They are also powerful builders of your contact network because the interviews are with decision makers. The principle advantage of information interviews is the reduced stress for both yourself and your contact. For setting up interviews, review section E. Research and Direct Approach Using Contacts under Part 7 Job Search Strategies . The very idea of research suggests going into unknown areas, meeting unknown people, and asking them questions. Even if you had a personal introduction to your contact, you would be strangers to each other.
Few people enjoy meeting strangers and fewer yet are comfortable asking questions.
An obvious solution is to practice asking questions that start conversations. We've been out of touch for years and just bumped into each other a few weeks ago. By establishing a mutual interest, this social exercise reduces the stress of getting your dialogue started. Now the conversation has a specific track on which to run. The same mutual interest will come to your aid with information interviews.