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 to 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 interested in, 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, non-profits 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 lines
  • 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 (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
  • Expect to meet them at their work place or near their work place during business hours

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.

  • Be respectful of time. 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.

  • 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

October 2017

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
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12:30 PM: Global Seminars | African Security Issues from an African Perspective 6:00 PM: Employer on Campus: Bloomberg LP
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2:00 PM: Employer on Campus: Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) 3:00 PM: Panic to Power: Build Your Confidence
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10:00 AM: Global Experience Fair 1:30 PM: Resume and Cover Letter Lab 2:30 PM: Career Advising: Feeling Stuck or Unsure
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11:00 AM: Free University of Berlin Information Session 12:00 PM: EARTH University Information Session 2:00 PM: How to Prepare for a Career Fair 5:30 PM: Employer on Campus: Harvard Law School 5:30 PM: Employer on Campus: Realtor.com
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12:30 PM: Global Seminars | Impact Evaluation Analytics: LFS International Field Studies - Indonesia 1:00 PM: Career Advising: Feeling Stuck or Unsure 1:30 PM: Resume and Cover Letter Lab
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11:00 AM: Job Search Strategies 12:00 PM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 3:00 PM: How to Prepare for a Career Fair 4:00 PM: Global Seminars | Heritage of Chinese Migration 4:00 PM: PwC China-Hong Kong Information Session 6:00 PM: Employer on Campus: Tesla Motors 6:30 PM: Bank of Montreal Information Session
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10:00 AM: Go Global Research Abroad Information Session 12:00 PM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 12:30 PM: Global Seminars | Heritage of Chinese Migration 12:30 PM: Global Seminars | International Studies on Sustainable Agriculture in Cuba 2:00 PM: Interview Preparation Strategies 3:00 PM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 4:30 PM: Career Directions for Grad Students 5:30 PM: Employer on Campus: Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
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11:00 AM: Leveraging LinkedIn 5:00 PM: Employer on Campus Event: McKinsey & Company
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10:00 AM: Drop-In Design Zone | Career Days Learning Lab 11:30 AM: Career Directions for Graduate Students | Career Days Learning Lab 12:00 PM: Employer on Campus: General Motors of Canada 1:30 PM: How to Prepare for a Career Fair | Career Days Learning Lab 3:00 PM: Build Your Life's Work | Career Days Learning Lab 3:00 PM: Go Global Summer Programs Information Session 4:00 PM: Drop-In Design Zone | Career Days Learning Lab 5:00 PM: Global Seminars | Cyprus: Archaeological Field School 5:00 PM: Global Seminars | Horvat Midras, Israel: Archeological Field School 5:00 PM: Resume/Cover Letter Coaching | Career Days Learning Lab
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10:00 AM: How to Plan for Graduate School | Career Days Learning Lab 11:30 AM: How to Prepare for a Career Fair | Career Days Learning Lab 12:00 PM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 1:00 PM: Global Seminars | Theatre, Performance, Context - Greece 1:00 PM: Panic to Power: Build Your Confidence | Career Days Learning Lab 3:00 PM: Global Seminars | African Security Issues from an African Perspective 3:00 PM: Nervous About Networking? | Career Days Learning Lab 4:00 PM: Drop-In Design Zone | Career Days Learning Lab 5:00 PM: Resume/Cover Letter Review | Career Days Learning Lab 6:00 PM: Employer on Campus: Microsoft Interview Prep Workshop
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11:00 AM: Career Days and Graduate & Professional Schools Fair 11:00 AM: Global Seminars | Guatemala: Global Citizenship Abroad 12:30 PM: Ask a Hiring Manager: Navigating Your Career 4:00 PM: Global Seminars | Guatemala: Global Citizenship Abroad 4:00 PM: Global Seminars | Impact Evaluation Analytics: LFS International Field Studies - Indonesia 6:00 PM: Wish Information Session
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9:00 AM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 11:00 AM: Career Days and Graduate & Professional Schools Fair 12:00 PM: Ask a Former Grad Student: Navigating Your Career Options 12:30 PM: Global Seminars | Iceland Field Course - Science, Systems and Sustainability 2:30 PM: Ask a Recent Grad: Navigating the Transition from Study to Work 4:00 PM: Global Seminars | Guatemala: Global Citizenship Abroad
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12:00 PM: Employer on Campus | Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada 12:00 PM: Global Seminars | Guatemala: Global Citizenship Abroad
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12:00 PM: Global Seminars | China's Rise and Transformation: the View from its Fastest Growing City (UBC - SWUPL 2018 Summer Program) 12:30 PM: Employer on Campus: Avanade 3:00 PM: Job Search Strategies 5:30 PM: Employer on Campus: Consulate General of Japan (JET) 5:30 PM: Facebook Interview Workshop
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12:00 PM: Career Directions for Grad Students 12:30 PM: Sauder Exchange Information Session 1:30 PM: Resume and Cover Letter Lab
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12:00 PM: Global Seminars | EU Study Tour 2018 1:00 PM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 2:30 PM: Career Advising: Feeling Stuck or Unsure 3:00 PM: Leveraging LinkedIn 5:30 PM: Employer on Campus: Metro Vancouver
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11:00 AM: Go Global Exchange Information Session 12:30 PM: Global Seminars | European Sauder Summer Program 1:00 PM: Global Seminars | Nanjing Forestry Program 2:00 PM: Interview Preparation Strategies 6:00 PM: Employer on Campus: Isaac Operations
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12:00 PM: Employer on Campus | Turner Construction
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11:30 AM: Global Seminars | Learning Italian in Italy 3:00 PM: Panic to Power: Build Your Confidence

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