Top 10 reasons to do informational interviewing:
- #10: Learn about cool, interesting, or new occupations by talking with people actually doing the work.
- #9: Find out all the juicy details about a field not printed in most books like the job setting, typical work day in the field, organizational culture, ideas for how you can break into the field or prepare your grand entrance.
- #8: Get a glimpse at a day in the life of someone actually doing what you'd love to do.
- #7: Access - as student you have or can get access to people who you may not have access to. Go after the dream job and do an informational interview with someone doing it.
- #6: Help get a clearer idea for making decision. Validate, test, or delete career options under consideration.
- #5: You might get a free lunch out of the deal! (or coffee, anyway)
- #4: Prepare for a career or job interviews by getting advice from professionals who were once in your shoes
- #3: You could actually impress somebody and get invited to a job shadow, apply for an internship, or be introduced to others in the field.
- #2: It’s better than reading a book.
- and the #1 reason is...
Contacts. People. Networking.