t, you will write an introduction email to the professional you are hoping to meet with to conduct the Informational Interview.

I’m working on a business plans writing question and need support to help me learn.

BUAD 300 Informational Interview Introduction Email

For this assignment, you will write an introduction email to the professional you are hoping to meet with to conduct the Informational Interview. The email should be short and concise, no longer that a couple of paragraphs. The email should include who you are, why you would like the informational interview, and the length of the information interview. I have provided you with some tips on “Perfect the Art of the Ask” below to assist you with constructing your email.

Please do not just send a message through LinkedIn. Please find the email of the person you wish to interview and send it to their email.

Please upload a copy of the sent email so that I can see the date and time that you wrote it an sent it. Please DO NOT just upload a copy of the body of the email.

Please make sure you address the person you are emailing directly and please ensure you are being professional.

Note: You may need to email a few people if you don’t get a response from your first ask.

Perfect the Art of the Ask

Any good cold email has two things: a clear message (why you’re reaching out), and an easy-to-understand ask (the action you want the recipient to take). Here’s a simple formula that checks both boxes and that will work most of the time:

1. Start by Asking for Help

This sounds obvious (and, OK, a little weird), but it’s a proven fact that people love to feel like they are helping others. So, if you literally start by saying, “I’d love your help,” or “I hope you’ll be able to help me out…” your chances of getting a positive response go up significantly.

1. Be Clear

Ask for something very specific, and make it as easy as possible for the person to say yes. Saying, “I’d love to know more about what you do and how you got your start” is okay, but doesn’t tell someone how much of his or her time you’re after or what you’re really suggesting. Instead, try something like, “I’d love to take you to a quick coffee so I can hear your perspective on this industry and what it’s like to work at your company. I’ll actually be in your area next week and would be happy to meet you wherever is convenient for you.”

1. Have a Hook

A great way to increase your chance of landing the interview is to demonstrate why you really want to meet with this person. Do you admire her career path? Do you think the work he’s currently doing at company X stands out as the best? Maybe you have a shared connection and think she would be a great voice of wisdom. Don’t be afraid to share why you are specifically reaching out to this person. The more personalized your ask feels, the greater chance of success you’ll have.

1. Be Very Considerate

Remember that, in asking for an informational interview, you’re literally asking someone to put his or her work on hold to help you. Show your contact you understand this by saying, “I can only imagine how busy you must get, so even 15-20 minutes would be so appreciated.”

1. Make Sure You Don’t Seem Like You’re Looking for a Job (Even if You Are)

If you sound like you’re really just looking for a job, there’s a good chance this person will push you to HR or the company’s career page. So be sure to make it clear that you really want to talk to this person to learn about his or her career history and perspective on the job or industry. After you meet and make a great impression is when you can mention the job hunt.

Reference

Bell, Elliot (2017). How to ask for an informational interview. Retrieved from The Muse website: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-ask-for-an-informational-interview-and-get-a-yesLinks to an external site.

Please reach out if you have any questions.