Informational Interviewing for Graduate Students & Postdocs

This practical networking guide introduces graduate students and postdocs to informational interviewing — one of the most powerful and underutilized career exploration strategies available to early-career professionals. The guide explains what informational interviews are (one-on-one conversations with professionals to gather insights about career paths, industries, roles, and employers), who to reach out to (including Penn alumni via myPenn and LinkedIn), when to start (the earlier in your graduate career the better), and exactly how to initiate contact through a concise, personalized outreach email.

Readers will find a step-by-step framework for conducting a successful informational interview, including how to research your contact in advance using LinkedIn and organizational websites, how to define a clear goal for the conversation, how to convey genuine curiosity and engagement, and how to ask thoughtful, open-ended questions about career paths, day-to-day responsibilities, organizational culture, and emerging industry trends.

The guide also covers the five most common mistakes to avoid — including asking for a job or referral, asking questions easily found online, being vague about your career goals, and overstaying your welcome — as well as best practices for meeting etiquette in both in-person and virtual settings, how to write an effective thank-you note within 24 hours, and how to maintain and grow your network over the long term. AI prompts are included to help users draft outreach emails, generate tailored interview questions, and research career fields and industries before each conversation. Printable pre- and post-interview checklists and a sample networking tracking spreadsheet make this guide an all-in-one resource for any graduate student or postdoc ready to take a proactive, relationship-driven approach to career exploration and job searching.

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