A guide to conducting informational interviews, from identifying the right people and crafting outreach messages to preparing questions and maintaining the relationship long-term.
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Target Identification
Identify 8-10 people in roles or companies you are curious about
Search LinkedIn for people with the job title you want who have been in the role for 2-5 years. They are experienced enough to give useful advice but recent enough to remember the path there.
Prioritize contacts who share an alma mater, hometown, or mutual connection
Shared backgrounds increase response rates by 40-60%. Alumni are especially generous with time for fellow graduates. Check LinkedIn for mutual connections who can make warm introductions.
Research each person's career path, recent projects, and published content
Spend 15-20 minutes per person reviewing their LinkedIn, company bio, and any articles or talks. Referencing specific details in your outreach shows effort and increases your reply rate significantly.
Outreach Messages
Write a concise outreach message (4-5 sentences maximum)
Include who you are, why you chose them specifically, and a clear ask for 20-30 minutes of their time. Messages under 100 words get 2x more responses than longer ones.
Send outreach via the most appropriate channel (LinkedIn, email, or mutual introduction)
Warm introductions via mutual contacts convert at 50-70%. Cold LinkedIn messages convert at 15-25%. Cold email converts at 5-10%. Always try for a warm intro first.
Follow up once after 5-7 business days if you do not get a response
A single polite follow-up increases response rates by 30%. Keep it brief: 'I wanted to follow up on my message from last week. I completely understand if the timing does not work.' Do not follow up more than once.
Question Preparation
Prepare 10-15 questions organized by topic area
Group questions into categories: career path, daily work, industry trends, and advice. Having extras means you can skip questions already answered organically during conversation.
Include 3-4 questions about their specific career journey and decisions
Ask about pivotal moments like 'What made you choose this field over alternatives?' and 'What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?' Personal stories reveal more than generic advice.
Prepare 3-4 questions about the reality of the role or industry
Ask about challenges, not just highlights. Questions like 'What is the most frustrating part of your work?' and 'What surprises most newcomers?' give you the honest picture that job descriptions do not.
End with 'Who else would you recommend I talk to?' and 'How can I help you?'
The referral question alone can double your network in a target industry. One informational interview typically leads to 2-3 more. Offering to help shows this is a two-way relationship.
Meeting Logistics and Conduct
Suggest a specific 20-30 minute time slot and offer to meet at their convenience
Keeping it to 20-30 minutes shows you respect their time and makes them more likely to say yes. Offer to come to their office, a coffee shop near them, or a video call for maximum convenience.
Arrive 5 minutes early and bring your prepared questions
Have your questions visible on your phone or a notepad. Taking notes shows you value their input. Ask permission to take notes at the start: 'Do you mind if I jot things down?'
Watch the clock and wrap up on time or early unless they extend
At the 20-minute mark, say 'I want to be respectful of your time. I have a couple more questions if you have a few more minutes.' Ending on time makes them more likely to help you again.
Never ask for a job or send your resume during an informational interview
Turning an informational interview into a job ask breaks trust and ensures they will never help you again. If they offer to pass along your resume, graciously accept. But never be the one to bring it up.
Follow-Up and Relationship Maintenance
Send a specific thank-you message within 24 hours
Reference one insight they shared that was particularly helpful. A specific thank-you ('Your advice about transitioning through project work was exactly what I needed') is far more memorable than a generic one.
Connect on LinkedIn if you have not already
Include a note referencing your conversation. This keeps you visible in their network and lets you engage with their posts over time, which strengthens the relationship naturally.
Follow up on any referrals they provided within one week
When you contact someone they referred you to, mention their name in the first sentence. Report back to your original contact about how the referral went. This closes the loop and shows respect.
Send a brief update 2-3 months later about how their advice helped you
People love hearing that their advice made a difference. A quick message like 'I followed your suggestion about X and it led to Y' keeps the relationship alive and makes them invested in your success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask someone for an informational interview without being awkward?
Send a brief LinkedIn message or email (3-4 sentences) that mentions a specific connection point — their article, a shared alma mater, or a mutual contact who suggested reaching out. Request exactly 20 minutes (not 'coffee' or 'your time'), and state clearly what you hope to learn. Response rates are highest on Tuesday-Thursday mornings, and messages under 100 words get 2x more replies than longer ones.
What questions should I avoid in an informational interview?
Never ask 'Can you get me a job?' or 'Are there openings on your team?' — these transform an informational conversation into an uncomfortable solicitation. Also avoid questions easily answered by Google, such as 'What does your company do?' Salary questions ('How much do you make?') are off-limits unless the person volunteers the information. Stick to career path, industry trends, and advice questions.
How many informational interviews should I do during a job search?
Aim for 3-5 per week during an active job search, totaling 15-30 conversations over a 6-8 week period. This volume builds a network large enough to surface unadvertised opportunities — 70% of jobs are filled through networking rather than posted applications. Each conversation should generate 2-3 new names to contact, creating a compounding referral chain.
Should I bring a resume to an informational interview?
Do not offer your resume at the start — it signals that you are really asking for a job, not for insights. However, bring copies in your bag in case the conversation naturally leads to 'Send me your resume.' At the end, if the person offers to connect you with others, follow up within 24 hours with your resume and a specific note about who they suggested you contact.
How do I follow up after an informational interview?
Send a thank-you email within 24 hours referencing one specific piece of advice and how you plan to act on it. Connect on LinkedIn the same day with a personalized note. Three to four weeks later, send a brief update on what you did with their advice — this follow-up converts one-time conversations into lasting professional relationships at 5x the rate of a single thank-you.