The best way to ask for an informational interview is a short, specific message that explains who you are, why you chose this person, and exactly how much time you’re requesting. Most people are willing to spend 20 to 30 minutes talking about their career with someone who’s genuinely curious, but only if the ask is clear, respectful, and obviously not a disguised job pitch.
Find the Right People to Contact
Before you write a single message, spend time identifying people whose experience actually matches what you want to learn. LinkedIn is the most common starting point. Use filters for job title, company, and industry to narrow your search. Alumni networks are even better, because a shared school gives you an immediate reason to reach out and makes the person more likely to respond. Most universities maintain alumni directories or LinkedIn groups specifically for this purpose.
You don’t need to target executives or people with massive followings. Mid-career professionals, people two to five years ahead of where you are, often give the most practical advice because their experience is recent and relevant. They’re also less flooded with requests. Aim to identify five to ten people rather than pinning all your hopes on one person. Some won’t respond, and that’s normal.
What Your Message Should Include
Whether you send an email or a LinkedIn message, your request needs four elements: a brief introduction, a clear connection, a specific purpose, and a direct ask. Keep the whole thing under 150 words. Busy professionals scan messages quickly, and a wall of text signals that a conversation with you might also be unfocused.
Introduction: One sentence about who you are. Your current role, your field of study, or the career transition you’re exploring. “I’m a marketing coordinator with three years of experience exploring a move into product management” tells the reader everything they need.
Connection: Explain how you found them and why you chose them specifically. “I came across your profile on our university’s alumni network” or “I read your post about transitioning from consulting to tech” works well. Generic flattery doesn’t. Saying “I admire your impressive career” tells them you could have sent the same message to anyone.
Purpose: State what you want to learn. “I’d love to hear about your experience moving from agency work to an in-house role” is far more compelling than “I’d love to pick your brain.” The more specific your interest, the easier it is for them to say yes, because they can already picture the conversation.
Call to action: Ask for a specific, limited amount of time. “Would you be available for a 20-minute phone call or video chat in the next couple of weeks?” is the sweet spot. Twenty to 30 minutes is the standard range for informational interviews. Suggesting a format (phone, Zoom, coffee) while leaving the final choice to them shows respect for their schedule.
A Sample Request
Here’s what a complete message looks like when all four elements come together:
“Hi Sarah, I’m a junior at [University] studying economics, and I found your profile through our alumni LinkedIn group. I’m interested in learning more about working in financial planning, and your path from analyst to advisor is exactly the kind of trajectory I’d like to understand better. Would you be willing to chat for 20 to 25 minutes over Zoom sometime in the next few weeks? I’m happy to work around your schedule. Thank you for considering it.”
That’s it. No resume attached, no mention of job openings, no three-paragraph autobiography. The message makes it easy to say yes because the commitment is small and the purpose is clear.
Where and How to Send Your Request
Email is generally the most professional channel, and it’s the best choice when you have someone’s address through an alumni directory or a mutual contact’s introduction. LinkedIn messages work well when you don’t have an email address, especially if you share a connection or a group. A personalized connection request with a brief note can serve as your opening message, though LinkedIn’s character limits may force you to follow up with a longer message once they accept.
If someone you know can make a warm introduction, that dramatically increases your response rate. A quick “My former colleague Sarah is exploring careers in UX research and would love to ask you a few questions” from a mutual contact does more than any cold message you could craft. Don’t be shy about asking friends, professors, or former coworkers if they know someone in your target field.
What to Do If They Say Yes
Once someone agrees, confirm the time and format promptly, and be prepared to adjust your schedule to theirs. Prepare five to eight open-ended questions in advance. Good ones include “What does a typical week look like in your role?” and “What do you wish you had known before entering this field?” Avoid questions you could answer with a quick Google search, like “What does your company do?”
The single most important rule during the conversation: do not ask for a job. An informational interview is about gathering insight, not pitching yourself. If you start angling for openings or slide your resume across the table, you’ll damage the trust the person extended by agreeing to meet. You can bring a resume, but don’t pull it out unless the conversation naturally reaches a point where they offer to review it. Establish rapport first. If there’s a relevant opening down the road, a genuine relationship puts you in a far better position than a premature ask ever would.
Respect the time limit you proposed. When you hit the 20- or 25-minute mark, say so. “I know I asked for 20 minutes and I want to be respectful of your time” is a simple line that leaves a strong impression. If they want to keep talking, they will.
Follow Up Within 24 Hours
Send a thank-you note or email within 24 hours of the conversation. Reference something specific from your discussion, not just “thanks for your time.” Mentioning a particular piece of advice they shared or a topic that changed your thinking shows you were genuinely listening. Reiterate your appreciation, and if they suggested any next steps (a person to contact, a book to read, an event to attend), mention that you plan to follow through.
The thank-you note is also where you plant the seed for a longer relationship. A line like “I’d love to keep you posted on how my search goes” gives you a natural reason to reach back out in a few months without it feeling forced. The best informational interviews turn into professional relationships that benefit both sides over time, but only if you stay in touch.
When You Don’t Hear Back
Expect that some people won’t respond. It’s rarely personal. One polite follow-up message about a week after your initial outreach is appropriate. Keep it short: “Hi, just wanted to bump this to the top of your inbox in case you missed it. Completely understand if the timing doesn’t work.” If you still don’t hear back, move on. Sending a third message crosses the line from persistent to pushy, and there are plenty of other professionals who would be happy to talk with you.