Utilizing Informational Interviews to support learning in classroom and workshop settings is a structured Career Awareness activity in which youth and young adults formally interview an employer partner about his or her industry, educational and career path, and chosen profession. Unlike a Guest Speaker activity, where speakers usually address a group in the classroom or in a workshop, Informational Interviews are one-to-one interactions and generally take place at the company or organization’s workplace. The interview includes discussion of the person’s chosen career, the path they took to get there, the level of education required and the responsibilities and daily activities of the job. The youth and young adults also ask questions and learn about the range of career opportunities within the industry or organization, opportunities for growth and the salary ranges for different occupations.

Informational interviews are designed to promote:

• Exploration of a field of interest
• Exposure to careers and jobs
• Awareness of the academic, technical and personal skills required in particular jobs
• The opportunity to practice and demonstrate key professional skills, including communication, critical thinking, workplace appearance and timeliness

All Informational Interviews should include structured activity before, during and after the experience. These activities help ensure that all involved parties have meaningful, productive experiences that result in enriched youth and young adult learning. Proper planning and preparation, attention to legal and safety details, maximization of learning potential, and communication and support for the youth or young adult and host will help ensure success.

Tip sheets and checklists for program staff, company or organization partners, youth and young adults and instructors are provided in this toolkit to help design, structure and support Informational Interviews to maximize youth and young adult learning. Each tip sheet supplements the Work-Based Learning essential elements described in this toolkit and provides a set of success factors and lists of activities or tasks to perform before, during and after the experience. A fact sheet for prospective employers is also provided.

In this Tool Packet: