Benefits of informational interviewing:

☛ Get firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field, industry or position. This kind of information is not always available online or in print.

☛ Find out about career paths you did not know existed.

☛ Discover what others with your same major are doing in their careers.

☛ Get tips about how to prepare for and enter a given career.

☛ Improve your communication skills and confidence speaking with professionals.

☛ Learn what it's like to work at a specific organization.

☛ Gain knowledge that can help you in writing your resume, interviewing for jobs in the field, and your other job search activities.

☛ Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network of contacts in a specific career field; meet people who may forward job leads to you in the future.