# Informational interview: how to ask for one and what to ask

> Informational interviews from first message to follow-up: who to approach, a request you can send, 29 questions sorted by goal, and what to do with a referral.

- Canonical URL: https://jobbie.bot/blog/informational-interview
- Topic: [Job search](https://jobbie.bot/guides/job-search)
- Published by [Jobbie](https://jobbie.bot/) · Updated 2026-10-06 · 8 min read

An informational interview is a short, informal conversation, usually 20 to 30 minutes, with someone who does work you are interested in. You ask about their job, their employer and their field. You do not ask for a job. To set one up, send a brief message that says who you are, why you chose them and how little time you need.

It gives you what a job posting cannot: how the work really goes, how people get hired, and who else you should talk to.

## Key takeaways

- Ask for 20 minutes of advice, never for a job. A request for advice is a small one.
- Include people one to five years ahead of you, not only senior ones. They remember how they got in.
- Prepare eight to ten questions in priority order. You will not have time for more.
- You run the meeting: start on time, take notes, end when you said you would, and finish by asking who else you should talk to.
- Send a thank-you note within a day, and an update a few weeks later.
- Let referrals come from the other person. If a specific opening appears later, that is the moment to ask.

## What an informational interview is and is not

Berkeley’s career office defines it as an informal conversation, usually lasting 20 to 30 minutes, with a person working in a career field that interests you. It is useful when you are choosing a direction, planning a [career change](https://jobbie.bot/blog/career-change), or learning about an employer before you apply.

It is not a job interview in disguise. Career centers are consistent on this point: informational interviews are designed to gather information, not to ask for a job.

## Who to ask and how to find them

- **People you already know.** Family, friends, professors, former managers and coworkers, or whoever they can point you to.
- **Alumni of your school.** Many take a particular interest in helping students and graduates of the same place.
- **People a few years ahead.** Georgia Tech’s career center suggests that someone one to five years out of their program will have the best perspective.
- **People in the exact role.** Search LinkedIn for the job title at the employers on your list.
- **Authors and conference speakers in your field,** who are used to hearing from people they have not met.

Wherever the name came from, say so in your message.

## How to ask for an informational interview

Write by email or LinkedIn. Keep it short, name the time you are asking for, and state plainly that you want advice.

```Request for an informational interview (email)
Subject: [School / mutual contact / shared interest]: 20 minutes of advice about [role or field]?

Hi [Name],

I'm [who you are, in one line]. I got your name from [mutual contact / the alumni directory / your article on a topic].

I'm exploring [role or field] and would value your view on [one specific thing about their path or work]. Would you have 20 minutes for a call in the next two weeks? I'm happy to work around your schedule.

To be clear, I'm looking for advice, not asking about openings.

Thank you,
[Your name]
[LinkedIn URL]
```

On a free LinkedIn account, a note added to a connection request can be at most 200 characters, so use a compressed version there.

```Request by LinkedIn note (under 200 characters)
Hi [Name], I'm exploring [field] and admire your work at [company]. Could I ask you a few questions on a 20-minute call? Advice only, not a job request.
```

If there is no reply after a week, follow up once, then move on to the next person. When someone says yes, offer two or three time slots, send a calendar invitation and confirm the day before. More outreach templates are in [networking for a job](https://jobbie.bot/blog/networking-for-jobs).

## How to prepare

1. **Research the person and the employer** so you do not ask what a search would answer. [How to research a company](https://jobbie.bot/blog/how-to-research-a-company) shows where to look.
2. **Prepare a 30-second introduction:** who you are, what you are exploring and why you chose them.
3. **Decide what you most need to learn,** and put those questions first.
4. **Have your resume ready,** but share it only if they ask or it becomes relevant.

## Questions to ask in an informational interview

Pick eight to ten from the groups below, and expect to get through five or six in 20 minutes.

### Their path

- How did you get into this field, and what was your first role in it?
- What did you do before, and what carried over?
- Which decision made the biggest difference to your career so far?
- If you were starting again today, what would you do differently?

### The work itself

- What does a typical week look like?
- What takes most of your time, and what do you wish took less?
- Which parts of the job surprised you?
- What does a good day look like, and a hard one?
- How is your performance measured?

### Skills and hiring

- Which skills do you use every day?
- What separates people who do well in this role from people who struggle?
- How do people usually get their first job in this field?
- What do hiring managers look for in someone at my level?
- Which courses, certifications or tools are really worth the time?

