How to Use Informational Interviews to Land Your Next Job

Most people find jobs through people they know. Not through job boards. Not through mass applications. Through conversations.

Informational interviews are one of the most underused job search tools out there. They feel awkward at first. But once you understand how they work, they become the single most effective way to get hired , especially for roles that never get posted publicly.

What Is an Informational Interview?

An informational interview is a short conversation , usually 20 to 30 minutes , with someone who works in a role, company, or industry you're interested in. You're not asking for a job. You're asking for insight.

The distinction matters. When you ask someone for a job, they get defensive. When you ask for advice, they open up. People genuinely enjoy talking about their work to someone who's listening.

This isn't a trick or a manipulation tactic. You're learning. And as a side effect, you're building real relationships with people who can help you down the road.

Why They Work So Well

Here's what most job seekers don't realize: the majority of open positions get filled before they're ever posted online. Hiring managers ask their teams if they know anyone. Recruiters check their networks first. By the time a job hits LinkedIn or Indeed, the company may already have three strong candidates.

Informational interviews put you in the room before the job exists. When someone you've spoken with hears about an opening, your name comes to mind. Not because you asked for a favor , because they remember talking to you.

There's also a practical benefit. You learn what hiring managers actually care about, which skills are in demand, and what language people in that field use. All of that makes your resume and cover letter sharper when you do apply.

Who Should You Reach Out To?

You don't need to target CEOs or senior executives. In fact, the best informational interviews happen with people one or two levels above where you want to be.

People in your target role. If you want to become a product manager, talk to product managers. They'll tell you what the job actually looks like, what skills they use daily, and how they got there.

People at your target companies. Even if they're in a different department, they can tell you about the culture, hiring process, and what the company values.

Alumni from your school. This is one of the easiest ways to get a response. People feel a connection to fellow alumni and are more likely to say yes.

Second-degree connections. Look at your LinkedIn network. Who do your connections know? A warm introduction from a mutual contact has a much higher response rate than a cold message.

Former colleagues who've moved on. People you've worked with before already trust you. If they've moved to a company or role you're interested in, they're a natural starting point.

How to Ask for an Informational Interview

Keep your outreach short, specific, and low-pressure. Nobody wants to read a four-paragraph message from a stranger.

Here's what works:

Be clear about why you're reaching out. Don't be vague. Say exactly what you're curious about.

Make it easy to say yes. Ask for 20 minutes. Offer to meet whenever works for them. Let them choose the format , coffee, phone, video call.

Don't mention job openings. The moment you ask about jobs, it stops being an informational interview and becomes an awkward favor request.

Here's a sample message that gets responses:

"Hi Sarah, I came across your profile while researching product management roles in fintech. I'm currently transitioning from software engineering and I'm trying to understand what the day-to-day looks like in PM. Would you be open to a 20-minute call sometime in the next couple weeks? I'd really appreciate your perspective."

That's it. No life story. No flattery. Just a clear ask with context.

Response Rates

Not everyone will reply. That's normal. Expect roughly a 30 to 40 percent response rate on LinkedIn, higher if you have a mutual connection or shared background. Don't take silence personally. Send a polite follow-up after a week, then move on.

Aim to send five to ten outreach messages per week. Even if only two or three convert to conversations, that adds up fast over a month.

What to Ask During the Conversation

You have 20 to 30 minutes. Don't waste them on questions you could answer with a Google search.

The best questions fall into three categories.

About Their Work

• What does a typical week look like in your role?
• What's the most challenging part of your job that people outside the field don't see?
• What skills do you use most that you didn't expect to need?
• How has your role changed in the last two years?

About the Industry

• What trends are you seeing that will affect hiring in the next year or two?
• What skills are becoming more important in this field?
• Are there any certifications or experiences that actually make a difference, versus ones that look nice but don't matter much?

About Getting Hired

• How did you get into this role?
• If you were hiring for your team right now, what would you look for on a resume?
• Is there anything you wish you had known before starting in this field?
• Are there other people you'd suggest I talk to?

