Informational Interviews

What exactly does an actuary do all day? One of the best ways to find out is to conduct an informational interview!

The informational interview involves spending roughly 30 minutes with a professional in an area in which you have an interest, and "picking their brain", asking them precise questions about their daily tasks and job responsibilities. If you discover your own interests and skills match these, then you are that much closer to choosing your major and career direction.

Ideally, you should arrange informational interviews with a number of different professionals in different careers so you can compare between them. The important thing to remember is that you go as a learner. It's not a job interview, so don't worry about impressing them with your qualifications. You want to find out about their career. In my experience people are more than happy to talk about themselves and what they do!

So, how do you go about setting up these information gathering interviews?

  1. Choosing a company/ person to visit
    1. Identify companies engaged in the type of work in which you are interested, or hire persons with the skills you are interested in acquiring using the Internet, Company/ Professional Directories, Professional Magazines & Organizations.
    2. Use the Alumni Network to obtain the names of alumni in the field/major of interest
    3. Utilize the CDC resource library or Rolodex to obtain company information and potential contact names.
    4. The Telephone Book can be a great resource to identify companies in your local area.
    5. Contact Professors, Family, Friends, the CDC staff.
    6. Use the Career Search Database at the CDC.
  2. Set Up the Visit
    1. If you have the name of a specific person, call them. Give your name, explain you are a student at WPI. Tell them where you got their name. Say you are considering a career in ________ and you are gathering information from professionals in order to make an informed decision. Ask if you can set up a 30-minute meeting to ask them some questions about their position. Thank them if they say yes. Ask if they know someone else if they say no.
    2. If you are calling a company without a specific name, speak with the receptionist. Tell him/her you are a student interested in information about the ______field. Ask if there is someone you could speak with. Once you get a professional on the line, proceed as in a.
  3. At the Visit
    1. Thank the person for taking the time to see you! You have been looking forward to meeting with them. Recap your reasons for being there. Remember the reason for the informational interview is to find out about this career, this person's job, so keep your questions on track. Use the list of attached questions to prepare. Take lots of notes during the interview. It's expected!
  4. After the Visit
    1. Within a few minutes of your visit, like when you are in your car in the parking lot, quickly write down all your feelings about the interview. What impressed you positively or negatively about the career. Did it sound fun? Boring? Exciting? First impressions are very important. Once you attend a few of these informational interviews you'll start to discover which things you find appealing in a career/major and which you would like to avoid.
    2. Send a thank-you card. This is only polite and the person will remember you later if you make a follow up contact.

Although you are not interviewing for a position, you are making a contact. If a job does open up at the company later on, you are not just a name on a resume, you're a known quantity. Also, you have begun to develop a network. These people can provide useful resources and advice about job hunting, career questions, etc. Don't be afraid to use them later on.

You can use the same format for setting up interviews to discuss your major with Professors, Major Assistants, etc. In this case, the questions will be geared specifically to that major!

Good Luck and Enjoy!

Download the Informational Interviews Worksheet (PDF)

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: November 20, 2006 12:28:40