Informational Interviews
What are informational interviews?
Informational interviews are a form of networking to learn about jobs and career paths while connecting with alumni or others in the field. These are very helpful for learning about the different paths in tech and what you might be interested in. As the name suggests, the goal is to gather information. These are NOT job interviews, and the intention is not to ask for a job or recommendation letter. The people you talk with may suggest jobs you can apply to or offer to pass your resume on to someone they know, but you should NEVER ask for a job during an informational interview. Students should be prepared to ask lots of questions, but these "interviews" are usually more like conversations about the person's background, current job, career path, company they work at, and other relevant aspects of their life.
Informational interviews are a great way to learn about what Hunter alumni are doing, how they got their jobs, what they like/dislike about their work, and any advice they have for students. It is a form of networking that teaches you about different paths to the jobs you might be interested in, whether you might actually enjoy doing those jobs, and how to get started with job or internship applications. Informational interviews can occur in person, on the phone, or over video chat - that is up to you and the person you're interviewing.
Who should you contact for informational interviews?
It's always a good idea to start by contacting alumni, and you should mention that you are a Hunter student. Your connection through Hunter will make them more likely to reply to your request. They can also offer helpful advice from your shared experiences at Hunter. You can search for alumni on LinkedIn (see LinkedIn section of handbook). Since the goal is to gather information about jobs you may be interested in, it is a good idea to look for people working in locations, industries, companies, jobs, etc. that you are actually thinking of pursuing. Either way, if you have trouble finding people in those areas to talk with, it is still helpful to talk with people outside your immediate areas of interest to hear about different opportunities in industry and learn about what employers are looking for. You can also reach out to people who are not Hunter alumni, but they may be less likely to respond; don't be discouraged if it takes a few tries/emails.
How should you contact people to request informational interviews?
You can contact people over email directly or send them a message on LinkedIn. Be clear that your goal is to gather information and not to ask for a job. Here is an example format you might want to use:
Subject line: Request for Informational Interview
Dear (Ms./Mr./Dr.) [last name],
My name is [your full name]. I found your name through [alumni directory / LinkedIn / company website / someone you know] and saw that you studied computer science at [Hunter / other college] before working as a [their current job]. I am currently a [freshman/sophomore/junior/senior] at Hunter College studying computer science, and I am starting to think about [internships/jobs/future career goals]. I am looking to speak to professionals working in different computer science fields to learn more about their career paths and job experiences. I would love the opportunity to hear about your experience, what you enjoy about your current job, and any other advice you might have.
If you have any time in the next few weeks for a 20-30 min meeting, it would be great if we could set a time to talk. I am happy to meet either in person, over the phone, or through video chat-- just let me know what is easiest for you.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I really appreciate it! I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
[your name]
What are some questions to ask in informational interviews?
It is a good idea to start the conversation by introducing yourself, stating where you are in the computer science program, and describing generally why you are conducting this interview (e.g. "I am starting to think about applying for jobs, and I want to learn more about your job/field/company along with any advice you have for students"). Here are some other questions you might want to ask to help guide the conversation (these are just some ideas, but don't feel like you need to follow a script):
How did you get to the job you're in today? What has your educational and career path been like?
What do you like about your current job or company?
What do you dislike about your current job or company?
What are the skills you use most in your current job? How did you develop those skills?
What classes did you take (at Hunter) that were useful for your career?
Why did you decide to go into the field you're in?
Did you have any internships while in college? What were they, and did they help prepare you for your career?
How did you find jobs/internships while in school?
While in college, did you work on any projects on your own or with others outside of classes? What were those like?
In your experience, what do you think the most important qualities and skills are to have when applying for jobs?
Given that I am currently a (freshman / sophomore / junior / senior) in college, what would you recommend I do now to prepare for future jobs?
Do you have any other advice you'd be willing to share or anything you wish you knew when you were in my position?
Following up - Sending a thank you note
After you conduct an informational interview, you should always follow up with a thank you note. This makes your interviewee feel appreciated and strengthens your connection, which makes them more likely to help you in the future (with job opportunities, resume feedback, interview practice, etc.). The follow ups are generally very brief; you send an email to your interviewer with a subject line along the lines of "Thank you." In the email you would simply state:
Dear [name],
Thank you for taking the time to do an informational interview with me. I really appreciate your advice and all your answers to my questions. [If there's something specific you talked about in your interview or mentioned you would follow up on, it is good to mention it here to acknowledge that you really listened to what they said.] It was a pleasure to speak with you, and please feel free to contact me anytime if there's anything I can do for you.
Best,
[your name]
Again, this is a template, and you can add variations to this template for a thank you email.
Full list of our Job Search and Interview Information
You can find a full list of all the pages on the Handbook here.....
