Informational Interview

An informational interview is a low-stakes, candidate-led conversation — typically 20 to 30 minutes — in which someone exploring a field meets with a practitioner to learn about their work, organization, and career trajectory. Unlike a job interview, the person seeking information sets the agenda and asks the questions. No position is on offer, and no formal evaluation takes place.

For MUN delegates, IR students, and junior think-tank researchers, informational interviews are a primary way to map the policy ecosystem: understanding what a desk officer at a foreign ministry actually does day-to-day, how analysts at the International Crisis Group break into the field, or what credentials a UN agency program officer typically holds. They also surface unwritten norms — which master's programs feed which institutions, whether language certifications matter, how fellowships are sequenced.

Good practice generally includes:

• Researching the person first via their organization's website, LinkedIn, or recent publications, so questions are specific rather than generic.
• Requesting briefly and clearly, usually by email, stating who referred you (if anyone), why you chose this person, and proposing a short call.
• Preparing 5–8 focused questions covering their path, current role, the skills they rely on, and what they would do differently.
• Not asking for a job. The norm is explicit: this is about learning, not recruitment. Many practitioners will volunteer leads or introductions if the conversation goes well.
• Following up with a thank-you note within 24–48 hours, and ideally a later update when their advice has been acted on.

The format is well-established in U.S. and U.K. policy and consulting circles and is increasingly common at multilateral institutions, though norms vary: in some diplomatic services, cold outreach is unusual and referrals through alumni networks or supervisors are expected. Career services offices at schools such as SAIS, SIPA, the Fletcher School, and LSE routinely coach students through the process.