Informational Interviews for Life Science Graduate Students

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-08-27

Quick Answer

• An informational interview is a short, structured conversation with a working professional that lets you learn about a career path without asking for a job.
• The practical next step is to identify five to ten target professionals through university alumni directories, professional society member lists, and LinkedIn, then send a concise email request.
• A key limitation is that informational interviews provide one person's perspective, not a comprehensive view of an entire field or occupation.

Understanding Informational Interviews in Life Science Careers

Graduate students in the life sciences often complete training focused on laboratory techniques, experimental design, and scientific writing. These skills transfer to many workplaces, but the connection between academic training and non-academic employment is not always obvious. An informational interview bridges that gap by giving you direct access to someone who has already made the transition.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the education pathways and work settings for hundreds of occupations. Many life science roles, including medical scientists, microbiologists, and biological technicians, require or prefer graduate education. The handbook also documents that workers in these fields are employed across government agencies, private industry, hospitals, and universities. This variety means that the person you interview could work in any of these settings, and each setting has different daily tasks, advancement structures, and workplace cultures.

The Office of Intramural Training and Education at the National Institutes of Health provides career development resources specifically for biomedical researchers. Their materials emphasize that exploring career options is an active process, not something that happens passively during graduate training. Informational interviews are one of the most direct ways to perform that active exploration because they put you in contact with someone who can describe their actual job duties, work environment, and career trajectory.

An informational interview is not a job interview. You are not asking for employment, and the person you speak with is not evaluating you for a position. Instead, you are gathering information about what a particular career actually involves. This distinction matters because it changes how you approach the conversation. Your goal is to learn, not to impress. That said, you should still present yourself professionally because the person you interview may remember you when a position opens in their organization.

Why Graduate Students Need Informational Interviews

Graduate programs in the life sciences train students to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate findings. These competencies are valuable in many workplaces, but graduate training rarely includes direct exposure to careers outside academic research. The American Society for Microbiology maintains career resources that describe the range of professional roles available to microbiologists, including positions in clinical diagnostics, public health, biotechnology, and science policy. Their materials note that many of these roles are invisible to students who spend their training inside a single academic department.

The gap between training and employment is a practical problem. You may know that you want to leave academic research but have no idea what alternatives exist. You may have read job descriptions online but found them vague about daily responsibilities. You may have attended career fairs but found the interactions too brief to yield meaningful insight. Informational interviews solve these problems by giving you an extended conversation with someone who can describe their work in concrete terms.

The O*NET OnLine database, maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides detailed task and skill descriptions for hundreds of occupations. You can use this database before your interview to learn what tasks are common in a particular occupation. For example, the O*NET entry for medical scientists lists tasks such as planning and conducting experiments, preparing and analyzing samples, and writing research proposals. Having this background before your interview lets you ask sharper questions about how the professional's daily work compares to the general occupation description.

Informational interviews also help you build a professional network. The National Science Foundation careers page describes the variety of scientific and programmatic roles available at a major federal research agency. Many of these positions are filled by people who learned about them through professional contacts. When you conduct an informational interview, you become a contact. The person you speak with may later alert you to job openings, introduce you to colleagues, or serve as a reference.

Preparing for an Informational Interview

Identify Your Target Careers

Before you can find someone to interview, you need to know which careers interest you. Start by listing the aspects of your graduate work that you enjoy. Do you like designing experiments, analyzing data, writing, teaching, or managing projects? Then use the Occupational Outlook Handbook to identify occupations that involve those activities. The handbook organizes occupations by education level, typical duties, and work environment, which makes it useful for generating a short list of possibilities.

You should also consider the work settings that appeal to you. A medical scientist working in a university laboratory has a different daily experience than one working for a pharmaceutical company or a government agency. The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes these settings for each occupation, including whether the work involves collaboration, independent research, or regulatory compliance. Use this information to narrow your list to two or three occupations that match your interests and preferred work environment.

Find Professionals to Interview

Once you know which careers interest you, identify specific people who hold those positions. Your university's alumni network is a good starting point because alumni are often willing to speak with students from their alma mater. Your department may also have a list of graduates who went into non-academic careers. Professional societies such as the American Society for Microbiology maintain member directories and networking events that can connect you with professionals in your field.

LinkedIn is another practical tool for finding professionals. Search for job titles that match your target occupation and filter by industry, location, or employer. When you find someone who seems like a good fit, review their profile to learn about their career path. Look for people who have a similar educational background to yours, because they can speak directly to the transition from graduate school to their current role.

