The information interview assignment is to help you grow your network of people in the field of your interest. This activity is part of your job search, but it is an exploration and not seeking a specific job. The goal is to learn all that you can about a professional who is in an occupation that you want to learn about through an informal interview in which you ask the questions and learn from their answers. The occupation does not have to be directly related to your major. You are the only one who can determine the usefulness in interviewing a particular person.

• Make a list of possible individuals to interview.
• Make contact with the individual and ask to interview for 20-30 minutes. (email template provided below)
• You may seek out a professional person as mentor here https://sjsu2.peoplegrove.com (????????).
• Create a list of open-ended questions to ask the professional. See Information Interviewing Information SJSU Career Center You may share these ahead of time.
• Determine a mutually convenient time for the interview.
• Set up a meeting on zoom and send them the link. Get permission to record ahead of time.
• Show up to the meeting on time and in semi-professional attire if this
• At the start of the interview ask the person to state their occupation
• At the end of the interview make sure to keep a few minutes to share what you learned from them and how this information will be useful to you.
• Make sure to follow up with a thank you email, stating what you learned and your gratitude for their time.
• Complete this assignment by uploading the recording to the assignment on canvas.
• State the 3 main takeaways in writing from the interview (text entry, or upload a doc).

E-mail template to request an Informational Interview

Subject: Request for Informational Interview
Dear [Potential Contact],

Introduce yourself and relationship to contact: I am a [your year] majoring in [your major] at San José State University. The career exploration course I am enrolled in this semester has an assignment which requires that I conduct an informational interview with someone in my field or occupation of interest. I saw from your profile on [LinkedIn, on SJSU Handshake or SJSU2 mentoring and meetups) that you [mention their job or what you two have in common].

Make your request: Although I am not currently looking for a job, I am very interested in learning all I can about [what you’d like to learn about: careers, their particular job, etc.] and [what else you’d like to learn from them]. I would greatly appreciate a videoconference meeting with you for 20 to 30 minutes to ask you a few questions about the field.
OR if they are in another city or country
I am very interested in learning all I can about [state what you’d like to learn about, e.g. careers in their field, their particular job, etc.] and [what else you’d like to learn from them]. I would greatly appreciate speaking with you via video conferencing.

Request response:
Please let me know some days and times when you are available so we can arrange a mutually convenient time. (If you know that certain days of the week are better for you, you might even say that here such as “I mainly have flexibility on Wednesdays after 1:00pm and all day on Thursday”. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,

[Your name]