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Contact Us

Idaho Student Union Building, Vandal Success Center, 3rd Floor

Mailing Address:

875 Perimeter Drive MS 2534
Moscow, ID 83844-2534

Fall & Spring Semester Hours:
(M-F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Fall & Spring Semester Drop-in Hours:
(M-F from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.)
In-Person Drop-ins — Stop by the Vandal Success Center desk to get started (ISUB 3rd Floor)

Summer Hours:
(M-F from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
No drop-in hours are offered at this time – we encourage appointments

For students/alumni: to schedule an appointment please Schedule in Handshake.  
For alumni: please call or email the office to schedule an appointment.

Phone: 208-885-6121

Fax: 208-885-2816

Email: careerservices@uidaho.edu

Meet the Team Map

Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are a meeting with someone working in your field to learn about their career or company, and to receive advice. These conversations are not a job interview but are instead focused on gaining information from an insider's point of view about a career path or job that interests you.

  • Explore a career field you are considering by getting information straight from the source.
  • Gain valuable information for job hunting and career planning.
  • Learn about an organization's culture and needs, and your potential fit and value.
  • Gain experience and self-confidence in interacting with professionals.
  • Broaden your network of professional contacts.

  • Research individuals who work in fields or positions that interest you. You may get their name through a mutual contact, on a company website, or through LinkedIn.
  • Call or email the individual to express your interest in a meeting to learn more about their profession.
  • Mention any mutual acquaintances if possible.
  • Indicate clearly that you are hoping to learn more about their career field to help you explore this as a future career path.
  • Try to schedule a 20-30 minute meeting, to be conducted by phone or in person at their convenience.
  • Though you ideally want to schedule the meeting for a later date, be prepared to conduct the interview on the spot over the phone if the contact would rather chat immediately.

  • (Background) How did you get started in this field? What educational background or experience might be helpful in entering this industry/career?
  • (Work Environment) What is it like to work in this field? What are the daily duties of your job?
  • (Rewards) What do you find rewarding about this line of work? 
  • (Challenges) What are the toughest challenges you face? What challenges does the organization or industry have? 
  • (Salary) What salary level would a new person start at? 
  • (Industry) What trends do you see for this industry in the next 3 to 5 years? 
  • (Advice) What experience, paid or volunteer, would you recommend to make me a competitive candidate for this career? What suggestions do you have to help make my resume stand out? What advice would you have for someone getting started today?
  • (Demand) What types of employers hire people in this line of work? Where are they located? What other career areas do you feel are related to your work? 
  • (Hiring) What are the most important factors used to hire people in this work (education, past experience, personality, special skills)?
  • (Job Market) How do people find out about job openings in this field?
  • (Referral to Others) Based on our conversation today, who else would you recommend I talk to? May I have permission to use your name when I contact them?
  • Do you have any other advice for me?

  • Send a thank-you note or email to your contact for their time and information.
  • In your note, explain how this interview helped you.
  • Record the information obtained including names, comments and new referrals for future reference.
  • Reflect on your experience. What do you need to do next?

  • Dress as if it were an actual job interview.
  • Arrive to your appointment a few minutes early, and be courteous to everyone you meet.
  • Take the lead in conducting the interview; be prepared with a list of questions.
  • Ask open-ended questions that promote a discussion and cannot be answered with one-word responses. Take notes.
  • Observe the work environment — dress style, communication patterns, sense of humor, etc. Is this a place you would want to work?

Contact Us

Idaho Student Union Building, Vandal Success Center, 3rd Floor

Mailing Address:

875 Perimeter Drive MS 2534
Moscow, ID 83844-2534

Fall & Spring Semester Hours:
(M-F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Fall & Spring Semester Drop-in Hours:
(M-F from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.)
In-Person Drop-ins — Stop by the Vandal Success Center desk to get started (ISUB 3rd Floor)

Summer Hours:
(M-F from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
No drop-in hours are offered at this time – we encourage appointments

For students/alumni: to schedule an appointment please Schedule in Handshake.  
For alumni: please call or email the office to schedule an appointment.

Phone: 208-885-6121

Fax: 208-885-2816

Email: careerservices@uidaho.edu

Meet the Team Map