Best Informational Interview Questions for College Students (2026)

The informational interview is the most underused networking tool in college. It's a conversation where you ask someone about their career — not asking for a job, just learning. And it works because people love talking about themselves. An informational interview gives them permission to do exactly that, in a context that makes them feel valued and helpful.

The problem is that most students don't know what to ask. They show up with no questions prepared, stumble through awkward small talk, and leave without having made an impression or gained any useful information. This guide gives you the best informational interview questions to ask — organized by category — so you can turn any conversation into a relationship and an opportunity.

What Is an Informational Interview (And Why It Matters)

An informational interview is a 20–30 minute conversation with someone in a career, company, or industry you're interested in. The goal is to learn — about their career path, their role, their company, and their advice for someone in your position. You're not asking for a job; you're building a relationship and gathering information that will help you make better career decisions.

Why it matters: informational interviews build relationships with people who can later refer you, introduce you to others, or hire you. They give you insider knowledge about companies and roles that you can't get from job descriptions or websites. And they help you clarify your own career direction — sometimes the most valuable outcome of an informational interview is learning that a role isn't what you thought it was, saving you from pursuing the wrong path.

The key insight: informational interviews are low-pressure for both parties. You're not asking for anything except their perspective. Most professionals are happy to share their experience with a student — it's flattering to be asked, and it's a way to give back. The barrier is not their willingness; it's your willingness to ask.

How to Request an Informational Interview

See our guides on how to network in college and how to reach out to alumni on LinkedIn for exact outreach templates. The key principles:

Be specific about what you're asking for. "Would you be open to a 20-minute informational interview about your experience at [Company]?" is better than "Can I pick your brain?"

Make it low-commitment. 20 minutes is the magic number — it's short enough that they'll say yes, and long enough for a real conversation. Offer to meet via Zoom or phone to make it easy.

Show you've done your research. Reference something specific about their background so they know you're not mass-emailing.

Don't ask for a job. The goal of the first conversation is to build a relationship, not to get a referral. If the conversation goes well, you can ask about opportunities later.

How to Prepare in 20 Minutes

You don't need to spend hours preparing. Twenty focused minutes will make you more prepared than 90% of students:

1. Read their LinkedIn profile (5 minutes). Understand their career path, current role, and any shared connections or interests.

2. Research their company (5 minutes). What does the company do? What's been in the news recently? Use Perplexity AI for real-time company intelligence.

3. Prepare 5–7 questions (10 minutes). Pick questions from the categories below. Write them down — don't try to memorize them. Having a list shows you're prepared and prevents awkward silences.

4. Prepare your 30-second intro. "I'm [Name], a [junior] studying [major] at [University]. I'm exploring careers in [field] and I reached out because [specific reason]. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me."

The Best Informational Interview Questions to Ask

About their career path (5 questions)

1. How did you get into this field? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do, or did you discover it along the way?
2. What was your career path from college to your current role? Were there any pivotal moments or decisions that shaped your direction?
3. Looking back, is there anything you would do differently in your career journey?
4. What surprised you most about this field when you started working in it?
5. If you could give your college-aged self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

About the company and industry (5 questions)

1. What's it like to work at [Company]? How would you describe the culture?
2. What's the most exciting thing happening at [Company] or in this industry right now?
3. What are the biggest challenges your company or industry is facing?
4. How does your team's work fit into the company's broader goals?
5. Where do you see this industry heading in the next 5 years?

About breaking in as a student (5 questions)

1. What skills or experiences are most valued when you're hiring interns or entry-level candidates?
2. What do you wish you had done in college to better prepare for this career?
3. Are there specific courses, projects, or internships that would make a student stand out for this role?
4. What's the best way for a college student to get their foot in the door at [Company]?
5. Is there anyone else you'd recommend I talk to — either at [Company] or in this field?

About the day-to-day role (5 questions)

1. What does a typical day or week look like in your role?
2. What do you spend most of your time on, and what do you wish you could spend more time on?
3. What's the most challenging part of your job? What's the most rewarding?
4. How does your role differ from what you expected before you started?
5. How do you measure success in your role?

Closing questions that open doors (3 questions)

1. Is there anything I can do to help you? (This surprises people and signals that you're not just taking — you're offering value too.)
2. Would you be open to staying in touch? I'd love to keep you posted on my progress and reach out if I have further questions.
3. Is there anyone else you'd recommend I connect with? (This is how you expand your network — one introduction often leads to another.)

Questions You Should Never Ask

• "Can you get me a job?" Never directly ask for a job in an informational interview. The goal is to build a relationship. If they have opportunities, they'll mention them. If not, pushing for a job damages the relationship.
• "What's your salary?" It's too personal for a first conversation. You can ask about salary ranges for the field generally, but not their specific compensation.
• "Do you like your job?" This is a yes/no question that kills the conversation. Ask instead: "What's the most rewarding part of your job?" or "What would you change about your role if you could?"
• Questions you could Google. "What does [Company] do?" shows you haven't done your research. Ask questions that draw on their personal experience — things you can't find on the company website.
• Anything overly personal. Keep it professional. Don't ask about their personal life, political views, or anything that could make them uncomfortable.

How to Turn an Informational Interview Into a Referral

If the conversation goes well, you can explore opportunities — but do it carefully. Don't ask directly for a referral. Instead, ask about the landscape:

"This has been really helpful. I'm planning to apply for roles at [Company] — is there anyone you'd recommend I connect with, or any advice on the application process?"

This opens the door for them to offer a referral without putting them on the spot. If they offer, great. If they don't, you haven't damaged the relationship — and you can follow up later when a specific role opens. For exact referral scripts, see our guide on how to ask for a referral.

If they mention someone else to talk to, follow up immediately: "Thank you for the introduction — would you be comfortable connecting us via email or LinkedIn?" Warm introductions from a mutual connection have a much higher response rate than cold outreach.

The Follow-Up Email Template

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. This is non-negotiable — it's how you convert a conversation into a relationship:

Subject: Thank you — [Your Name], [University]

Hi [Name],

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me yesterday. I really appreciated your perspective on [specific topic you discussed — shows you were listening]. Your point about [specific insight] especially stuck with me — I'm going to [specific action you'll take based on their advice].

I'd love to stay in touch and keep you posted on my progress. If there's ever anything I can do to help you — whether it's research, feedback on a project, or anything else — please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks again for your generosity with your time and insights. It made a real difference.

Best,
[Your Name]
[LinkedIn URL]

Then, follow up every few months. Share an update on your search, send an article they might find interesting, or ask a quick question. These check-ins keep the relationship alive so that when an opportunity arises — or when you're ready to ask about a role — you're not reaching out cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an informational interview be?

20–30 minutes. Ask for 20 minutes — it's short enough that people will say yes, and most conversations naturally extend to 30 if it's going well. Respect their time; if they need to wrap up at 20 minutes, let them.

How many informational interviews should I do?

Aim for 5–10 over your college career. That's enough to build a real network and gain diverse perspectives without becoming a full-time activity. Quality matters more than quantity — 5 genuine relationships beat 20 transactional conversations.

Should I take notes during the conversation?

Briefly, but don't let it dominate the conversation. Jot down key points, but maintain eye contact and engagement. Taking extensive notes makes the conversation feel like an interrogation rather than a relationship. Write more detailed notes immediately after the conversation while it's fresh.

Where can I learn more about networking in college?

See our complete guide on how to network in college for the full playbook. And for how to find people to interview, see our guide on how to reach out to alumni on LinkedIn. For turning conversations into referrals, see how to ask for a referral, and for building a broader network, see our guide on alumni referral networks.