An informational interview is a professional meeting with someone who has a job that interests you. Conducting informational interviews can give you a deeper understanding of that job, pathways to getting there, and whether a similar position would be a good fit for you. You can also get helpful advice and expand your network.

Informational interviews can be great resources for physics and astronomy students. Many faculty advisors in these fields have little experience outside of academia, and career centers aren’t always sure what to do with physics and astronomy students. By conducting multiple informational interviews, you can get a good sense of career paths that you might like to pursue—and those that you want to avoid—in a relatively short amount of time. Here’s how to get started.

Brainstorm a few types of jobs that interest you

Need ideas? Read through the stories in this issue and look through the common job titles on page 20.

Get connected

Ask professors, career or alumni offices, friends, and family if they know anyone in those fields who might be willing to talk with you. You can also reach out to colloquium speakers or people you find on LinkedIn. Don’t limit yourself to people with physics or astronomy degrees, although such people might have valuable perspectives if you can find them. 

Set up the interview

When you request an informational interview, be professional and clear. Tell your contact who you are, why you are contacting them, and how you heard about them. Let them know that you’re a student exploring career options and you’d like to hear about their job. Be clear that you’re not asking for a job, and be specific about whether you’d like to meet by phone, video, or in person and for how long. A typical interview is 15 to 30 minutes.

Research and write your questions

Research the person, position, division, and company (or equivalent) in advance. Let your research guide your questions, but don't be too personal. For example, instead of asking how much money they make, ask about the typical starting salary in the field. Instead of asking for a job, ask for advice on getting into the field. It’s best to ask broad questions that will result in lots of information. You might ask about typical duties and responsibilities, highlights and challenges of the job, necessary skills or training, opportunities for advancement, workplace culture, and advice for students seeking to enter the field. Write down your questions and take them to the interview.

Conduct the interview

Informational interviews are fun opportunities to learn and expand your network. Be professional, respectful, on time (or early!), and prepared to introduce yourself and your interests. Bring a notepad and have your list of questions on hand.

Send a thank you

Send a short, personal thank you note within a few days of the interview to convey your gratitude and demonstrate your professionalism. In the note, mention something that you found particularly useful or helpful from the interview. This can help strengthen your relationship.

Reflect on what you learned

Summarize what you learned and decide on your next steps. For example, if your contact said that most people in that field are members of a specific professional society, you might consider joining. Or if they connected you to other people or opportunities, follow up on those leads.

Informational interviews are powerful tools; you can use them at any point in your education or career to explore new interests and possibilities!

This piece is adapted from Tool #2 in the SPS Careers Toolbox, a workbook published by SPS and the American Institute of Physics.
For details and to download the toolbox, visit spsnational.org/sites/
all/careerstoolbox.