You should aim to identify five to ten potential interviewees. Some will not respond to your request, and others will be unavailable. Having a larger pool ensures that you can schedule at least two or three interviews. The Office of Intramural Training and Education advises that career exploration is most effective when you gather information from multiple sources, so plan to conduct several interviews instead of relying on a single conversation.

Research the Person and Their Organization

Before you send a request, learn about the person you want to interview. Read their professional profile, look at their organization's website, and review any recent news about their work. This preparation serves two purposes. First, it helps you write a specific request that shows you have done your homework. Second, it helps you ask informed questions during the interview.

The O*NET OnLine database can help you understand the occupation before you speak with the professional. Look up the occupation title and review the tasks, tools, and work activities listed. This background knowledge lets you ask questions that go beyond what you could learn from a job description. For example, instead of asking what a regulatory affairs specialist does, you can ask how the professional spends their time across the tasks listed in O*NET, such as reviewing documentation, communicating with agencies, or coordinating with other departments.

Requesting an Informational Interview

Write a Concise Email

Your request email should be short, specific, and respectful of the recipient's time. The American Society for Microbiology career resources emphasize that professionals are more likely to respond to requests that are clear about the purpose and the time commitment. A good request email includes the following elements:

• A subject line that states your purpose, such as "Informational interview request from a graduate student"
• A brief introduction that explains who you are and your educational background
• A specific reason for contacting this particular person, such as their role, employer, or career path
• A clear statement that you are seeking information, not employment
• A request for a short conversation, typically 20 to 30 minutes
• A flexible offer to meet in person, by phone, or by video call

Here is a template you can adapt:

Subject: Informational interview request from a biology graduate student

Dear Dr. [Last Name],

I am a graduate student in [program] at [university], and I am exploring careers in [field]. I found your profile through [source], and I am interested in learning about your work as a [job title] at [organization].

I am seeking information about your career path and daily responsibilities, not employment. Would you be available for a 20 to 30 minute conversation in the next few weeks? I am happy to meet at your convenience, by phone, or by video call.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely, [Your name] [Your contact information]

Follow Up Appropriately

Professionals are busy, and your first email may go unanswered. Wait about one week, then send a brief follow-up message. Restate your request and note that you understand if they are unavailable. Do not send more than one follow-up. If you do not receive a response after the second message, move on to another person on your list.

When someone agrees to an interview, confirm the time and format promptly. Ask whether they prefer to meet in person, by phone, or by video call. Send a calendar invitation if that is appropriate. A day before the interview, send a brief confirmation that includes a reminder of the topics you hope to discuss.

Conducting the Informational Interview

Prepare Your Question List

Your questions should focus on the person's career path, daily work, and advice for someone entering the field. The Office of Intramural Training and Education recommends preparing questions in advance so that you use the interview time effectively. Organize your questions into three categories:

Career path questions help you understand how the person arrived at their current role. Ask about their educational background, previous positions, and the decisions that shaped their career. These questions are useful because they reveal the range of paths that can lead to a particular occupation.

Daily work questions help you understand what the job actually involves. Ask about typical tasks, how the person spends their time, and what they find rewarding or challenging. The O*NET OnLine database can help you formulate these questions by describing common tasks for the occupation.

Advice questions help you identify practical steps you can take. Ask what the person wishes they had known when they were in graduate school, what skills are most important for success in their field, and how you can make yourself a competitive candidate.

Manage the Conversation

Begin the interview by thanking the person for their time and restating your purpose. Keep the conversation focused and respect the agreed time limit. You should aim to speak for no more than a third of the conversation. The rest of the time should be spent listening and asking follow-up questions.

Take notes during the interview, but do not let note-taking distract you from the conversation. Write down key points, specific advice, and any names or resources the person mentions. If the person mentions a skill, certification, or experience that is important for the field, note it so you can research it later.

End the interview by asking if the person has any final advice or if they can recommend other people you should speak with. This question often leads to additional contacts and expands your network. Thank the person again before you end the conversation.

Send a Thank-You Note

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview. Keep it brief and specific. Mention one or two points from the conversation that you found particularly helpful. This note serves two purposes. First, it is a professional courtesy. Second, it keeps you in the person's memory, which may be useful if a position opens in their organization.

Question Banks for Life Science Informational Interviews

The following question banks are organized by the type of information you want to gather. Select questions that are relevant to your target career and the person you are interviewing. You do not need to ask every question. A focused set of eight to ten questions is more effective than a long list that you rush through.

