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One of the best ways to find out what a job or career is really like is to talk to someone who is employed in that field. By interviewing someone in his/her field of interest, a student can learn information on hiring trends, day-to-day duties, work environment, stress level, level of education required and other relevant topics. The informational interview worksheet in the Career Portfolio Guide offers sample questions. Students may find that they are not suited for a particular job just by speaking with others about what they do at work. In addition to providing a wealth of information on the current status of the workforce, an informational interview also establishes contacts in the student's area of interest. While it is inappropriate to ask for a job/interview/internship at the time an informational interview is conducted, a student can ask if the employer offers experiential learning or trainee programs and who to contact for more information. He/she can also express interest in pursuing a career in that field and the contact person may offer to help in that pursuit.
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