Read up on the career in which the person you will be interviewing is engaged. You can also look up the position in the government's Occupational Outlook Handbook , The Dictionary of Occupational Titles or Guide for Occupational Exploration all of which can be found in the NSU Career Resource library. Once you have the knowledge of your interviewee's occupation and of your own interests, abilities, and values, you will be better prepared for the interview. The reasons are varied. One thing that most people like to do is talk about themselves.
Most people enjoy sharing information about themselves and their jobs and, they love giving advice.
Send a letter requesting a brief informational interview, clearly indicating that it is for information only and that there is no job expectation. Follow up with a phone call to schedule an appointment. The best way to obtain an informational interview is by being referred from one professional to another, a process which becomes easier as your network expands. Prepare just as you would for an actual job interview. Polish your presentation and listening skills and conduct preliminary research on the organization.