Discover how to use informational interviews to unlock hidden job opportunities, expand your network, and gain insider insights that can accelerate your career.
Featured in:*
While you may think that the best way to conduct your job search is to respond to a job ad by submitting your resume, the informational interview can be an unlikely but helpful tool to snag high-value jobs.
The reality is that many of the best work opportunities are never advertised. Some experts estimate that nearly 80 percent of the job market is made up of these “hidden” jobs.
How can you tap into these off-the-radar roles?
Informational interviews and networking are two of the most effective ways to secure these kinds of coveted positions.
An informational interview is a valuable yet often overlooked job search strategy that allows you to network with potential employers. College career counselors commonly recommend this strategy because it connects you with someone already established in a field you’re interested in.
In an informational interview, you can ask targeted questions about potential roles, the company culture, and the industry as a whole. The informational interview helps you gain insider knowledge and “test the waters” before committing to a specific career path.
As far as whom to approach, there are a few ways to do it:
The way you ask for an informational interview will set the tone for your dynamic with a potential new colleague. First and foremost, use a professional method like email or LinkedIn; avoid messaging through phone or personal social media as these are best reserved for socializing with friends and family, not future coworkers or supervisors.
The best informational interview request emails contain two elements: a message about why you’re reaching out and a concise request. When asking for an informational interview, be sure to include these components:
1. Prepare a list of specific questions. These queries should be related to the field, role, or company. Don’t expect the person you’re meeting with to lead or steer the conversation. It’s your job to figure out precisely what you want to ask.
2. Organize your questions. Instead of a laundry list of questions without a clear order, sort them by category. Suggestions for groupings include:
1. Break the ice. People generally enjoy talking about themselves, so when you first sit down, get the conversation moving by asking questions about their personal experiences in the field thus far. Examples include:
2. Make a positive impression. While the informational interview is primarily for you to learn about the other person’s position, you should also prepare to talk about yourself and your long-term career goals. Accordingly, have your 30-second elevator pitch or personal mission statement prepared and committed to memory.
3. Get the career advice you came for. This is the time to get the insider information you were looking for when you first set up the initial interview. If you’re still at the exploratory level, examples of questions you may want to ask include:
If you’re a bit further along in the interviewing process, you may want to ask more specific questions related to new hires:
4. Extend your network. As the meeting ends, ask for recommendations for a few more people you could talk to about the job or industry. The likelihood of someone agreeing to chat with you increases if there’s already a mutual connection. Do try to make your request for this as specific as you can. Try something like: “Could you recommend a few people for me to speak with more about transitioning into a marketing career?”
1. Make sure to follow up. Send a handwritten thank-you note or email expressing your appreciation for the interviewee’s time. Mention something from your conversation that was memorable or that you truly learned from them. Thank them again for taking the time to meet with you and share your updated resume. If you made a good impression, they’ll likely forward it to a hiring manager. When done correctly, it can provide a path to help move the relationship forward.
Remember, you want to be as specific as possible when writing a follow-up email. Avoid standard statements of “I learned a lot from you. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me,” and start by recalling bits of your conversation.
Here’s an example:
Hi [insert name],
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. I enjoyed talking to you about your experience in [career field] and certainly learned a lot from what you had to say. I appreciate all the insights you provided and descriptions of the challenges you’re facing.
You mentioned that your team at [company name] is looking to ramp up your content marketing efforts. I’d love to help your team strategize and contribute toward increasing your blog traffic.
I’ve attached a PDF with some ideas I have for your company’s strategy, including:
[Place list of ideas here: it might consist of keyword suggestions, other strategies for boosting SEO, etc]
Take a look, and if you’re interested, I’d love to get on a call with you anytime next week and discuss how I can help.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Informational interviews are a great way to go above and beyond traditional job search methods. When you follow these best practices for planning, conducting, and following up after an informational interview, you can gain valuable insight and information that can help you plot out a career path that’s suitable for your professional skills, experience, and interests.
To help you prepare for your next networking opportunity, we’ve compiled some of the best informational interview questions.
When preparing your questions, remember to do some research about the person you’ll interview. At the very least, know their job title and a bit of background information regarding their studies and areas of expertise. You can usually find these details in their LinkedIn profile.
Here’s a list of questions divided by topic. Remember to tailor them to the person you’re interviewing and your target industry.
About their career path
About their current role
About the company
About the industry
Advice for the job seeker
As you take your next step in your job search, remember that there’s a wealth of resources you can use to land your dream job. Informational interviews are a low-stakes interaction with relevant individuals that can help you grow your network and teach you about the roles you’d like to pursue.
Furthermore, informational interviews are just one of the many tools you can use to get your foot in the door of your desired industry. Browse our Career Guides blog for resume tips, cover letter guidance, and job search advice.
An informational interview should be 20 to 30 minutes long. It’s best to respect the person’s time and wrap up when you said you would, even if the conversation is going well. If you develop a good connection with the person, offer to continue the conversation via email or at a future networking event.
No, informational interviews aren’t the time to request a job. You may catch the person off guard and put them in an uncomfortable position. Instead, focus on building rapport, gaining insights, and showing genuine interest in their expertise. A strong relationship may lead to job opportunities later.
Yes! Informational interviews are a great way to explore a new field, understand its demands, and connect with people who can guide you in making a successful transition. If you’re considering switching fields, start with a compelling, aptly formatted career change resume.
Over the past 15 years, we’ve helped more than 10 million job seekers build stronger resumes, discover their career paths, interview confidently, and boost their chances of finding the right job faster. Review our Editorial Policy to learn more about our process.
Related Articles
10 Best Job Interview Tips for Job Seekers
Don’t Get Ghosted: How to Follow Up On a Job Application
The Best Advice for High School Students: 11+ Tips for Success
How to Write a Cover Letter + Examples
The Ultimate Transferable Skills List: 50+ Transferable Skills for Your Resume
How to Write a Resume in 2025
Featured in:*
