Informational interview

     I checked 3 website to learn informational interview such as Stanford University, Harvard University, UCLA.  What they say is almost the same. The purpose of informational interview is to gather information, not a job, and to build networking. They also mention, a matter of course, we have to be nice to the person or the company we will contact and have to be well prepared about the question we will ask.

There are the links of web site and brief summary below.
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Stanford University

http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/cdc/networking/informational-int

     According to Career Development Center of Stanford University, informational interview is not job interview. The purpose of informational interview is to get an advice and information from a person who is working in an industry or a company which we are thinking.


     There are some steps for informational interview. Before the meeting, We have to set up the meeting. To set up the meeting, we can phone or send an email asking for a meeting. We need to think about the best time to call or call back again to the person.

     When you call, we need to introduce ourselves briefly, and explain we are researching the field and asking them an advice, not a job. The time we ask should me 20-30. We can also offer to buy coffee or lunch to them, but usually, to ask them a informational interview in their work place is the best solution.


     During the meeting, we need to introduce ourselves briefly, and explain why we want to the advice, such as the reason why we are thinking to get in the industry, how our current major or experience connect to the industry, when are graduate from school, and we can even mention we are looking for a summer internship if we want to. In the end of the meeting, we can also ask them to introduce someone who could be helpful for us to find more possibilities. Be nice for the person in the end of the meeting.


     After the meeting, we really need to send a thank you letter.
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Harvard University
http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/undecided/infointerviewing.htm

     The difference about definition of informational interview between Stanford and Harvard is 
Harvard thinks it is also networking building. Other information in Harvard university is pretty mush the same with the Stanford.  It said : we need to research the industry and think about the questions we will ask such as how they feel about working in the industry, what kind of skills and experiences we have to have to get in the industry.

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UCLA
http://career.ucla.edu/students/ExploreCareers/WhatIsAnInformationalInterview.aspx

     Here is also almost the same: The purpose of informational interview is gathering information to understand the industry more, be well prepared before the interview, be nice during the interview, and send the thank you letter after the inter view.