Informational Interview
Your completed,
typed
Information Interview assignment
must be
at
least 1.5
to 2 pages
in length
(
75 points
)
The information interview is a technique for finding out information about jobs and for making contacts. You
can find out
a lot by reading, but the best information comes from talking to people.
Here’s how it works:
1.
FIRST
, find someone to contact. It could be any person working in the field in which you’re interested.
Sources to find people include:
Your Facebook Account
Linked
-
In (www.linkedin.com)
Friends and family members
Professors
The Internet
-
Google
Professional Associations related to your occupation.
See resource
s
on second page.
You cannot use a youtube video as your informational interview.
2.
SECOND
, contac
t this person, introduce yourself
“Hi
Mr. Smith, my name is Jane Blane and I am a student
at Santa Monica College. I am very interested in finding out more about the field of ice
-
cream making. I
wonder if I could speak with you for about 15 minutes and ask
you a few questions. Would it be possible
for me to speak with you on the phone or meet with you in person regarding how to become a
professional ice
-
cream maker?”
3.
THIRD
, make a list of questions you’d like to ask them about their profession. For the pu
rposes of this
assignment, you must ask the person whom you are interviewing at
least
6
questions
.
Sample questions include the following:
Santa Monica College offers a Cool Careers Speakers Program, would you be willing to be a
potential speaker?
You would discuss your career, how you got started and what you do on a
daily basis
.
** REQUIRED QUESTION**
Do you have a college degree? Where did you go to school and what did you major in?
What do you like/best worst about your job/work?
What educat
ional background in necessary for this job?
What are the steps necessary to break into this field?
What made you decide to pursue this profession?
What is a typical day like for you?
What are important skills needed for this job?
What is the salary ra
nge for this occupation?
What might I expect to earn in an entry level position
in this career?
What are some related occupations to your profession?
What books/journals/associations would you suggest I explore for further information?
DO NOT
ask the per
son how much they specifically make.
4.
FOURTH,
a
sk for their business card or contact information
and send them a
THANK YOU NOTE
to thank
them for their time within 24 hours.
Thi
s can either be via email or US
mail.
Do not text a thank you note.
5.
FIFTH
,
write
a 1.5
-
2 pg
Summary of the I
nformation
that you learned after the interview. Include your
impressions of this field
-
would you want to do this particular job?
Why or
why not?