Published data tells you what a job looks like on average. An informational interview tells you what it looks like on a Tuesday afternoon in your city. For career changers, these short conversations with people already doing the work are one of the most reliable ways to test a direction before spending money on training. They also build relationships, but that is a side effect, not the goal. This note covers how to find people, how to ask, what to ask and how to follow up.
What an informational interview is, and is not
It is a short conversation, usually 20 to 30 minutes, in which you ask someone about their work, how they got into it and what they think a newcomer should know. It is not a job interview, and it is not a disguised request for a job or referral. People agree to help because the request is limited and respectful. Keep it that way.
Do your research first
Before asking anyone for time, read the basics: the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile and the O*NET task list for the role, plus several local job postings. Our guide to researching careers with BLS and O*NET explains how. Prepared questions show respect for the person's time and get far better answers than "What do you do?"
Finding people to talk to
Start close and work outward:
- Your existing network: former colleagues, friends, family, neighbours. Ask who they know in the field.
- Alumni networks from any school or program you attended.
- Professional associations and local meetups for the field.
- Professional networking sites, searching for the job title in your area.
- People who wrote or spoke about the work in articles, talks or community forums.
Aim for variety: someone fairly new to the field, someone experienced, and ideally someone who also changed careers.
Writing the request
Keep it short and specific. A good request has three parts:
- Who you are and why them: "I am a retail manager exploring a move into logistics, and I saw your talk on warehouse planning."
- The ask: "Would you be open to a 20-minute call in the next few weeks to share how you got into the field?"
- Make it easy: "I am happy to work around your schedule, and a phone or video call is fine."
Do not attach your résumé or ask for a job. If someone does not reply, one polite follow-up after a week or so is fine; after that, move on.
Questions worth asking
Choose four to six; you will not have time for more.
About the daily work
- What does a typical week look like? What takes more time than people expect?
- What do you enjoy most, and what is hardest?
About entry routes
- How did you get into this work? How do people usually enter now?
- Which credentials or experience do local employers actually ask for?
- Is there a training program you would recommend, or avoid?
About fit and outlook
- What kinds of people do well in this role?
- How is the work changing?
- What do newcomers in this area typically earn as a range, and how does it progress?
About your plan
- Based on my background, what gaps would an employer notice first?
- Is there a small project or volunteer task I could do to test this?
- Who else would you suggest I speak with?
The last question is the most valuable for building your research.
Running the conversation
- Start on time and confirm how long they have.
- Open with one sentence about your background and why you are exploring.
- Listen more than you talk. Take brief notes.
- Watch the clock and offer to finish when the time is up, even if the conversation is going well.
- Thank them, and ask if it is all right to follow up later.
Follow up properly
Send a short thank-you message within a day, mentioning one specific thing you found useful. If they suggested someone else to contact, ask whether you may mention their name. Weeks later, a brief update about what you did with their advice is welcome and memorable.
Turn conversations into evidence
After each interview, write a short summary: what confirmed your research, what surprised you, which requirements came up, and what you will do next. After three to five conversations, patterns appear. If people consistently describe work you would not enjoy or entry requirements you cannot meet, that is valuable information, not failure. If the picture is promising, update your 90-day exploration plan and your readiness check.
A note on confidentiality and courtesy
People may share frank views about their employer. Keep those confidential. Never quote someone publicly or use their name in an application without permission. And if someone later offers to refer you for a job, that is their choice; the conversation was still worth having without it. Our networking note covers building relationships over the longer term.
Evidence to gather next
- List ten people in or near your target role, starting with your existing network and alumni groups.
- Write a three-sentence request that names a specific reason you chose them.
- Prepare eight questions and choose the four that matter most.
- Send a thank-you note within a day and record what you learned.
Is it rude to ask about pay in an informational interview?
Asking someone their own salary can feel intrusive. Asking about ranges is usually more comfortable: what a typical range is for newcomers in the area, or how pay usually progresses. Let the person decide how much to share, and compare what you hear with published wage data rather than relying on one answer.