Practical analysis for investment professionals
08 March 2013

Career Conversations: Informational Interviews (Podcast)

You would find it challenging to name a career management tool as broadly applicable and potentially powerful as informational interviews. Informational interviews are at once a form of research and of networking and can help you with any number of career management efforts. Here are just a few examples of times in your career when informational interviews could prove to be an invaluable strategy:

  • Deciding whether a lateral job change to a different area of your company’s business is a good next move.
  • Setting realistic goals for your career development.
  • Deciding if starting your own firm is right for you.
  • Getting a referral at a company for which you are interested in working.
  • Initiating a mentoring relationship.

Patty Buchek, assistant dean for MBA Career Curricula at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, explains why informational interviewing is one of her very favorite career management tools and how to do it well.



Listen to this podcast to learn:

  • What informational interviewing is.
  • How to use the exercise of defining your “careerscape” to identify the best people to interview.
  • How to prepare for and manage an informational interview.
  • The dos and don’ts of informational interviewing.

Please note that the content of this site should not be construed as investment advice, nor do the opinions expressed necessarily reflect the views of CFA Institute.

About the Author(s)
Julia VanDeren

Julia VanDeren, manager, career services at CFA Institute, serves as the subject matter expert in career management skills, curating and developing career resources for members and program candidates. Previously, she served CFA Institute as career services representative, managing the CFA Institute JobLine (now Career Center) and Career Centre (now Career Tools) resources. VanDeren holds a BA from the University of Virginia and an MPA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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