Dinner with Alumni - For Students: Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are one way to receive more detailed information about an occupation or career.  Think about the following questions to enhance your dinner experience:

• What do you want to accomplish during this time with the alumnus/a?
  The primary objectives of an informational interview are to investigate a specific career field, obtain advice on where you might fit into a particular organization, learn the jargon and issues of a particular field, create a strategy for entering that field, broaden your network, and/or build relationships with GW alumni.
• How do you conduct an Informational Interview?
  Before your meeting, you should research your host’s employer and prepare questions to ask. During the event, share what information you would like to learn, initiate conversation, and gather information about the host’s experiences in a particular career path. Remember, this is not a job interview. Relax and have fun! After, be sure to send a thank you note to your host, and take the time to reflect on the experience.  What did you learn from the host and other students?  
• What kind of questions should I ask the host?
  Use open-ended questions to engage your host. Here are some examples: 
  • What general skills does a person need to be successful in this field?
  • What kind of background should an individual have in this industry?
  • What kind of training or education do you recommend?
  • What is the outlook for entry-level professionals?
  • What is the field’s future looking like?
  • Can you describe what a day looks like in your job?  

Feel free to ask questions about the host’s experiences as a student at GW, if and where he/she/they volunteer, and other activities he/she/they are involved in.  While dinner is certainly a setting for discussing career interests, make sure to get to know your host as an individual and former GW student.