ask-for-an-informational-interview

name	ask-for-an-informational-interview
category	get-hired
description	Ask for an informational interview with a truthful connection, focused learning goal, bounded time, and no-pressure decline. Use when learning about work from someone’s experience.

ask-for-an-informational-interview

When to use

• Use for career exploration, role transitions, or field learning.
• Do not disguise a job request or demand referral, mentoring, or unpaid work.

Procedure

1. Verify the person and a legitimate reason for contacting them.
2. State a narrow learning goal connected to their public experience.
3. Ask for a short call or asynchronous alternative.
4. Offer flexible timing and an easy decline.
5. Keep the message brief and free of attachments unless requested.
6. Follow up once at most and respect silence.

Failure plan

• If contact is inappropriate or private, use public events or published material.

Worked example

A career changer asks a public-sector analyst about moving from research into service design, with a written-answer option.

Done

• An informational-interview message records true context, learning goal, bounded ask, alternative, and contact details
• Identity, relevance, privacy, tone, time, easy-decline, follow-up, and no-job-ask checks verify readiness