Informational Interviews

Present November 7, 2016 @ 4-4:30 pm

I.) Introduction
a.) Name and major, a little about my career path I plan on taking.
b.) What I do as a peer advisor

II.) What are informational interviews?

a.) Talk a brief description
b.) Why they are important to students (especially those that do not know what to do with
their major).

III.) Who do informational interviews benefit?

a.) Everyone!
b.)

IV.) How to get an informational interview

V.) Relate to internship

notes
informational interviews (informational conversations)

research
What field/area are you interested in?
What company are you interested in?
What position are you interested in?

Gather the research in order to start prepping questions to ask the person you will be
interviewing with.

Some ways to start is look into what career path you want in your future:

Example: I want to be working in economics for the government in 5 years but in order to
understand how to get there it would be a good idea to see if I like the 1.) Area 2.) Company and
3.) The position. By getting an information interview I will know if it is worth going to graduate
school and continue on taking economic classes.

Make a list of your connection that can connect you to a possible person.

The list can be your professors, your job or fellow students that have other connections that
might work for you. A way to make the list more narrow is to focus on your what kind of
information you are looking to get. Try to stick within your career field and focus on those
connections.

reach out
You will likely find someone that you might find interesting and that you would like to have a talk
with.

In order to get connect use your student status as an advantage to get into contact with the
person.

Set up a 15-30 minute interview that will both benefit you but will not be a big time
commitment for the person being interviewed.

A way to connect could be:

Example: Writing an email stating that you are a PSU student and are interested in an
informational interview and to let you know when they are available.
review
When you get the interview you should know who you are talking to.

Google the person and the company to know the individual and the company culture.

Be sure to write any questions you would like answered before hand. The questions can be
anything from how they got started in the industry to how they

How did you get into the business?

Given how things are today would you do anything differently?
What is your job like day in and day out? What is the most satisfying thing about your job?
What do you think are some characteristics in order for someone to be successful at your
job?
What would you look for if you were hiring someone to work with you?
What would make a recent graduate stand out in your mind? What do they need to know?
If you were me what would you do next?
Can you think of someone else I should talk to?

MAKE SURE TO WRITE ALL THE ANSWERS DOWN SO BRING A NOTEBOOK OR PEN

BE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE

Writing a personal statement beforehand can be helpful.

BE PROFESSIONAL AND DRESS PROFESSIONAL

Even if this is not an interview to get you a job it will leave a lasting impression. Plus you are
taking time from their busy day so you want to look like its worth the 15-30 minutes.

Send both: thank you card and follow up letter describing how helpful the informational interview
was.