Sara Gormley '99

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What are the benefits of informational interviewing?
Sara: Informational interviews are informal question-and-answer sessions that can help you get a better understanding about a job, company or career path. The goal is to get answers to questions that you can’t easily get on the Internet or through other second-hand research.

There are tons of benefits of doing them – you can get inside information you can’t find elsewhere, you can ask questions that aren’t suitable for a formal interview session (like about pay expectations), you can find out what a real day in the industry is like, and you can learn the lingo and buzzwords important in the field. These are just a few of the great reasons to get out there and talk to people.

Does the protocol (i.e. dress, etiquette, setting) differ from an actual job interview?
Sara: Absolutely. These are definitely not job interviews – you needn’t dress up, and the setting can vary – from a restaurant to a coffeehouse to a phone conversation. You never know who you are going to meet though, so it’s essential to comport yourself as the bright and professional Bruin that you are. There really are no rules, as long as you’re polite, prompt and gracious.

How did your informational interview lead you to a paid position?
Sara: I found a woman on the UCLA Career Network database in late 2003 who worked in market research. The field really interested me. We arranged for a phone meeting at a time that was convenient for her, and we had a great conversation for over an hour. Since I was interested in a broad view of the industry, I asked tons of questions, and she was extremely knowledgeable. I found out so much, and she had great, very specific advice.

After speaking with me, she helped me identify a company that she thought had a great reputation for training and cultivating the research careers of recent college grads. She asked for my résumé, which she forwarded to a colleague in the firm, who happened to be a successful senior vice president at the company.

This all happened when I was in the early stages of figuring out my next career move — and I hadn’t even considered applying for jobs yet. After about a week, I received a phone call from the HR department, went through the interview process and began working at the company in the beginning of 2004 – without ever having to officially apply for a job!

What are some great questions to ask during interviews?
Sara: Anything is appropriate for the most part, with the exception of conducting an interview for the sole purpose of asking for a job. Most people aren’t in the position to help in that way. Here are some examples of questions that I’ve always found helpful:

• What’s an average day like for an entry-level associate in the company/industry?
• How fast can someone expect to get promoted?
• What are the critical skills to possess in that position?
• Is a post-graduate education valued in the company/industry? What degrees can be beneficial?
• What are the salaries like for a [insert position]? What skills/experience/degrees can improve the salary?

Anything goes – the important thing is to get out there and use the resources available to you. Your fellow Bruins want to share their knowledge and experience, and you never know what can happen. I am working with a great company that I may not have found out about save for the generosity of a UCLA alumna. My experiences make me feel even more strongly about my place in the great UCLA network and someday I hope to help someone as I’ve been helped.