student and professional at coffee

Informational interviews

Talk with people in the working world to gain a better understanding of an occupation or industry – and build a network of contacts in that field.

Benefits

Informational interviews are one of the most effective networking strategies. By reaching out and talking to people who do work that you're curious about, you can:

  • Learn more about career options you’re interested in
  • Follow up on research from books, articles, courses, etc.
  • Get information specific to you
  • Fast-track the answers to some of your career questions
  • Open the door to opportunities like internships, volunteer roles, summer jobs, part-time work, contracts or paid work experience

Finding people to interview

Leverage your connections at UBC

  • Meet UBC alumni at Arts Career Expo, Beyond the BSc, or other events specific to your major
  • Speak to recruiters at employer information sessions, UBC Career Days and other career fairs
  • The Centre for Student Involvement and Careers has employer directories for specific industries such as science, new media, nonprofits and the public sector

Do your research

  • Business in Vancouver is a weekly newspaper with articles and profiles that feature companies or people at companies in bold type, so they’re easily identifiable. BIV also has an events calendar, which you can find for free online
  • Eluta.ca is the official job search engine of Canada’s top employers
  • Many professional associations have websites with industry information and career-related resources

Get out into the community

  • Reach out on LinkedIn or Twitter
  • Go to lectures or events and participate in discussions
  • Find associations that hold events for professionals

How to ask for an interview

  • Introduce yourself in a few short sentences
  • Explain how you found the person’s contact information
  • Be specific about what you’re looking for; use the words “informational interview” and say how long you want to meet for (e.g., 15-30 minutes)
  • If the person can’t meet with you, ask them to refer you to other people or places to go for more information
  • Offer to provide a resume so the person will know more about you
  • Offer to meet them at their work place or near their work place during business hours to make it convenient for them

Questions to ask

  • What are some tasks or projects you work on?
  • What skills can help you excel in this field?  
  • What would entry-level work in this field look like? How do you advance? What does the typical career path look like? 
  • How would the experience from this kind of job transfer to other related roles?
  • What is the work culture like in your industry?
  • What kinds of people are you in contact with regularly?
  • Who else should I talk to?
  • What resources (like websites, industry associations or organizations) should I look into?
  • What is the most effective way to stay connected to current events and news particular to your industry?
  • Was graduate school necessary to prepare for or advance in this career? If so, which programs do you recommend?

Tips for success

  • Assume that people in the working world are willing to talk to you. You may think people aren’t interested in talking with you, but people will be supportive if you show genuine interest in what they do.

  • Don’t confuse it with a job interview. Be clear with the interviewee – and yourself – that you’re only looking for information. Don’t be afraid to mention skills or experiences that led you to this field, but don’t fish for opportunities.

  • Leave with two ideas to move forward, examples: two people to talk to next, or two organizations to volunteer with, or two websites you hadn’t seen before.

  • Be respectful of their time.

  • Send a thank you note right away!

External resources

  • Ten Thousand Coffees

    Build your network, share your experience and exchange ideas. Connect with the right people for the right conversations

  • 50 Ways to Get a Job

    Where are you at in your job search?

  • Glassdoor

    Salary details, company reviews and interview questions - all posted anonymously by employees and job seekers.

Networking topics

Career events

November 2019

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
1
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching
2
3
4
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM: Resume & Cover Letter
5
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Career Advising: What Can I Do With My Major?
6
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Panic to Power: Build Your Confidence 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Employer On Campus: Deloitte Technology Consulting
7
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM: Career Advising: Feeling Stuck or Unsure
8
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching
9
10
11
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching
12
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Graduate School: Planning Your Application
13
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch n’ Learn: Get Research Experience (engineering undergrad) 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Employer On Campus: ICAEW South East Asia Ltd. 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Career Advising: What Can I Do With My Major? 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Master of Physical Therapy Info Session
14
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM: Career Advising: Feeling Stuck or Unsure (engineering undergrad) 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: My Career Story: Getting A Tech Job Without A Tech Degree
15
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching
16
10:30 AM - 3:00 PM: Ynot Sponsor Happiness
17
18
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Industry Nights - Spotlight on Cannabis
19
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Employer Information Session with JLL (Off Campus)
20
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Employer On Campus: Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
21
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Career Advising: What Can I Do With My Major?
22
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Interview Preparation Strategies
23
24
25
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: University Of Southern California Information Session
26
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Panic to Power: Build Your Confidence 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Graduate Students: Interviews and Negotiation (WEBINAR) 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Career Advising: What Can I Do With My Major?
27
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Interested in Working in Local Government in Northern BC? Drop-in Sessions To Learn About 12 Month Internships Starting in May 2020
28
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM: Career Advising: Feeling Stuck or Unsure 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Study Medicine in Australia! 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Employer On Campus: City of Vancouver
29
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Drop-in Peer Career Coaching
30

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