An informational interview is a conversation to learn about someone’s work and experience. Start with a respectful request, ask useful questions, and leave with a clearer next step.
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Learning together at re:WORK.
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Start with one respectful request.
Choose someone whose experience relates to a role you are researching. Explain why you reached out and ask for a limited amount of time. Personalize this example using accurate details.
An informational-interview request
“Hi [name], I’m exploring [role] and noticed your experience in [specific area]. I’d value your perspective on what the work is really like. Would you be open to a 15-minute conversation? I understand if your schedule doesn’t allow it.”
Five informational interview questions
What work takes up most of a typical week?
What helps someone become effective in this role?
How is success measured, and what is challenging?
What did you need to learn when you started?
What would you suggest I research or practice next?
Follow through: Thank them for one specific insight and, when appropriate, explain how you used it. Ask before adding someone to a continuing conversation. An informational interview is a learning opportunity; a referral or job is never owed.
What this skill helps you do
Make every conversation useful for both people.
Professional conversations can reveal how work is actually done, what employers value, and where your assumptions need adjustment. Preparation gives the conversation direction; curiosity gives it value.
1
Open with purpose
Confirm the context, the time available, and what you hope to learn.
2
Discover through questions
Ask about experience, priorities, challenges, and decisions instead of seeking a scripted answer.
3
Close with clarity
Reflect what you learned, thank the person, and agree on any appropriate next step.
A practical framework
Open. Discover. Confirm.
A simple conversation structure helps you stay present without sounding rehearsed.
Open
Thank the person, restate the reason for the conversation, and confirm how much time they have.
Discover
Use a few prepared questions, listen closely, and follow the parts of the answer that matter.
Confirm
Summarize what you heard, check your understanding, and make the next step explicit.
Practice the skill
Prepare five discovery questions.
Write questions that invite experience and perspective—not information you could find on the company website.
Build your list: two questions about the work, one about how success is measured, one about a transition or challenge, and one about what you should research next.
Example: Instead of asking “What does your company do?” ask “When someone becomes effective in this role, what are they doing differently from when they started?”
Keep it grounded. Respect boundaries and time. An informational interview is not a disguised demand for a referral or a promise of employment.
Built by re:WORK TRAINING
Capture learning while it is fresh.
MissionXP helps you connect notes, contacts, target companies, activities, and next steps after each conversation.
Record the useful insight, schedule appropriate follow-through, and apply the learning to your campaign.
Listening is how a contact becomes a relationship.
Trusted professional relationships grow when people feel heard, respected, and accurately understood. A useful conversation creates value even when it does not lead directly to an opportunity.
Confirm the time available.
Ask questions you genuinely care about.
Listen before planning your reply.
Take concise notes with permission.
Send a specific thank-you.
Follow through on commitments.
REAL PEOPLE · COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Stacy’s next chapter started with a connection.
Stacy shares her career-change story, from salon work to a new opportunity. English captions and transcript available.
After years working in a salon, Stacy questioned whether she belonged in a different professional setting. A friend encouraged her to explore re:WORK. In this video, she describes the connection she made through an informational interview and the confidence she built.
Her story gives the practical work a human context: learning, being encouraged, and having a conversation that helps someone see your experience.
This is an individual experience with an earlier re:WORK program. Outcomes and timelines vary; current learning options are described below.
Read the video transcript
Visual context: Stacy speaks to the camera while seated in a bright pink blouse. On-screen captions display her words. Transcript punctuation and the spelling of re:WORK have been standardized for readability.
I had my daughter when I was about 20. And so being a single mom, doing hair, it was easy to bring her into the salon, but it was also challenging. Did that for 15 years, and then COVID hit. That changed everything.
So I had a friend recommend re:WORK, and I said no. I said no. I didn't think I belonged in corporate America. Like, that's not my type. I've been in the salon. So then my good friend just kept on pushing, like, come on, I think you'd be great at it. I'm like, no. It got to a point where my clients wasn't making money, so the first thing to go was their hair. They could just throw on a wig. They didn't need me anymore. So I was like, man, maybe I should take them up on this. And so I reached out, did everything I needed to, and then I was in re:WORK.
I think I got a job before re:WORK ended. I don't think I fully finished re:WORK where I was able to make a connection in the informational interview that I got snatched up.
If I went to a job without re:WORK, they would have said, yeah, you're not qualified. But me going through the re:WORK training, I'm able to be qualified. Having that opportunity and that gateway into a job, you wouldn't find that anywhere else. I honestly believe you wouldn't find that anywhere else.
I've been to different events where there's recruiters there and gravitate to me. I already have a job, but there's other people that's looking for a job. Why are they gravitated towards me when I have a job? I'm not looking. And I think it's re:WORK. It's not a task that I feel like I can't do, and that's thanks to re:WORK.
Oh, for the donors, I would say thank you. Thank you for even considering putting your money and time and effort into people you haven't met. But just know that I thank you for all of us because it wouldn't be possible without you. Sometimes you feel like, is anybody going to even really use this? Just know I'm ever so grateful because I would not be where I am without re:WORK, and re:WORK wouldn't be where they are without you guys. So I thank you for that. Get this work.
Common questions
Professional conversations without the pressure.
How long should an informational interview be?
Fifteen to thirty minutes is often enough. Ask for a limited amount of time and end when you said you would.
Should I ask for a job or referral?
Do not make access the price of the conversation. If an appropriate opportunity arises, discuss it honestly and without pressure.
What if I am nervous?
Prepare your opening and five questions, then focus on listening. You do not need to deliver a perfect performance.
Can I record the conversation?
Only with clear permission. Written notes are usually sufficient and may make the conversation feel more natural.
Continue the learning path
Use feedback without losing momentum.
Not every response will be positive. The next skill is learning from objections and rejection while keeping perspective.
QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING STARTED
A few things to know before you start.
Is the Academy free?
Yes. The Go To Market Career Academy is free for participants. You can begin self-paced learning in MissionXP.
Do I need a degree or sales experience?
Neither is required to begin the Academy. Employers set the requirements for the roles you pursue.
Can I use this guide without joining?
Yes. The guide and exercise are available here without signup. Create a MissionXP account when you are ready to continue with the Academy.
What happens after I create an account?
Complete your jobseeker profile, follow onboarding, and begin the Academy’s Kickoff Series. Self-paced learning is available alongside community support. Staff separately confirm cohort placement and schedules.
