused informational conversations and preparation.
- CareerOneStop: Network to your next job — CareerOneStop describes networking as one job-search approach, not a guarantee of access or employment.