Career Path Questions

• What was your educational background, and how did you decide on your current career path?
• What positions did you hold before your current role, and how did each one prepare you for the next?
• Were there any decisions you made during graduate school that you believe shaped your career trajectory?
• What did you initially expect this career to be like, and how has your understanding changed over time?
• If you could start your career over, what would you do differently?

Daily Work Questions

• What does a typical workday look like in your current role?
• What percentage of your time do you spend on laboratory work, writing, meetings, and other activities?
• What are the most common tasks you perform, and which ones take up the most time?
• What do you find most rewarding about your work, and what do you find most challenging?
• How does your work change throughout the year, such as around grant deadlines, reporting cycles, or project milestones?

Skills and Qualifications Questions

• What skills are most important for success in your field?
• Which skills did you develop during graduate school that you use regularly in your work?
• Which skills did you need to develop after graduate school, and how did you develop them?
• Are there any certifications, licenses, or additional training that are important for advancement in your field?
• How do you stay current with developments in your field?

Industry and Workplace Questions

• How would you describe the workplace culture at your organization?
• How does your organization measure success for people in your role?
• What are the typical career advancement paths for someone in your position?
• How does your work connect with other departments or teams in your organization?
• What are the biggest challenges facing your field or industry right now?

Advice and Next Steps Questions

• What advice would you give to a graduate student who is considering a career like yours?
• What should I do in the next year to make myself a competitive candidate for this field?
• Are there any professional organizations, conferences, or publications I should follow?
• Can you recommend other people I should speak with to learn more about this field?
• Is there anything you wish you had known when you were at my stage of training?

At a Glance

Practical Implementation Steps

Step 1: Define Your Career Interests

Spend one to two hours reviewing the Occupational Outlook Handbook to identify occupations that match your skills and interests. Write down the occupations that appeal to you and note their education requirements, typical duties, and work settings. Then use O*NET OnLine to review the detailed task and skill descriptions for your top two or three occupations.

Step 2: Build a Target List

Create a list of five to ten professionals who hold positions in your target occupations. Use your university's alumni network, professional society directories, and LinkedIn to find candidates. For each person, note their job title, employer, and the reason you want to interview them. This list will be your outreach pool.

Step 3: Send Request Emails

Send your request emails in batches of three to five. This approach lets you manage responses without becoming overwhelmed. Track your outreach in a simple spreadsheet with columns for the person's name, contact date, response status, and interview date. Follow up with a single reminder after one week if you have not received a response.

Step 4: Prepare for Each Interview

For each confirmed interview, spend 30 to 60 minutes preparing. Review the person's professional profile and their organization's website. Select eight to ten questions from the question banks above that are relevant to their role. Write your questions in a notebook or document that you can reference during the conversation.

Step 5: Conduct the Interview and Follow Up

Arrive on time, thank the person, and keep the conversation focused. Take notes on key points and any referrals. Send a thank-you note within 24 hours. After the interview, update your spreadsheet with notes about what you learned and any follow-up actions you identified.

Step 6: Review and Refine

After two or three interviews, review your notes to identify patterns. What did you learn about the careers that interest you? Which questions produced the most useful answers? Which careers no longer appeal to you, and which ones seem more attractive? Use this review to refine your target list and prepare for your next round of interviews.

Records and Measurements

Tracking your informational interview activities helps you evaluate your progress and identify gaps in your career exploration. The Office of Intramural Training and Education emphasizes that career development is an ongoing process, and keeping records supports that process by making your activities visible.

Maintain a spreadsheet with the following columns for each contact:

• Name and job title
• Organization and industry
• Source of the contact, such as alumni network or LinkedIn
• Date of initial outreach
• Response status, such as pending, accepted, declined, or no response
• Date and format of the interview
• Key notes from the conversation
• Referrals provided
• Follow-up actions and completion dates

Review your records monthly to measure your progress. Count the number of requests sent, interviews completed, and referrals received. If you have sent ten requests and completed zero interviews, your request email or target list may need adjustment. If you have completed several interviews but still feel uncertain about your career direction, you may need to broaden your target occupations or ask different questions.

Common Failure Patterns

Sending Generic Requests

A request email that could be sent to anyone is easy to ignore. Professionals receive many requests for their time, and a generic message does not give them a reason to respond. Fix this by personalizing each request. Mention the person's specific role, a project they worked on, or a connection you share, such as attending the same university.

Asking for a Job

An informational interview is not a job interview, and asking for employment during the conversation undermines your purpose. The person agreed to speak with you because you asked for information. If you shift to asking for a job, you may make the person uncomfortable and damage the professional relationship. Keep the focus on learning about the career, not on securing a position.

