How old is too old to ask for an informational interview?
I’m always though of the info interview has a way to say— “I’m young, hungry, and wanting to learn this business. You’re someone I admire. Would you share how you go where you are and what your do?”
My take is you can do that early in your career, but if your older, it becomes less feasible because you’re expected to have learned the ropes. Am I wrong? How old/how much experience is too much to ask for an informational interview? What are other avenues of connecting for the subtle purposes of getting a new job?
You can be of any age coming from any profession and ask for an informational interview. MBA candidates who are 28+ do it all the time.
You're limiting yourself with this attitude. Who cares how old you are, what job you came from. If you want to learn and network, learn and network. Don't pussyfoot around it thinking you're too old to ask someone a question or two. Most people will be glad to help out regardless of age. Maybe you are spending to much time on WSO but there is no set age for anything where you are expected to be a wizard at everything.
Appreciate the direct feedback. Thanks.
Echo the guy above. Just had a solid informational interview as a 26 year old and the guy referred me to his friend. Basically went the same as when I was 21.
I don’t think anyone will ever fault you for hustling. At least not anyone worth knowing
When you're older, just call it "grabbing coffee," "getting lunch," or "grabbing drinks."
Then, tell the person you're interested in what they do, and ask questions about it.
You don't get if you don't ask. Just ask. Worst that happens is they don't answer you or say no.
I have to ask OP..... how old are you? My "guess" is 25 +/- 2 yrs.
For notes, I've been in my early 30s and had people in their 40s ask for such a meeting (as CRE said, the phrase "informational interview" is a bit stale for what is otherwise just good ole' fashioned professional networking). I echo all the above, zero age limit on such items, but your approach can/should be different based on your situation.
And just in case you think we're all just giving advice we wouldn't use ourselves, I literally had an "informational interview" with redever a couple months back, who I have never otherwise met, over the phone, about an opportunity that he was well-positioned to shed some additional light on. When I first moved to my current location, I peppered Count_Chocula with questions because he used to live there and had a lot of great info on the real estate community.
This type of thing doesn't end, no matter how old you are. I've sat in a meeting with a younger (40's) condo developer who was completely geeking out asking questions to my boss (60's - used to be a condo developer back in the day) and asking him everything under the sun about his experience.
People will always want to learn from others who have been there before, and I think you'll find that in real estate, people love sharing their experience.
CRE Ha ha, I guess that would have been an "informational interview"!
Agree with above. Whether you’re 20 or 40, it’s weird to ask for “an informational interview” but completely normal to reach out to someone and set up some time for coffee or a call and ask about what they do
Literally no age is too old as long as you don't use the phrase 'Informational Interview'
I have to add... the only time/place to use the phrase "informational interview" is if you are cold contacting an HR rep for a large firm you want to work for and want them to set you up with a person to talk with. Generally, that is something students can request and get (this is literally what I did before LinkedIn was a thing), after you graduate (or even as a student), just use LinkedIn and make direct connections. In a world with easy to find emails and linkedin messages, you don't need HR as a conduit anymore.
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