Browse this slide deck to learn some practical advice on how you can use LinkedIn to arrange an informational interview. (c) 2020 Randy Mahoney Jr. All rights reserved. If you use or cite this resource, please give proper credit and attribution /// Connect with me on Social Media /// *Medium -- https://medium.com/@randynmahoney *Twitter -- https://twitter.com/RandyNMahoney *Ko-Fi -- https://ko-fi.com/randynmahoney /// Visit my "Start Here" Page /// https://sites.google.com/view/rmahoneyjr-products/starthere

1. SATURDAY SERIES
A once-a-month series of posts to help you
work with purpose.
#SaturdaySeries
#WorkWithPurpose
(c)2020 Randy Mahoney Jr. All rights reserved

2. This month’s topic:
Using LinkedIn for Informational Interviews

3. PART 1
What is an Informational Interview?

4. DEFINING “INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW”:
● An informational interview is a “learning interview.”
● You get a chance to ask someone further along than you in their career
how they got there.
● You get to ask them questions and learn from them!

5. PART 2
Three Types of Questions You Can Ask
in Informational Interviews

6. 1. Person-Focused
Questions

7. Examples:
■ What training / experience helped you most in your current role?
■ What keeps you coming back to your work each day?
■ What projects are you working on right now?
■ What are you reading right now that is helping you?

8. 2. Company-Focused
Questions

9. Examples:
■ How do you see [company name / career field / specific job title] changing
in the next 3-5 years?
■ What is your company doing now to try and meet those changes?
■ How would you describe the company culture of [company name]?

10. 3. Questions to help
your Next Steps

11. Examples:
■ Is there anyone else you recommend I speak to?
■ Do you have any questions for me that I could answer?

12. PART 3
Three Best Practices to Help You Have a
Successful Informational Interview

13. Best Practice #1
Research people to contact
and the companies they work for

14. A few
key
points
on this...

15. SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE TO CONTACT:
● Research people who are doing a job you’d like to have in the future.
● Find their profiles on LinkedIn, and consider browsing LinkedIn in ‘Private
Mode’ as well, since you aren’t necessarily connected with them on that
platform.
● Take notes on their experience, skills, education, and other information. This
will help guide you in what questions you should ask when you have your
interview with them.
MORE ON LINKEDIN PRIVATE MODE
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/49410/browsing-profiles-in-private-and-semi-private-mode?lang=en

16. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles

17. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
Glassdoor can be a great tool to help you
learn about a company’s culture, find out
about their interview process, and read
company reviews.
This information is great for you to know
before you have an interview, and can help
you be more selective in the companies and
individuals you choose to learn from.

18. Best Practice #2
Contact individuals
through LinkedIn

19. CONTACTING SOMEONE ON LINKEDIN
FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
● The best way to contact someone on LinkedIn is by sending them a
message…
● Usually on LinkedIn, you need to be connected with someone first before
sending them a message. (If you have LinkedIn’s Premium features, you can send
messages to any contact without being connected. )

20. CONTACTING SOMEONE ON LINKEDIN
FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
● Consider these steps…
1. Connect with someone you want to contact on LinkedIn. Send a personalized
invitation if you can.
2. Once they accept, write a thank-you message to them for connecting with you,
and also request for an informational interview.

21. Best Practice #3
Use a script
or template (at first)

22. USING A SCRIPT OR TEMPLATE FOR
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
● Often, I have used a template to help me when I’ve wanted to request
informational interviews
● Here’s a sample script you can copy and adapt to your needs...

23. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
“Hi, My name is __(your name)___ and I wanted to ask about arranging an informational interview
with you. I am __(your current job or your desired career interest)__ and I want to know _(reason you
are contacting them, such as learning more about a certain industry or their specific company)__. It
shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes . Please let me know some dates or times that would
work for you. Thank you for following up with me. I appreciate it.
Sincerely,
_(your name) __

24. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
Here’s why I believe this template
can work for you on your career journey...

25. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
1.You clearly ask the person what you’re
looking for...

26. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
“Hi, My name is __(your name)___ and I wanted to ask about arranging an informational interview
with you. I am __(your current job or your desired career interest)__ and I want to know _(reason you
are contacting them, such as learning more about a certain industry or their specific company)__. It
shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes . Please let me know some dates or times that would
work for you. Thank you for following up with me. I appreciate it.
Sincerely,
_(your name) __

27. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
2.You set expectations and show respect
for the other person’s time and schedule...

28. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
“Hi, My name is __(your name)___ and I wanted to ask about arranging an informational interview
with you. I am __(your current job or your desired career interest)__ and I want to know _(reason you
are contacting them, such as learning more about a certain industry or their specific company)__. It
shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes . Please let me know some dates or times that would
work for you. Thank you for following up with me. I appreciate it.
Sincerely,
_(your name) __

29. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS:
“Hi, My name is __(your name)___ and I wanted to ask about arranging an informational interview
with you. I am __(your current job or your desired career interest)__ and I want to know _(reason you
are contacting them, such as learning more about a certain industry or their specific company)__. It
shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes . Please let me know some dates or times that would
work for you. Thank you for following up with me. I appreciate it.
Sincerely,
_(your name) __
SIDE NOTE:
Whatever time you use, stick to that time for your informational
interview! An informational interview is another chance for you to
give a good first impression to someone.
Who knows--the person you interview today could be a future
supervisor or colleague.

30. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
If you’re someone who has...
*Connected with someone on LinkedIn
*Done your research & prepared great
questions
*Asked in a way that respects the other
person’s time

31. SEARCHING FOR COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS:
● To research companies you’re interested in, find the company using…
○ Glassdoor
○ The Company Website
○ Company Social Media profiles
Why would they not say “yes”
to your request?

32. PART 4
Thank You!

33. Thanks for reading this series. I appreciate it!
I hope it’s helped you feel more confident for your next informational
interview.

34. IMAGES COURTESY OF:
● https://www.freeimages.com/photo/notepad-1426169
● https://www.freeimages.com/photo/message-received-1472713
● https://www.freeimages.com/photo/couple-lisen-music-1435383
● https://www.freeimages.com/photo/white-building-1221626
● https://www.freeimages.com/photo/ladders-1173769
● https://www.glassdoor.com/about-us/press/media-assets/
● https://premium.linkedin.com/
● https://brand.linkedin.com/downloads
#SaturdaySeries
#WorkWithPurpose
(c)2020 Randy Mahoney Jr. All rights reserved.

35. CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Medium.com/@RandyNMahoney
Twitter.com/@RandyNMahoney
(c)2020 Randy Mahoney Jr. All rights reserved.
#SaturdaySeries
#WorkWithPurpose

36. CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Ko-Fi.com/@RandyNMahoney
(c)2020 Randy Mahoney Jr. All rights reserved.
#SaturdaySeries
#WorkWithPurpose

37. VISIT MY “START HERE” PAGE:
https://sites.google.com/view/rmahoneyjr-products/starthere
(c)2020 Randy Mahoney Jr. All rights reserved.
#SaturdaySeries
#WorkWithPurpose