That last question is important. It keeps the chain going. One good conversation can lead to three more.

What Not to Ask

Don't ask about salary unless they bring it up. Don't ask them to review your resume during the meeting , that's a separate favor. Don't ask if they know of any openings. And don't dominate the conversation. You should be listening 70 percent of the time.

How to Follow Up

This is where most people drop the ball. The follow-up is what turns a one-time conversation into a real professional relationship.

Send a thank-you within 24 hours. Keep it brief. Mention one specific thing you learned from the conversation. This shows you were actually paying attention.

Example:

"Thanks again for taking the time to chat today. Your point about cross-functional stakeholder management being the hardest part of PM really shifted how I'm thinking about positioning my experience. I appreciate the honesty."

Connect on LinkedIn if you haven't already. Add a note referencing the conversation.

Follow up on anything they recommended. If they suggested a book, read it and tell them what you thought. If they mentioned a conference, attend it and let them know. If they introduced you to someone, report back on how that conversation went.

Check in every few months. Share an article they might find interesting. Congratulate them on a promotion or work anniversary. Keep the relationship warm without being needy.

Turning Conversations Into Opportunities

Informational interviews don't turn into job offers overnight. But they compound over time.

Here's how the chain typically works. You have a conversation with someone. You learn about their team and company. A few weeks later, a position opens up. They remember you and send it your way , or even refer you directly.

Sometimes it's faster. You mention you're looking, and they say "actually, we're about to post something on my team." That happens more than you'd think.

The key is volume and consistency. One informational interview won't change your job search. Twenty will. Each conversation teaches you something new, expands your network, and increases the chance that someone thinks of you when the right role opens up.

Tracking Your Conversations

Keep a simple spreadsheet with:

• Name and company
• Date of conversation
• Key takeaways
• Any follow-up actions
• Who else they suggested you talk to

This doesn't need to be complicated. A Google Sheet with five columns works fine. The point is to not lose track of the connections you're building.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Asking for a job directly. This defeats the entire purpose. If someone feels ambushed, they won't help you , and they definitely won't refer you.

Not doing your research beforehand. If you ask basic questions that are answered on the company's website, you're wasting their time. Come prepared with specific, thoughtful questions.

Talking too much about yourself. This is about learning, not pitching. Save your elevator pitch for actual interviews.

Skipping the follow-up. A conversation without follow-up is a wasted opportunity. The relationship is the asset. Maintain it.

Only reaching out when you need something. Build your network before you need it. The worst time to start networking is when you're desperate for a job. The best time is when things are going well.

Being too formal. You're not writing a cover letter. Be professional but conversational. People respond to authenticity.

Making This Part of Your Routine

The job seekers who have the most success with informational interviews treat it like a habit, not a one-time activity.

Block 30 minutes twice a week for outreach. Identify five people you want to talk to. Send your messages. When conversations happen, take notes and follow up. When someone suggests another person to talk to, reach out within a day or two while the referral is fresh.

Over the course of a month, that's potentially 15 to 20 conversations. Each one makes you smarter about the market and more connected to the people in it.

Polishing Your Resume Between Conversations

As you learn from informational interviews, you'll start noticing patterns. People in your target role keep mentioning certain skills. Hiring managers care about specific types of experience. The language people use to describe good candidates starts repeating.

Use that information to update your resume. Adjust your summary. Reword your bullet points. Add keywords that come up in conversations. This is insider knowledge that no job posting will give you.

If you want to make sure your resume reflects what you've learned and passes through applicant tracking systems, tools like Sira can help you match your resume to job descriptions and catch gaps you might miss on your own.

The Bottom Line

Informational interviews take effort. You have to research people, write thoughtful messages, show up prepared, and follow up consistently. Most job seekers won't bother. That's exactly why the ones who do get better results.

You're not asking for handouts. You're having conversations, learning from people who've been where you want to go, and building relationships that naturally lead to opportunities. Start with one conversation this week. Then do another next week. The momentum builds faster than you'd expect.