Advanced Ways to Research Jobs

Let's Talk About Informational Interviewing and Job Shadowing

In Step 1, you started your job research by doing online research and reviewing job descriptions. These are quick and easy ways to learn about the required skills, experience, and education for jobs that interest you.

In Step 2, you will take it to the next level by conducting informational interviews. You may also do job shadowing, depending on where you work. These activities will give you a real-world view of the job to better understand if it is a good fit for you.

This advanced job research shows you what your future might feel like in that career.

These activities allow you to learn what a day in the life of an employee is like and understand the different paths your colleagues have taken to move into their chosen career field.

Informational interviews and job shadowing give you more valuable information than job descriptions.

Informational Interviewing

An informational interview is a conversation with someone who works in a job that interests you. You will ask questions about what they do and how they got to where they are today. In addition to learning more about the job, informational interviewing helps you build relationships in the career field.

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is when you observe someone while they perform their job. You might job shadow for a few hours or for a full day. You’ll learn what the job is like by asking questions about what they're doing and why they're doing it. Think of it like an exclusive sneak peek into a career.

Depending on the career decisions you are trying to make, you can do both informational interviewing and job shadowing, or just one of these.

When to do job shadowing

You may get all the information you need to make a career decision from an informational interview. But if you need a deeper understanding of what the job is really like, job shadowing is a great way to find answers. Check with your Human Resources (HR) Department to learn about Job Shadowing opportunities and what you need to know to prepare for this step.