How Do I Initiate an Informational Interview?

The Yale Career Network (YCN) is a premier resource for alumni contacts across the university, including hundreds of FES alumni. CDO also maintains a data base of alumni as a resource for finding alumni in various institutions and geographical locations. We recommend that you contact alumni of interest through YCN or via email, with a brief introduction of yourself, a reason for writing, and a request for a 20 minute conversation. We recommend the same technique for contacting someone in your field who is not necessarily an alumni of FES.

Sample 1:

Dear Ana,

I am a 2nd year MEM at Yale FES focusing on urban ecology. I am interested in the work you do at x consulting firm, and wondered if you had 20 minutes for a telephone conversation to talk about what you do and how you got there.

I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx, or can call you at a time convenient for you.

All best regards,

So and So

Sample 2:

Dear Mr. Green,

I am a masters candidate at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where I am focusing on brownfield remediation. I was hoping you might time for a half hour meeting to talk about the work you do at the Connecticut Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development. I will be in Hartford from approx. 10a-4p daily the week of August 14th working on a project, and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

All best regards,

So and So Teal


If you don't hear back or get a luke-warm response, move on to another potential interviewee. Remember that the purpose of the informational interview is to gather information and develop a network, not to ask for a job or an internship. It is very likely that individuals you meet with (or speak to) will offer connections and career-related suggestions to you, and you should be prepared to provide connections for them as well (they may be interested in a faculty member, for instance, and you can provide an introduction).

See Marci Alboher's NYTimes blogpost on the information interview.

Leadership, Inspiration, Networking, and Knowing One's Strengths and Limitations

Under One Minute Workplace Wisdom Via YouTube

Leadership: Scrubs-J.D.'s Leadership Skills, From Scrubs

Inspiration: The Most Inspiring Thing Ever Said...From The Office, American version

Networking: How Not To Network, From Kintish

Knowing One's Strengths and Limitations: I'm a doctor, not an escalator, From Star Trek

What Are Your Salary Requirements?

Daryll Stevens of UCRiverside's Career Development Office hosts a wry career development blog--see his answer to the question, "What are your salary requirements?"

http://singlecellrebel.blogspot.com/2009/04/salaries-redux.html

How do I answer the interview question, "What Are Your Weaknesses?"

"I'm too much of a perfectionist" is NOT a good answer

Check out this post from the Harvard MBA for this common interview question about one's weaknesses:

http://www.asktheharvardmba.com/2008/04/07/why-do-job-interviewers-ask-me-about-my-weaknesses/