Speaking Too Much

Some graduate students treat the informational interview as a chance to describe their own research and accomplishments. This approach wastes the opportunity. The purpose of the conversation is to learn from the professional, not to impress them. Aim to listen for most of the conversation and ask follow-up questions that encourage the person to elaborate.

Failing to Follow Up

Skipping the thank-you note is a common mistake that undermines the relationship you worked to build. A brief thank-you email takes five minutes to write and leaves a positive impression. It also keeps you in the person's memory, which may be useful if a position opens in their organization.

Stopping After One Interview

A single informational interview gives you one person's perspective. That perspective is valuable, but it is not a complete picture of a career field. The American Society for Microbiology career resources describe the wide range of roles available to life scientists, and no single professional can represent all of them. Conduct multiple interviews with people in different organizations, industries, and roles to build a fuller understanding.

Limitations of Informational Interviews

Informational interviews have boundaries that you should recognize. The person you interview can describe their own experience, but they cannot speak for their entire profession. Their perspective is shaped by their employer, their industry, their geographic location, and their personal career history. What works for one person may not work for you.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides official labor market information, including employment projections and typical education requirements. This data gives you a broader context for the individual perspectives you gather in interviews. Use both sources together. The handbook tells you what the occupation looks like across the economy, and the informational interview tells you what the occupation looks like in one person's daily experience.

Informational interviews also do not guarantee employment. The person you interview may not have hiring authority, and even if they do, they are not obligated to offer you a position. Treat the interview as a learning opportunity and a networking opportunity, not as a job application.

Finally, informational interviews are one component of career exploration, not the only component. The National Science Foundation careers page and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges career resources describe other ways to learn about careers, including internships, job shadowing, and formal career development programs. Combine informational interviews with these other activities for a more complete picture.

Professional Escalation Criteria

You should seek additional guidance from your university career services office or faculty mentors if you encounter any of the following situations:

• You have sent ten or more request emails and completed no interviews. A career counselor can review your request email and target list to identify problems.
• You have completed several interviews but feel more confused about your career direction than before. A counselor can help you synthesize what you have learned and identify patterns across your interviews.
• You are considering leaving your graduate program based on what you learned in an informational interview. Discuss this decision with your faculty advisor and a career counselor before making any changes.
• You have identified a career that interests you but do not know how to gain the required experience. A career counselor can help you identify internships, volunteer opportunities, or other ways to build relevant experience.

The Office of Intramural Training and Education provides career development resources for biomedical researchers, and many universities offer similar services through their career centers. These offices can provide structured guidance that complements the information you gather through informational interviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an informational interview last?

Plan for 20 to 30 minutes. This length is long enough to cover your prepared questions without taking too much of the professional's time. If the conversation is going well and the person offers to continue, you can extend it, but you should not assume that the person has more time than they agreed to give.

Should I bring my resume to an informational interview?

You can bring a resume in case the person asks for it, but you should not lead with it. The purpose of the conversation is to learn about the career, not to market yourself. If the person asks about your background, you can describe your training and experience briefly, but keep the focus on gathering information.

How many informational interviews should I conduct?

Conduct at least three to five interviews to get a range of perspectives on your target careers. The American Society for Microbiology describes many different professional roles for life scientists, and interviewing multiple people helps you understand the variety within a field. You can conduct more interviews if you are still uncertain about your direction.

What if the person I want to interview does not respond?

Wait one week, then send a single follow-up message. If you still do not receive a response, move on to another person on your list. Professionals are busy, and a lack of response does not necessarily mean they are uninterested. It may simply mean they do not have time.

Can I conduct an informational interview by email?

Email exchanges can be useful for gathering basic information, but they are not a substitute for a live conversation. A phone call or video call allows you to ask follow-up questions and have a natural conversation. If the person prefers email, you can send a short list of questions, but you should still try to schedule a live conversation.

What should I do with the information I gather?

Take notes after each interview and review them to identify patterns. The [Occupational Outlook Handbook](

Using the Evidence

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• Choosing the Best Online Data Science Master's for Life Sciences Professionals
• Conducting Qualitative Interviews: A Guide for Life Science Researchers
• Veterinary Terminology: A Guide for Students and Professionals

References and Further Reading

• Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• O*NET OnLine. U.S. Department of Labor.
• Office of Intramural Training and Education. National Institutes of Health.
• Careers at NSF. U.S. National Science Foundation.
• Career Services. American Society for Microbiology.
• AAVMC Career Resources. Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.