All About Informational Interviews: what they are, why you need them, and how to use one properly

The political world can seem like an impenetrable fortress, especially if you're new to the industry and trying to get your foot in the door. With so much competition and hiring managers taking an average of 6 seconds to skim a resume, it's easy to feel like you'll never find your way in.

But there’s a secret entrance you may not be taking advantage of: informational interviews.

What is an informational interview and how does it work?

An informational interview is a casual yet purposeful conversation with someone who works in a field, role, or organization you're interested in. It’s a chance to make a valuable connection while picking their brain, learning from their experiences, and gaining valuable insights into the industry.

Here's how it works: You reach out to someone — maybe through email or LinkedIn — who’s in a job, organization, or field you’re interested in breaking into or learning more about. If you don’t know the person personally, check to see if someone you know does. They might be able to introduce the two of you. You explain that you’re eager to learn more about their career path and ask if they’d be willing to have a quick chat over coffee or a virtual call. 

Pro tip: Set a specific time between 15-30 minutes when requesting an interview. This gives the other person a sense of what to expect and doesn’t take too much time out of their day. In your conversation, once the amount of time you’ve asked for has passed, give them the option to end the conversation. If they have more time or want to keep the conversation going, that’s great, but you’ve shown that you respect their time and how busy they are.

During the interview, you get to ask questions, absorb their wisdom, and hopefully get some advice on breaking into the industry. At best, they may even offer to forward your resume to a hiring manager or personally recommend you, helping you bypass the struggle of being another faceless resume among hundreds or thousands.

Reminder, you should be treating an informational interview as more of a conversation rather than an interview. Although you should be driving the conversation with your questions, almost always the other person will also have questions about you or your interest in meeting with them.

At the end of the meeting, you should always have an ask. If you don’t make an ask, you are not utilizing the meeting to the fullest. Some common asks are: 

1. Can I keep in contact with you moving forward?

2. Do you have anyone you could connect me with whom I could also speak with to gain some more insight into your organization (or the industry)?

3. Can I reach out to you if I have any questions about the industry in the future?

4. Can you bump my resume?

1. This is only if you are actively applying for a role within their organization.

Don’t forget to follow up after the interview in writing, thanking the person for their time and the conversation! This is also a good opportunity to follow up on your ask.

Pro tip: Keep a spreadsheet of your informational interview/professional network contacts. This can be extremely helpful when you are on the job hunt or looking to fill gaps in your professional network. This can also help you keep track of your most recent contact with these people, so they aren’t just another informational meeting, but rather an ongoing professional relationship or even a mentor.

Why do I need an informational interview?

You might hate networking and think the hassle of organizing and attending an informational interview isn’t worth your time and energy. However, don’t let this hold you back from using this tool to further yourself professionally.

Here are 4 reasons why informational interviews deserve your effort:

1. Insider Knowledge: Sure, you can read lots of books and articles about politics, but nothing beats hearing real stories and insights straight from the folks who live and breathe it every day. Informational interviews give you access to insider knowledge that you can use in your job search.
   

2. Expand Your Network: In politics, who you know is just as important as what you know. By chatting with professionals in the field, you’re not only learning from their experiences, but you’re also expanding your network. Who knows? That person you grab coffee with could be the key to your next job opportunity.
   

3. Clarify Your Path: Ever feel like you’re wandering aimlessly in your job search? Informational interviews can help you clarify your career path. Maybe you thought you wanted to work on campaigns, but after chatting with a campaign manager, you realize that your passion lies in policy. These conversations can be eye-opening and help you focus your job search in the right direction.
   

4. Stand Out from the Crowd: Let’s face it — the job market is competitive, especially in politics. But by taking the initiative to set up informational interviews, you’re showing potential employers and colleagues that you’re proactive, curious, and serious about your career. That kind of initiative doesn’t go unnoticed.

Simply put, you can get a job without an informational interview. But an informational interview will make it a lot easier.

How do I request an informational interview? (step-by-step)

It might feel scary to reach out to someone you don’t know to ask for a favor. You’ll generally find, however, that most people are more than willing to chat with you. After all, everyone (especially in politics) loves to talk about themselves.

Here are some basic steps to request an informational interview:

1. Do Your Research: Identify professionals in the political field whom you admire or who are working in roles you’re interested in and find their contact information. LinkedIn and Arena Careers are great resources for this.
   
   Some companies also offer informational interviews for free. For example, Evinco Strategies offers free informational interviews to young progressives or Democrats looking to break into the political industry.
   

2. Reach Out: Once you’ve identified potential interviewees, shoot them a polite and professional email or message. Introduce yourself, explain why you’re reaching out, and request a brief informational interview. Trust us, most people are flattered and happy to chat with someone eager to learn.
   
   If possible, find a way to connect in your initial message (Ex. “I noticed we have some mutual connections and both went to the same college”). Making a connection makes it clear to them that you are in the same circle or network of people and adds a layer of buy-in for them.
   

3. Come Prepared: Treat these interviews like you would a job interview when preparing. Do your homework on the person you’re meeting with (and their organization, role, and industry), prepare some thoughtful questions, and be ready to take notes. Keep in mind if this is an in-person meeting, don’t take notes on everything, this is still a conversation you should be engaged and present in.
   

4. Follow-up: After the interview, don’t forget to send a thank-you email or message. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way in showing your appreciation and sets you up for building a longer-term connection. Bonus points if you mention something from your conversation or ask any further questions.
   
   This is also a good place to remind them of the ask you made at the end of your meeting. If you use LinkedIn, you can also request to connect with them there and send a message thanking them and emphasizing wanting to stay connected in the future.

What questions should I ask during an informational interview? (example questions)

Always prepare questions ahead of time for your interview. This will make sure you both get the key answers you’re looking for and provide backup if the conversation ever starts to fizzle.

5-10 questions will usually be more than sufficient. Make sure you prepare open-ended questions and don’t be afraid to follow up based on their answers.

Here are some example questions to prepare for an informational interview:

1. Can you tell me about your career journey and how you got to where you are today?

2. What do you enjoy most about your role in [organization/industry/position]?

3. What are the biggest challenges you face in your day-to-day work?

4. Are there any specific skills or experiences you would recommend for someone interested in pursuing a similar career path?

5. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to break into the [industry/field]?

Get networking!

So, there you have it — the lowdown on informational interviews and why they’re the secret resource in your job search toolkit. Getting your foot in the door is half the battle, and informational interviews might just be the shortcut you need.

Who knows? Your next coffee chat could be the first step toward your dream job in the political world. Happy networking!

Want an easy start? Request a free informational interview with a professional political consultant now!