Career Paths: Setting Up and Conducting Informational Interviews

Informational interviewing gives you an insider’s perspective on organizations where you might work but is focused on getting you career information and advice. We begin by defining what an informational interview is, its benefits, how it differs from a job interview, and how you go about setting one up. We then go over some essential questions you need to ask during your informational interview, and what you need to do with the answers you get. The exercise at the end gives you practice doing an informational interview with a partner.

Elizabeth K. Briody, Ph.D.
has been involved in cultural-change efforts for 40 years—first at General Motors Research, later through her consulting practice, Cultural Keys, and now as Co-Chair with the Anthropology Career Readiness Network which aims to improve student preparation for careers. She is Past President of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology and served as Secretary of the American Anthropological Association. In 2020, Briody was honored by the Society for Applied Anthropology’s Bronislaw Malinowski award for lifetime achievement.