How to Ask for an Informational Interview: Email Scripts

You've identified your dream role at an exciting company, but there's no open position yet. Or maybe you're exploring a career pivot and need insider knowledge before committing. The most effective way to gain authentic insights and build valuable connections is through informational interviews—casual conversations where professionals share their experiences and advice with you.

Unlike formal job interviews where you're being evaluated, informational interviews put you in the driver's seat. You're the one asking questions, learning from someone's career journey, and building relationships that often lead to future opportunities. Research shows these conversations provide perspectives you'll never find on company websites or job postings, while simultaneously expanding your professional network in meaningful ways¹.

The challenge? You need to convince a busy professional—often a stranger—to share 20-30 minutes of their time with you. The good news is that most people enjoy talking about their work and helping others. With the right approach, you can dramatically increase your success rate.

What Makes Informational Interviews So Valuable

Informational interviews serve three critical purposes that traditional research cannot replicate. First, they provide insider information you won't find publicly available—the nuanced realities of a role, honest perspectives on company culture, and unfiltered advice about breaking into a field¹.

Second, you learn directly from someone's experiences, both their successes and mistakes. This firsthand knowledge helps you avoid common pitfalls and identify the most strategic paths forward in your own career journey. Rather than learning these lessons the hard way, you benefit from their years of trial and error compressed into a single conversation.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, informational interviews build your professional network authentically. While you're not asking for a job during these conversations, you're establishing genuine connections with people in your target field. When opportunities arise, you'll already be on their radar as someone who showed initiative and genuine interest¹².

The psychological benefit shouldn't be overlooked either. Career transitions and job searches can feel isolating and overwhelming. Connecting with friendly professionals willing to help often provides both clarity on decisions and a meaningful morale boost that carries you through the challenging moments.

Finding the Right Person to Approach

Strategic targeting dramatically improves your response rates. Start by identifying professionals who currently hold roles you aspire to or work at companies that interest you. Look for people at mid-senior levels rather than C-suite executives—they typically have more availability while still offering valuable insights¹.

Prioritize connections whenever possible. Alumni from your school, mutual contacts, or people you've met at industry events respond far more frequently than cold outreach. A warm introduction from a shared acquaintance can increase your success rate by as much as 50-75%. When you have no direct connection, look for shared interests, backgrounds, or experiences you can reference to establish rapport².

LinkedIn serves as your primary research tool for identifying potential contacts. Search by company, job title, and location, then review profiles to find people whose career paths align with your interests. Look beyond the obvious choices—someone who transitioned from your current field into your target industry might offer especially relevant advice.

Consider reaching out to multiple people rather than putting all your hopes on a single contact. Professional networking is a numbers game, and not everyone will respond regardless of how well-crafted your message is. Having several conversations also gives you varied perspectives rather than a single viewpoint.

Crafting Your Request: What to Say and How to Say It

Your outreach message needs to accomplish several goals simultaneously: introduce yourself, explain why you chose them specifically, make a clear and specific request, and demonstrate respect for their time. Whether you're sending an email or LinkedIn message, certain principles apply universally.

Lead with a request for help or advice. People respond positively when they feel they can provide valuable guidance. Opening with "I'd love your help learning more about..." or "I'm hoping you might advise me on..." frames the conversation collaboratively rather than transactionally².

Be specific about what you're asking for. State clearly that you're requesting a brief informational interview—for instance, "Would you be available for a 20-minute conversation?" Specifying the time commitment (15-30 minutes maximum) shows you respect their schedule and makes it easier for them to say yes¹².

Personalize every message. Mention why you chose to contact them specifically. Reference a project they worked on, compliment an article they wrote, or point out something you have in common. This "hook" makes your request feel genuine rather than mass-produced and significantly increases response rates².

Make it easy to say yes. Offer flexibility in scheduling and format. Suggest "a quick coffee near your office or a 20-minute Zoom call—whatever is most convenient for you." Providing options and emphasizing your flexibility removes friction from their decision-making process¹².

Never mention job opportunities. Even if you ultimately hope this connection leads to employment, do not ask about open positions or mention jobs in your initial request. If the person senses you're just looking for work, they may redirect you to HR or ignore your message entirely. Keep the focus purely on learning from their experience².

Email Template That Gets Responses

The most effective informational interview requests follow a proven structure. Here's a template you can adapt to your specific situation:

Subject Line: Informational Interview Request – [Your Name]

Email Body:

Dear [Name],

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I'm a [your current role/student status] at [Company/University]. I came across your profile on LinkedIn and was impressed by [specific detail about their career/recent project/article they wrote].

