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Informational Interviews: How to Ask, What to Say and How to Follow Up

By Wellslovehub · Published October 16, 2026 · 8 min read · Last reviewed October 16, 2026 · How we write · Methodology

An informational interview is a short conversation with someone who works in a field, company or role that interests you, held to learn rather than to apply for a job. For students and early-career professionals, it is one of the most useful and least expensive research tools available. You hear how people really spend their days, what skills matter and how they got where they are. Done well, it also begins a professional relationship that may help you for years. This guide explains how to set one up, what to ask, how to conduct the conversation and how to follow up.

What an informational interview is for

The purpose is information, not a job offer. Good reasons to request one include:

Learning what a role involves day to day, beyond the job title.
Understanding which skills, courses or experiences employers value.
Comparing paths, such as banking versus corporate finance, or data analysis versus software engineering.
Getting feedback on your plans and your resume after you have shown you can listen.
Learning how people entered the field and whether there are other routes.
Discovering which questions you should be asking.

If you are still choosing a direction, informational interviews work well alongside the framework in our guide to choosing a major when undecided. Hearing from three people in a field can be more revealing than hours of reading.

What it is not

It is not a disguised job interview, and you should not ask for a position in the first conversation. People generally agree to help because they remember being in your position, but they will feel used if you pressure them. If an opening exists and the person is in a position to mention it, they will often bring it up on their own, especially if you have made a good impression.

Step 1: Choose whom to approach

Aim for people whose work you want to understand, not only senior executives. A person two to ten years into a career often has the most useful, practical perspective. Possible sources include:

Alumni from your school, found through career services or alumni directories.
Professionals your teachers, relatives or mentors can introduce.
Speakers at campus events and panels.
People you find through professional networking sites with a connection to your interests.

Warm introductions get the best response. If someone you know can send a short note introducing you, ask. If not, a respectful cold message is acceptable. Our guide to cold emails for internships includes a template and follow-up rules.

Step 2: Make the request easy to accept

Keep the ask small and specific: fifteen to twenty minutes by phone or video, at a time that suits them. Mention why you chose them, what you hope to learn and that you will be mindful of their time. Offer flexibility. Some people prefer to answer a few questions by email, and you should accept that if they suggest it.

When they agree, confirm the time and method in writing, and send a calendar invitation with the link or phone number. If you are meeting in person, choose a convenient place for them.

Step 3: Prepare thoroughly

Preparation is the difference between a polite chat and a valuable conversation.

Research the person. Read their profile, company page, publications or talks. Know their current role and past roles.
Learn about the field. Read the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET entries for the occupation so that you do not waste time on basic facts.
Write your goal in one sentence, such as "I want to understand whether corporate finance or investment banking fits me better."
Prepare five to eight questions, ordered by importance. Plan to ask only a few, since conversations flow.
Update your resume and have it ready, but do not offer it unless asked.
Prepare a 30-second introduction covering your background, interests and what you are exploring.
Test your technology and choose a quiet place.

Step 4: Good questions to ask

Choose open-ended questions that invite stories rather than yes-or-no answers.

About the work - What does a typical week look like in your role? - What parts of the job are most challenging, and which are most rewarding? - Which skills do you use most, and which did you not expect to need? - What tools or software do you use every day?

About the path - How did you get into this field, and what surprised you along the way? - If you were starting again today, what would you do differently? - What did you study, and how much did your major matter? - Which internships, projects or experiences helped most?

About the field and the future - How is the field changing, and how should a student prepare? - What makes someone stand out among entry-level candidates? - What are common misconceptions about this career? - What types of organizations hire people for this work?

About next steps - What would you recommend that I do in the next six months? - Is there anyone else you suggest I speak with? - What resources, books or communities would you recommend?

Avoid questions that can be answered by a quick search, questions about salary details that are personal, and anything that suggests you expect a favor.

Step 5: Conduct the conversation

Open warmly and briefly. Thank them for their time, restate the goal and confirm the length: "I know you have twenty minutes, and I will keep us on time." Give your short introduction and move to your first question.

Listen more than you talk. Take notes, ask follow-up questions and show interest. If they mention something you have in common, say so briefly. The best conversations feel like a discussion, not a questionnaire.

Be honest about your stage. You do not need to pretend to know more than you do. Admitting you are exploring invites advice.

Watch the time. Near the end, say, "I know we are close to time. May I ask one last question?" If they want to continue, that is their decision.

Close with gratitude and a next step. Ask whether they would be comfortable if you updated them on your progress. Ask for any recommended contacts, and whether it is appropriate to mention their name when you write. Thank them again.

Step 6: Follow up well

Within twenty-four hours, send a thank-you email. Keep it specific, brief and sincere. Mention one or two things you learned and how you plan to use them. For example, you might say you will take an additional statistics course or apply for a particular program, as they suggested.

Over the following weeks:

Act on at least one piece of advice.
Send a short update after a milestone, such as completing a course, finishing an internship application or choosing a major. This shows that you valued their time and gives them a reason to remember you.
If they introduced you to someone, thank them and let them know how that conversation went.
Record notes in a contact tracker: date, key advice, follow-up dates and any promises you made.

Do not ask for a job reference or referral too early. After a few interactions, if you have a specific, reasonable request, you can ask politely, and understand that they may decline.

Handling common situations

They are short on time. Offer an email exchange of two or three questions, or a ten-minute call. Respect their answer.

You freeze or run out of questions. Keep your top three questions on a card. If silence happens, ask, "What advice do you wish you had heard at my stage?"

They give advice you disagree with. Thank them, and treat it as data. You do not need to argue. Different people have had different experiences, which is why speaking with several is valuable.

They offer to pass your resume along. Thank them, and send a tailored resume. Check it with our ATS Checker first, and follow the guidance in our article on a finance internship resume.

The conversation turns toward a job. If they raise it, respond with interest and follow their lead. If they do not, do not ask for a position. You can say you are interested in hearing about openings in the future.

Virtual versus in-person

Video and phone calls are common because they are efficient. For video, check your background, lighting and sound. In person, arrive early, dress appropriately for their workplace and offer to cover a coffee if you meet outside the office. Whichever format you choose, keep the schedule you promised.

Build a small research project

Treat informational interviews as a research project rather than a series of one-off favors.

Choose a question, for example, "Which entry-level finance role fits my strengths?"
Talk to at least three to five people with different roles.
After each conversation, write a summary of what you heard.
After several conversations, compare answers and look for patterns.
Update your plan: courses, internships, skills to learn and further people to meet. If a skill like spreadsheets or databases comes up repeatedly, our Excel, SQL and Python learning path offers a way to start.

This approach also gives you material for later interviews, when employers ask why you chose their field. You can answer with specific examples of what you learned from professionals and how you tested your interest. See our guide to entry-level finance interviews for how to tell that story.

Etiquette checklist

Be punctual and prepared.
Keep the conversation within the agreed time.
Do not record without permission.
Respect confidentiality. If they share something sensitive, do not repeat it.
Do not ask for a job in the first meeting.
Say thank you twice: at the end and in writing.
Offer help when you can, such as sharing an article or introducing them to a student group.

The bottom line

Informational interviews are a low-cost way to learn how work really happens and to start relationships in your field. Choose people carefully, ask for a short conversation, prepare thoughtful questions, listen well and follow up with gratitude and updates. Over time, the advice you receive and the contacts you build can shape your choice of major, your internship applications and your confidence when you finally apply for a job.

Sources and further reading

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