### The employer and the team

- How would you describe the culture on your team?
- How does the team work day to day, and how are decisions made?
- What kind of person tends to do well here?
- How does this employer compare with others you have worked for?

### The field and its outlook

- What is changing in this field right now?
- Where do you see demand growing or shrinking?
- Which employers or teams are doing interesting work?
- What do outsiders most often misunderstand about this work?

### Advice for you

- Given my background, what would you focus on first?
- What gaps do you see between my experience and this kind of role?
- How does my resume read to someone in the field?
- What should I be reading, following or joining?

### Closing

- Is there anyone else you would suggest I talk to?
- May I mention your name when I contact them?
- Would it be all right if I let you know how things go?

The questions you ask an employer once you are a candidate are different. Those are in [questions to ask in an interview](https://jobbie.bot/blog/questions-to-ask-in-an-interview).

## Etiquette during the conversation

| Do | Avoid |
| --- | --- |
| Arrive or dial in a few minutes early | Rescheduling at the last minute |
| Restate that you are there for information and advice | Asking for a job or whether they are hiring |
| Listen more than you talk, and take notes | Reading your resume aloud |
| Keep to the time you agreed. Say when it is up and offer to stop | Running over because the conversation is going well |
| Dress for the workplace you are exploring, on video too | Arriving without questions |

If they offer more time, accept it. If they do not, end on time.

## The thank-you note

Send it within a day. Reed College’s career center advises following up within 24 hours, and Berkeley’s within one to two days. Mention one specific thing you learned and what you will do with it.

```Thank-you note after an informational interview
Subject: Thank you

Hi [Name],

Thank you for making time to talk today. Your point about [specific insight] changed how I'm thinking about [topic], and I've already [action you took or will take this week].

I'll get in touch with [person they suggested] and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again,
[Your name]
```

Then keep the promise, and send a short update a few weeks later saying what you did with the advice.

## How to handle referrals and introductions

**If they offer an introduction,** say yes and make it easy. Send a few lines they can forward, contact the new person within two days, and tell the introducer what came of it.

```Lines to forward for an introduction
I'm [one-line description], exploring [field or role]. I'd value 15 to 20 minutes of advice on [specific topic]. My background: [two specifics]. LinkedIn: [URL]. Email: [address].
```

**If they mention an opening,** show interest and ask how they would suggest you apply. Do not push for a referral in the moment. If they want to refer you, they will say so.

**If you see an opening at their employer later,** go back to them. Tell them you plan to apply, ask whether they have any advice about the team, and ask whether they would be comfortable referring you. Attach your resume and three lines they can pass on, and make it clear that no is an acceptable answer.

When the person you want to reach is a recruiter and not someone doing the job, the approach is different: see [how to message a recruiter](https://jobbie.bot/blog/how-to-message-a-recruiter).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is an informational interview?

It is an informal conversation, usually 20 to 30 minutes, with someone working in a field or at an employer that interests you. You ask about their work, their path and the industry in order to make better decisions about your own search. It is a way to gather information and advice, not to ask for a job.

### How long should an informational interview last?

Ask for 20 minutes and plan for 20 to 30, which is the usual length. End at the time you agreed unless the other person offers to continue.

### Can I ask for a job during an informational interview?

No. The person agreed to share information, and asking for a job changes the terms. You can ask how hiring works in their field and what employers look for. If they bring up an opening, say you are interested and ask how they would suggest you apply.

### When should I send a thank-you note after an informational interview?

Within 24 hours if you can, and no later than two days. Thank the person for their time, mention one specific thing you learned, and say what you will do next. Send a short update a few weeks later.

### Should I send my resume when I ask for an informational interview?

Not in the first message, unless they ask for it. Attaching a resume makes the request look like a job application. Link to your LinkedIn profile instead, have the resume ready, and offer it only if the person asks or it becomes relevant to their advice.

## Sources

- [UC Berkeley Career Engagement: Informational Interviews](https://career.berkeley.edu/start-exploring/informational-interviews/): the definition and usual length, who to contact, conduct during the meeting and thank-you timing.
- [Georgia Tech Career Center: Undergraduate Networking and Outreach](https://career.gatech.edu/undergrad-job-search/networking-outreach/): contacting people one to five years out of their program and the purpose of an informational interview.
- [Reed College Center for Life Beyond Reed: Informational Interviews](https://www.reed.edu/beyond-reed/career-exploration/informational-interviews.html): sharing a resume only if relevant and sending thanks within 24 hours.
- [LinkedIn Help: Personalize invitations to connect](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a563153): the 200-character limit on a connection request note.