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http://www.jhsph.edu/careers
JHSPH.Careers@jhu.edu
Career Planner
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
Informational interviews are one of the easiest and most effective ways to meet people in a professional field in which you
are interested. Tapping into the knowledge of others will provide you with invaluable information to help you as you make
career decisions. Informational interviews are meetings you arrange with a person who currently does the job you think
you might want, or who has specific knowledge of an occupation or career field of interest. Your contact person certainly
has the most up-to-date information on the position you are investigating, but may or may not have the power to hire you
within the organization.
GOALS OF INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING
1.
Create advocates
– at the conclusion of a good informational interview, you will have established a new
professional relationship with your contact. This contact will become an “advocate” for you-keeping their eyes
and ears open for any potential opportunities.
2.
Influential introduction
– if the contact you meet does not have the means to help you out directly, perhaps
he/she can provide you with an “influential introduction” to another colleague that might be better suited to
you. Having someone else vouch for you goes a long way in helping to meet new contacts.
3.
Personalizes your job search
– your job search is about you, the person. People want to hire people that they
think they know. Get out from behind your computer, go out and meet people. The more you do it, the better
you will get at it and the easier networking will become.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING
Email is the preferred method for starting any type of informational interviewing. It is less intrusive than a phone call and
the recipient can decide to respond at a time that works best for them.
1. Introductory email
What to remember:
1.
You are not asking for a job
2.
Think like a reporter gathering information and
asking good, open-ended questions
3.
Planting the “seed” for future help
4.
Tap into the fact that people generally like to talk
about themselves and usually are willing to help
5.
Initiate contact via email first
6.
Timely follow-up is the key to maintaining and
establishing the connection
7.
Confirm date, time and offer to call or meet with
them face-to-face
What questions to ask:
1.
How did you get to be where you are at?
OR
What was your career trajectory?
2.
What ways do you use your JHSPH training
in your current position?
OR
How did your
JHSPH training prepare you?
3.
What advice would you give to a student
preparing for their transition from school to
working?
4.
Can you describe your typical day to me?
5.
What is it like to work at your organization?
Subject line
: Questions from a current JHSPH student
Email Text
: My name is __________ and I came across your information in a search of ____________ in the
_____________. I’m curious to learn more about your career path and about your work at (name of
organization). I’m emailing you today to see if it would be possible to find a convenient time in your
schedule for an informational interview. I’d only ask for approximately 30 minutes of your time as I’m sure
your schedule is quite busy.
If necessary, I can send you more information about myself and what I’m currently doing at the Bloomberg
School of Public Health. I’m hoping you’ll be able to accommodate this request.
Thanks in advance for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
John Hopkins
MPH Candidate, May 2017