Prepare for an Informational Interview: Step-by-Step Guide

An informational interview is one of the most underused tools in a job seeker’s arsenal — and how to prepare for an informational interview is the key to turning a casual coffee chat into a career-advancing conversation. Unlike a formal job interview, you’re not being evaluated for a specific role. Instead, you’re gathering insights, building a relationship, and positioning yourself as a thoughtful professional. But that doesn’t mean you can wing it. The best informational interviews happen when you’ve done your homework, crafted smart questions, and treated the other person’s time with respect.

This guide walks you through exactly how to prepare for an informational interview, from the moment you schedule it to the follow-up that keeps the door open. You’ll learn what to research, which questions to ask, how to structure the conversation, and how to avoid the mistakes that make people regret saying yes.

Key Takeaways

• An informational interview is a learning conversation, not a job pitch — treat it as such.
• Research the person and their career path thoroughly so you can ask specific, non-Googleable questions.
• Prepare a flexible list of 8–10 questions, but let the conversation flow naturally.
• Keep the meeting to 20–30 minutes unless the other person explicitly offers more time.
• Always send a thank-you note within 24 hours and stay in touch without being transactional.

How to Prepare for an Informational Interview: Research First

Before you even think about what you’ll ask, you need to know who you’re talking to. The biggest mistake people make in informational interviews is asking questions they could have answered with a quick LinkedIn search. When you do that, you signal that you didn’t care enough to prepare — and you waste the other person’s time.

Start with the person’s LinkedIn profile. Read their entire career history, not just their current role. Look for patterns: Did they switch industries? Take a pay cut to break into a new field? Spend years at one company before leaping to a startup? Those transitions are gold for your questions.

Then go beyond LinkedIn. Search for their name in Google News, check if they’ve written articles or been quoted in industry publications, and look for conference talks or podcast appearances. If they have a personal website or portfolio, spend time there. The goal is to understand their career narrative so you can ask questions that show you’ve done your homework.

If you’re speaking with a recruiter rather than someone in your target role, your research shifts slightly. Recruiters see hundreds of resumes and know exactly what hiring managers want. Before the call, review the job descriptions for roles you’re interested in and note any recurring requirements. Then, when you speak with the recruiter, you can ask how those requirements are actually evaluated in practice. For more on that, see our guide on how to prepare for an interview — many of the same research principles apply.

Clarify Your Own Goals for the Conversation

You’re not asking for a job, but you should still know what you want to get out of the conversation. Are you exploring a new industry and want to understand the day-to-day reality? Are you considering a specific role and want to know what skills matter most? Or are you building a relationship that might lead to a referral down the line?

Write down one or two clear objectives. For example:

• “I want to understand how product managers at mid-size SaaS companies prioritize features.”
• “I want to learn what skills helped this person transition from marketing to UX research.”
• “I want to know what a recruiter at this company looks for in a portfolio.”

Having a clear goal helps you stay focused and makes the conversation more valuable for both sides. It also prevents you from drifting into “So, do you have any jobs?” territory — which is the fastest way to turn an informational interview into an awkward, unproductive meeting.

Prepare Your Questions in Advance

This is the heart of your preparation. You should walk into the conversation with 8–10 well-researched questions, but you’ll likely only ask 5–7 of them. The rest are backups in case the conversation stalls or the person’s answers are shorter than expected.

Good informational interview questions are:

• Specific to the person’s experience. Instead of “What’s it like to work in finance?”, ask “You moved from investment banking to corporate FP&A — what was the biggest adjustment in your day-to-day work?”
• Open-ended. Avoid yes/no questions. “Do you like your job?” is a dead end. “What parts of your role give you the most energy?” invites a story.
• Not about you — yet. The first 80% of the conversation should be about them. Save questions about your own resume or job search for the end, and only if they offer.

Here’s a sample question framework you can adapt:

1. Career path: “What led you to your current role, and what were the pivotal moments along the way?”
2. Day-to-day: “What does a typical week look like for you?”
3. Skills: “What skills do you use most that you didn’t learn in school or formal training?”
4. Industry trends: “What changes do you see coming in this field over the next few years?”
5. Challenges: “What’s the hardest part of your job that people outside the industry don’t realize?”
6. Advice: “If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?”
7. Culture: “How would you describe the culture at your company — and what type of person thrives there?”
8. Next steps: “Based on our conversation, is there a book, course, or person you’d recommend I look into?”

If you’re speaking with a recruiter, adapt accordingly. Ask about the hiring process, what makes a candidate stand out, and what common mistakes they see. But remember: this is still an informational interview, not a job interview. Don’t ask “Can you get me an interview?” unless they explicitly invite that conversation.

Dress and Logistics: Treat It Like a Professional Meeting

Even though it’s informal, you’re still making an impression. Dress one notch above what you’d wear to the office if you were meeting in person. For virtual calls, a clean, professional top and a neutral background are enough. Test your microphone, camera, and internet connection 10 minutes before the call. If you’re meeting in person, arrive 5–10 minutes early and have a plan for who pays for coffee (you should offer).

How long should an informational interview be? Aim for 20–30 minutes. When you request the meeting, suggest a 20-minute call or coffee. If the conversation is going well and the other person seems unhurried, you can let it run to 30 minutes, but never be the one to push past the agreed time. If they offer more time, that’s fine — but always respect the original boundary.

During the Conversation: Lead with Curiosity

Start by thanking them for their time and briefly restating why you reached out. Then, let your questions guide the conversation. Listen more than you talk. Take notes — it shows you value what they’re saying and helps you remember details for your follow-up.