I'm currently [exploring a career in X industry/considering a transition to Y role/researching companies in Z space], and I would greatly appreciate your insights. Would you be available for a brief 20-minute informational interview sometime in the next few weeks? I'd love to learn about your experience at [Company] and any advice you might have for someone in my position.

I'm flexible with timing and happy to meet over coffee near your office or connect via Zoom—whatever works best for your schedule. Even 15-20 minutes would be incredibly valuable.

Thank you so much for considering my request. I look forward to the possibility of speaking with you.

Best regards,

[Your Full Name]

[LinkedIn Profile URL]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

This template works because it's concise (under 150 words), personalized with specific details, makes a clear request with defined parameters, offers flexibility, and includes your contact information for easy follow-up³.

Alternative Outreach Scripts for Different Scenarios

Your approach should adapt based on your relationship with the contact. Here are variations for common situations:

When You Have a Mutual Connection:

Subject: [Mutual Contact] Suggested I Reach Out – Informational Interview Request

Dear [Name],

[Mutual Contact Name] recommended I connect with you. I'm a [your role] currently exploring [field/industry], and [Mutual Contact] thought you'd be an excellent person to speak with given your experience at [Company].

I'd love to learn about your career path and get your perspective on [specific topic]. Would you have 20 minutes for a brief informational interview in the next couple of weeks?

I'm happy to work around your schedule—coffee, phone call, or video chat all work well for me.

Thank you for considering, and please give my regards to [Mutual Contact]!

When You're a Recent Graduate or Student:

Subject: [University] Student Seeking Career Guidance – Informational Interview Request

Dear [Name],

As a fellow [University] graduate, I'm reaching out to seek your advice. I'm currently [year/major] and very interested in pursuing a career in [field], where I see you've built an impressive track record.

Would you be willing to share 20 minutes of your time for an informational interview? I'd love to hear about your transition from [University] to [industry/company] and any recommendations you might have.

I know alumni are busy, so I'm flexible with timing and format. Thank you for considering my request!

When Following Up After No Response:

Subject: RE: Informational Interview Request – [Your Name]

Dear [Name],

I wanted to follow up on my message from last week regarding an informational interview. I completely understand if you're too busy right now, but I'd still love the opportunity to learn from your experience if you have even 15 minutes available.

If the timing isn't right, I'm happy to reach out again in a few months. Thank you for your consideration!

Send a polite follow-up one week after your initial message. Many professionals simply overlook emails in busy inboxes, and a gentle reminder often brings your request back to their attention³.

Preparing Questions That Lead to Valuable Insights

Securing the meeting is only half the challenge—you need to come prepared with thoughtful questions that maximize the limited time. The goal is to facilitate an engaging conversation rather than conduct a rigid interrogation, so prepare 5-6 core questions with flexibility to explore interesting tangents.

Questions About Their Career Journey:

• How did you get into this field or profession?
• What level of education or training helped you land your current role?
• How did you navigate the transition from [previous role] to [current role]?

These opening questions invite storytelling and help you understand the path they took, including the strategic decisions and lucky breaks that shaped their career¹².

Questions About Day-to-Day Reality:

• What does a typical day or week look like for you?
• What are your main responsibilities as a [Job Title]?
• What are the biggest challenges and rewards of your work?

These practical questions reveal whether the reality of a role matches your expectations and help you assess whether you'd genuinely enjoy the work beyond its appealing title¹².

Questions About Skills and Qualifications:

• What skills or qualities are most important to succeed in your role?
• What surprised you most about what the job actually requires?
• If you were starting your career today, what skills would you prioritize developing?

Understanding the critical competencies helps you identify gaps in your own background and focus your professional development efforts strategically¹².

Questions About the Industry and Company:

• Is the industry growing and what changes do you foresee in the next few years?
• What do you like most about working at [Company Name]?
• What opportunities for advancement exist in this company or field?

These questions provide context about market trends and organizational culture while helping you evaluate the long-term viability of your career aspirations¹².

The Power of the Final Question:

Always end with: "Are there any professional organizations, resources, or other people you'd recommend I connect with?"

This question often yields the most valuable outcomes. Interviewees may refer you to industry groups, helpful websites, or even introduce you to additional contacts in their network. It demonstrates your eagerness to continue learning and often opens doors you didn't know existed¹².

During the Interview: Making a Strong Impression

When the conversation begins, express genuine enthusiasm and gratitude for their time. Start with a brief introduction about yourself (30-60 seconds maximum) before diving into your prepared questions. Let them do most of the talking—this conversation is about learning from their experience, not showcasing your own.

