Called the "most effective way to network" (Heenehan, 1997), information interviews can be thought of as extended conversations with your network of contacts. The concept was first introduced by Richard Bolles, author of "What Color is Your Parachute?" the definitive book on career planning. In his book, Bolles maintains that it is impossible to decide on a career without gathering information first-hand from people who do the work.
The information interview, then, works especially well if you are in the early stages of career planning and you are exploring majors and career directions. By meeting with professionals, preferably at their work site, it allows you to 'try on a career' before you decide. For this reason, it's also a good strategy to use when you're trying to decide between two options in your field as you near your senior year. And because it is an extended conversation, it is wise to ask for a minimum of thirty minutes of your contact's time.
