This is a way of gathering information and should never be used for the purpose of asking for a job. You will interview professionals in careers that interest you and discuss their industry experiences. You learn about their careers, but also during the discussion, the interviewees learn about you, so you’ll potentially expand your network of industry contacts.
Ask your contacts if they’d be willing to offer you 15-30 minutes for an informational interview. A good way to ask for an informational interview is to mention that you are very interested in the interviewee’s field of work and that you would like to know what it’s like to work for the company. Emphasize that it will be a SHORT interview, and that you can meet in person or by phone. People rarely refuse an informational interview, no matter how high up on the career ladder they are. So, have no fear when approach influential people.
If they say they’re busy, let them know that you would be happy to wait until a time when they can fit you into their schedule. Follow up every 2 weeks with an email reminding them that you would appreciate them setting aside some time for the informational interview.
If they refuse the interview, thank them for their time, and ask them if they know of somebody else in their field who you could contact for an informational interview. Once you obtain a contact name, email the person and mention who referred you. You could also copy the original contact in your email.