Informational Interviewing

Informational interviews are a valuable tool to understand specific careers and help build a job applicant's network. Initiating this conversation will assist job applicants to understand the daily responsibilities of desired jobs, learn how to navigate and enter a specific industry, and can increase their overall networking capabilities. Please follow the steps below to schedule an informational interview:

1. Identify Potential Roles of Interest: Begin researching specific job titles that can be attained from your current major. Identifying particular positions of interest will provide users a baseline for who can serve as a viable candidate to interview. 
2. Review your current network (acquaintances, friends, family) to identify if there is anyone of interest to interview. Users can also utilize Career Shift (https://www.careershift.com/) to identify potential professionals. To search for potential contacts on Career Shift, users can follow these steps:
   1. Log into Career Shift (https://www.careershift.com/). 
   2. By selecting the "Contacts" tab, users can search for employer contact information just as they might search for employment opportunities.
   3. Users can search for individuals by their name, their company name, the school they graduated from, as well as their current position. Users can also search for contacts based on their current job title. This tool is particularly useful for students looking to get in contact with Rowan University alumni. By typing "Rowan University" in the "School Attended" box, users can find a list of Rowan alumni along with their contact information.
3. Once users have identified a potential individual to interview, students’ should connect with these professionals through attaining their contact information through Career Shift. In the initial email, students’ should inform these professionals that they are pursuing a career in their industry, that they are seeking career advice, and that they are interested in learning about the professional's career journey. Please utilize the email template listed below when contacting new potential contacts.
4. Please feel free to review page 5 of the following website (https://sites.rowan.edu/oca/_docs/career-planning-development-course-guide-2019.pdf) to identify what questions can be asked in an informational interview.
5. After an informational interview is completed, send a thank you email within 24 hours of the appointment. A thank you email should mention the major pieces of advice you learned from the conversation and expresses your gratitude for this opportunity.
6. Lastly, it is essential to maintain a relationship with these professional networks and provide value to the interviewee. Networking and informational interviews should not be a one-way street. Job applicants should actively engage their informational interview contacts to determine how they can support these individuals. Creating professional relationships that are valuable for all parties is an essential strategy to stay relevant to employers.

Informational Interview Email Template:

Dear [Insert Name],

I hope you're doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I'm a [Year of Study] student majoring in [Your Major/Field of Study] at Rowan University. I recently came across your information and was really impressed by your experience and expertise in [specific aspect or project related to the professional's work]. I'm reaching out because I'd love to learn more about your career journey and gain some insights and advice from you.

Your work in [specific aspect] particularly caught my eye as it's something I'm passionate about and aligns with my career goals. Speaking with you would give me a better understanding of the [industry name] industry and help me make informed decisions about my future career path. I'm flexible with timing and can adjust to your schedule. I'd appreciate having a 30-minute virtual meeting at your convenience. Please let me know if you have a preferred method or platform for the interview or any other preferences. I'm happy to accommodate whatever works best for you. 

Thank you so much for considering my request. I look forward to the possibility of speaking with you and learning from your experiences.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Rowan University

[Your Major/Field of Study]

[Your Current Year of Study]