When you want to know something, sometimes the best thing to do is go to the source. If you want to know about a specific career, sometimes the best thing to do is ask someone in that career a lot of questions about it. These are called informational interviews.
To conduct an informational interview, you must ask the professional who is in the career you're interested in if s/he will allow you to ask some questions to learn more about the career. Most people (who like their jobs) will consent because they remember what it's like to be in the position of trying to figure out what you want to do someday.
Once you have an appointment scheduled, you must be very prepared. Do your homework so you can ask some
good questions. Be prepared with follow-up questions to keep the conversation going. Ask open-ended questions (questions that require more then a yes or no answer) so the professional will talk a lot - and take notes!
The 5th grade class at Bath Elementary School conduct Informational Interviews every year. In preparation, they learn about types of questions to ask and how to best prepare, focusing on . . .
