The informational interview is a "dynamic conversation with a
purpose." The purpose is to gain knowledge about an area of work
or field of interest by talking with a person doing that work.
As with any worthwhile endeavor, this technique requires some
work on your part, but the benefits are outstanding. Developing
this technique will expand your base of knowledge and sharpen
various transferable skills which will be beneficial throughout
your career. - Gain self-confidence, since it is a comparatively
low-stress situation - Obtain current job market information -
Meet new and interesting people - Make a network of contacts
which may be helpful in the future - Find out about jobs or
career paths you did not know existed - Enhance your
communication skills - Improve your social skills - Learn how to
manage a focused conversation - Observe various work
environments - Learn which skills are necessary for particular
occupations - Refine your decision-making skills Reasons Why the
Informational Interview is Underut