Take notes, but maintain eye contact and engagement rather than transcribing everything they say. Listen actively and ask follow-up questions when they mention something particularly interesting. Natural conversation flow matters more than checking every question off your list.

Watch the time carefully. If you requested 20 minutes, honor that commitment. About 5 minutes before your time is up, say something like "I know we're approaching our time limit" and ask your final question. If they offer to extend the conversation, that's their choice—but you should be prepared to wrap up as promised.

Before concluding, ask if they'd be comfortable staying in touch and if you could reach out occasionally with questions as you progress in your career journey. Most people will agree, establishing an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time interaction.

Following Up Professionally

Within 24 hours of your informational interview, send a thoughtful thank-you email. Reference specific advice they shared that you found particularly valuable: "Thank you for sharing your insights about transitioning from academia to industry—I found your advice on building data analysis skills really useful."

This follow-up accomplishes two things: it demonstrates professional courtesy and keeps you top of mind. If they suggested any actions (like reaching out in a few months or sending your resume), make sure to follow through on those recommendations.

Consider sending them a LinkedIn connection request with a personalized note referencing your conversation. Maintain the relationship by occasionally sharing relevant articles they might find interesting or updating them on your progress. When you achieve a milestone they helped you work toward, let them know—people appreciate seeing the impact of their advice.

These relationships often yield opportunities months or even years later. The person who spent 20 minutes with you might think of you when a position opens at their company or know someone hiring in your target field. Authentic networking creates compounding returns over time.

How HiredKit Prepares You for Networking Success

Informational interviews are most effective when you're approaching them from a position of professional readiness. HiredKit provides two essential advantages that strengthen your networking conversations:

ATS-Optimized Resume Builder: Generate polished, tailored resumes in 15 seconds from any job description. When you're meeting professionals in your target field, having a current resume that showcases relevant skills and achievements makes you memorable. If the conversation leads to "send me your resume," you're ready to follow up immediately with a professional document that positions you competitively.

Voice-Based Interview Simulator: Practice discussing your background and career goals with HiredKit's dual AI system—an interviewer who conducts realistic conversations and a coach who provides real-time guidance and feedback. The ability to articulate your story confidently makes informational interviews far more productive. Users report 89% increased confidence after just three practice sessions, helping you make stronger impressions during networking conversations.

When you combine strategic networking through informational interviews with professional presentation materials and practiced communication skills, you create a comprehensive approach to career advancement. The platform addresses the complete job search cycle, helping users secure 3x more interviews and build relationships from a position of strength.

Common Questions About Informational Interviews

How many people should I reach out to? Plan to contact 5-10 professionals for every 2-3 conversations you want to have. Not everyone will respond, and that's normal. Cast a wide net while personalizing each request.

What if they ask about my current salary or offer to submit my resume? For salary questions, you can politely decline to share specific numbers. If they offer to refer your resume, definitely take them up on it—but make sure your resume is polished and ready first.

Should I connect on LinkedIn before or after emailing? Send your email request first. If they agree to meet, send a LinkedIn connection request with a note thanking them for agreeing to speak. This sequence feels more natural than connecting first.

What if I'm changing careers and don't have relevant experience? Focus your questions on how to break into the field, what transferable skills matter most, and how others have made similar transitions. Your curiosity and enthusiasm for learning can compensate for experience gaps.

Can I ask the same person for multiple informational interviews? Generally no—one conversation should suffice unless significant time passes or your circumstances change dramatically. You can stay in touch periodically without requesting additional formal meetings.

Your Action Plan for Informational Interview Success

Informational interviews represent one of the most powerful yet underutilized career development tools available. Unlike passive job searching, these conversations let you proactively build relationships, gather insider knowledge, and position yourself for opportunities before they're publicly posted.

The professionals who leverage informational interviews effectively don't rely on luck—they follow a systematic approach: identifying the right contacts, crafting personalized requests, preparing thoughtful questions, conducting professional conversations, and maintaining relationships over time.

Start today by identifying 3-5 people whose careers or companies interest you. Research their backgrounds, find a personalized angle for your outreach, and send your first request using the templates provided. The initial message is always the hardest—after that, it becomes easier with each attempt.

Most professionals are genuinely happy to help someone who shows initiative and genuine interest in learning from their experience. Don't let fear of rejection prevent you from reaching out. The worst outcome is no response—but the potential upside is invaluable knowledge, meaningful connections, and career opportunities that would never have materialized otherwise.