If the conversation naturally veers into your background, keep it concise. You can mention your current situation in 30–60 seconds, but pivot back to them. The goal is to learn, not to pitch yourself. If they ask about your job search, you can share briefly, but don’t hand them a resume unless they ask. If you’ve been using a tool to polish your resume, like the free AI resume builder at ResumeMate, you can mention it if it comes up naturally — but don’t force it.

After the Informational Interview: The Follow-Up

Within 24 hours, send a thank-you email. Reference something specific you discussed — a piece of advice, a book recommendation, a shared interest. This shows you were paying attention and makes the note feel personal, not generic.

Example:

Hi Maria, thank you so much for your time yesterday. I really appreciated hearing about how you transitioned from journalism to content design — and your point about building a portfolio of real-world projects gave me a clear next step. I’ve already started looking into the UX Writing Hub course you mentioned. Thanks again for your generosity.

If they offered to connect you with someone else, follow up on that within a week. If not, don’t ask for anything else in the thank-you note. The relationship is just beginning.

Stay in touch periodically — a quick email or LinkedIn message every few months with an update or an article they might find interesting. The goal is to build a genuine professional relationship, not to extract value and disappear.

Informational Interview vs. Job Interview: Know the Difference

It’s easy to blur the lines, but they are fundamentally different. A job interview evaluates whether you’re the right fit for a specific opening. An informational interview is a learning conversation where you’re the one asking most of the questions. You’re not being scored, and there’s no offer at the end.

That said, a great informational interview can lead to job opportunities down the road — but only if you don’t treat it like a backdoor job pitch. People can smell desperation. If you show genuine curiosity and respect, they’ll remember you when something opens up.

If you’re preparing for an actual job interview, our guide on how to answer “Tell me about yourself” and mastering the STAR method will help you nail the formal version.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-intentioned people sabotage their informational interviews with these missteps:

• Asking for a job. If you do this, you’ve broken the implicit contract. The other person agreed to share advice, not to hire you. If they bring up an opening, you can express interest — but don’t initiate.
• Not doing basic research. Asking “So what does your company do?” is insulting. You should already know.
• Monopolizing the conversation. You’re there to listen. If you’re talking more than 30% of the time, you’re doing it wrong.
• Skipping the thank-you note. This is non-negotiable. It takes five minutes and leaves a lasting impression.
• Asking for too much time. Respect the 20-minute boundary. If you need more, ask for a follow-up conversation later.

How to Prepare for an Informal Interview (When It’s Actually a Job Interview)

Sometimes, employers use the term “informal interview” or “informal chat” to describe an early-stage screening that feels casual but is absolutely evaluative. If a recruiter or hiring manager invites you for an “informal chat” or “coffee,” treat it as a job interview in disguise. Prepare just as thoroughly: research the company, review the job description, and have your own questions ready. The difference is the tone — it’ll be more conversational — but the stakes are real.

These informal interviews often happen over coffee or a quick video call, and the interviewer may use casual language to put you at ease. But don’t be fooled—they’re assessing your communication skills, cultural fit, and genuine interest. Prepare by researching the company’s recent news, understanding their products, and thinking about how your background aligns with their needs. Have a few thoughtful questions ready that show you’ve done your homework, such as asking about team challenges or recent company initiatives. Dress appropriately, even if the setting is casual; a neat, professional appearance signals respect. During the conversation, listen actively and answer questions concisely, just as you would in a formal interview. Afterward, send a thank-you note that references something specific you discussed. This approach turns a casual chat into a strong first impression.

For a full breakdown, see our complete interview preparation guide.

FAQ

Q: How to prepare for an informational interview with a recruiter?

A: Research the recruiter’s background and the types of roles they typically fill. Review job descriptions for positions you’re targeting and note the key skills and qualifications. Prepare questions about the hiring process, what makes a candidate stand out, and common mistakes applicants make. Remember it’s not a job interview — don’t ask for an interview directly, but you can ask what steps they recommend for someone with your background.

Q: How long should an informational interview be?

A: Aim for 20–30 minutes. When you request the meeting, suggest a 20-minute call or coffee. If the conversation is going well and the other person offers more time, you can accept, but never push past the agreed-upon time. Respecting their schedule is part of making a good impression.

Q: How to prepare for an informal interview (when it’s a job screening)?

A: Treat it like a formal interview. Research the company, review the job description, prepare your own questions, and practice your answers to common interview questions. The tone may be casual, but the evaluation is real. Dress professionally, arrive early, and follow up with a thank-you note.

Q: How to prepare for an informal phone interview?

A: Find a quiet space with good reception. Have your resume, the job description, and notes in front of you. Prepare 3–5 key points you want to convey about your background. Smile while you talk — it changes your tone. Treat it as seriously as an in-person interview, even if the recruiter calls it “informal.”

Q: What’s the difference between an informational interview and a job interview?

A: An informational interview is a conversation where you ask questions to learn about a career, industry, or company. You’re not being evaluated for a specific role. A job interview is an evaluation for a specific opening. In an informational interview, you lead the questions; in a job interview, the employer leads. Never ask for a job during an informational interview unless the other person brings it up.

Q: Can an informational interview lead to a job?

A: Yes, but indirectly. When you make a strong impression, people remember you. If a role opens up later, they may think of you or refer you. However, you should never go into an informational interview expecting or angling for a job offer. The primary goal is learning and relationship-building.

Q: How many questions should I prepare for an informational interview?

A: Prepare 8–10 questions, but expect to ask only 5–7. The extra questions are backups in case the conversation moves quickly or the person’s answers are brief. Prioritize open-ended questions that invite stories and insights.

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