How Do I Initiate an Informational Interview?

The Yale Career Network (YCN) is a premier resource for alumni contacts across the university, including hundreds of FES alumni. CDO also maintains a data base of alumni as a resource for finding alumni in various institutions and geographical locations. We recommend that you contact alumni of interest through YCN or via email, with a brief introduction of yourself, a reason for writing, and a request for a 20 minute conversation. We recommend the same technique for contacting someone in your field who is not necessarily an alumni of FES.

Sample 1:

Dear Ana,

I am a 2nd year MEM at Yale FES focusing on urban ecology. I am interested in the work you do at x consulting firm, and wondered if you had 20 minutes for a telephone conversation to talk about what you do and how you got there.

I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx, or can call you at a time convenient for you.

All best regards,

So and So

Sample 2:

Dear Mr. Green,

I am a masters candidate at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where I am focusing on brownfield remediation. I was hoping you might time for a half hour meeting to talk about the work you do at the Connecticut Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development. I will be in Hartford from approx. 10a-4p daily the week of August 14th working on a project, and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

All best regards,

So and So Teal


If you don't hear back or get a luke-warm response, move on to another potential interviewee. Remember that the purpose of the informational interview is to gather information and develop a network, not to ask for a job or an internship. It is very likely that individuals you meet with (or speak to) will offer connections and career-related suggestions to you, and you should be prepared to provide connections for them as well (they may be interested in a faculty member, for instance, and you can provide an introduction).

See Marci Alboher's NYTimes blogpost on the information interview.