When leveraged effectively, informational interviews can be a powerful tool in your job search. Put simply, informational interviews allow you to learn about a company, its culture, and the workplace dynamics from a current or former employee without the pressure of a formal job interview.
Because many executive jobs are never formally marketed and instead landed by way of networking, learning how to make the most of these conversations is increasingly important as you climb the corporate ladder.
But how do you successfully request an informational interview, what do you ask during one, and how do you convert the conversation into an actual job?
How To Request An Informational Interview Via Email
For starters, while requesting an informational interview doesn’t have to be complex, you do want to be mindful and strategic with your outreach and ask.
1. Start with a succinct subject line.
As I shared with the New York Post, many people’s email inboxes are flooded, so you want to begin with a succinct subject line that clearly communicates the content of your message.
Here is an example of what your subject line might look like: Requesting Informational Interview Regarding Engineering Culture at Meta.
You can also add some further personalization here to stand out in their email inbox. If you’re both fellow alums, for instance, you could mention that directly in the subject line.
2. Craft a clear call to action.
Within the body of your email, you want to remain brief and avoid burying the lede. Instead, clearly state within the first few sentences that you are requesting an informational interview to learn more about the company, culture, etc.
The following are a few examples of clear calls to action (CTAs) that you can include in your message:
- Would you be open to speaking with me about the culture at [Company]?
- Are you available to discuss what it’s like working on the product team at [Company]?
Note: Depending on your networking style and preferences, your ask may also be to conduct an informational interview via email or LinkedIn messaging, which is totally fine. The key here is to make your CTA as explicit as possible for the recipient, so there’s no confusion about what you’re requesting from them
3. Be mindful of when you send your message.
Before you hit send on your request, think about the best day of the week and time to send your message, which will depend on your recipient.
While every situation is unique, I often recommend sending messages on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, during typical business hours, to increase your response rate.
That said, if you have a personal relationship with the person or will be contacting their personal email address, you may have more luck contacting them in the evening hours when they’re not trying to catch up on email between work meetings.
Moreover, work from anywhere cultures have transformed the hours when many people work and check their emails, so know that your mileage may vary here.
A quick note: You don’t have to send the informational interview request via email. If you typically communicate with the person via text message or LinkedIn, you can contact them in that manner.
4. Follow up if you don’t hear back.
Also, be sure to follow up if you don’t hear back after your initial request for an informational interview. People are busy, and sending a follow-up message (or two) can skyrocket the number of coffee chats you secure.
That said, please be sure to give prospective interviewees enough time to respond in the first place, particularly since you’re asking them to do you a favor, and your request is non-urgent, to avoid coming off as pushy. Remember that you only get one first impression, and you don’t want your first one to be anything less than fabulous.
I generally recommend job seekers wait a week plus one day, or six business days, before following up on a quest for an informational interview. And if that follow-up date falls on a Monday or Friday, wait until the next business day that isn’t a Monday or Friday to follow up.
Email Template To Request An Informational Interview
A template can be a helpful jumping-off point when crafting an outreach message, so please feel free to use the following as inspiration the next time you request an informational interview.
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I hope this message finds you fabulous.
[Something customized to the recipient.]
Do you have 20 minutes for a brief informational interview in which you share your thoughts about your experience at [Company]?
As I look for my next product opportunity, [Company] is at the top of my target company list.
I’d love to learn more about the culture at [Company] from someone on the inside and whether there’s anything you wish you would have known before you joined the company.
Thank you for your consideration. I really appreciate it!
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
Important: This is merely a template for requesting an informational interview, and you’ll want to spend a few minutes customizing your message to the recipient. Taking time to craft a personalized email not only shows that you took the time to learn about the recipient but will also dramatically increase your response rate.
What Should You Ask During An Informational Interview?
Once you successfully secure an informational interview, use your time to ask wise and thoughtful questions that will help you decide whether this is a company where you can see yourself working and thriving. The conversation is also an opportunity to learn more about the company’s interview and hiring processes.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the different types of information you might want to glean, as well as sample questions you might ask during your informational interview:
Understand The Company And Culture
Since you’ll be able to speak with someone directly on the inside, many of your questions will likely be about the company and culture:
- Why did you decide to join the company?
- What’s your favorite part of working here?
- Is there anything about the company culture that surprised you?
Learn About The Team
Depending on the individual’s role within the company, you may also want to learn about the team and workplace dynamics:
- How is your team structured?
- What are the team dynamics like? What works well, and what could be optimized?
- Can you tell me about how the team navigates disagreement?
Glean Insights On The Interview And Hiring Process
Although you want to remain respectful of your interviewee, you can be more forward in an informational interview than you would in a traditional one regarding the hiring process, asking questions such as:
- What was your interview process like? Looking back, is there anything that you would have done differently?
- What have candidates said or done in the interview process that made the team say, “We have to hire this person!”?
- What things make your team immediately pass on a candidate?
Ask The Interviewee What Questions You Should Ask Them
Lastly, while it sounds simple, you might also consider asking, “What other questions should I be asking you?” This is a powerful reflective question that can really get your interviewee thinking, especially when it’s asked near the end of your conversation.
While your request may not always be fulfilled, it doesn’t hurt to ask for additional introductions at the company, such as a recruiter, hiring manager, or individuals in your functional area.
[Read: 10 Great Questions To Ask In An Informational Interview]
How To Turn An Informational Interview Into A Job
You want to avoid the mistake of assuming every, or even most, of your informational interviews will convert into jobs. Remember that the goal of the conversation is to learn more about the company, culture, and team.
That said, you can ask during your conversation what steps you should take if you find roles of interest open at the company. Then, you can regularly check the company’s Careers page and reach back out to your contact if you see a position that aligns with your qualifications.
Importantly, you can’t expect your contact to do the work for you. You must be the one to stay on top of checking the Careers page and notifying them if you’d like a referral for a position or an introduction to a hiring manager.
Final Thoughts On Making The Most Of Informational Interviews
Generally speaking, you want to simplify your job search wherever possible. You might consider setting a weekly or monthly objective of how many people you want to contact to request an informational interview, since working toward bite-size goals can make the process of finding your next opportunity more achievable. You’ve got this!
