In this issue:
Closing Soon on the ISCB Career Center
Article:
Informational Interviews: The Low-Pressure Way to Explore Industry Careers
- Finding People to Interview
- Reaching Out
- Questions to Learn About the Role
- Following Up and Staying Connected
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Closing Soon on the ISCB Career Center
These jobs will be leaving the Career Center this month:
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Informational Interviews:
The Low-Pressure Way to Explore Industry Careers
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If you're considering a move to industry and want to learn what roles actually look like day-to-day, then an informational interview—a short, informal conversation to learn about a job you’re interested in—might be worth considering!
This month, we're covering how to find the right people to talk to, the top questions to ask, and a few tips on after-interview etiquette.
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Finding People to Interview
The biggest hurdle isn't the conversation itself, but figuring out who to talk to in the first place. A great starting point is already at your fingertips: your existing social network! Post on your social media or ask family and friends if they know anyone working in the specific role you're curious about. A helpful connection may be closer than you think!
LinkedIn is also a valuable way to find people. You can easily search for job titles you're interested in, and even filter by company or location. You might also try checking your second-degree connections (people with whom you share a mutual contact). If you've met people at conferences or other networking events, those connections are worth revisiting too!
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Reaching Out: What to Say
If you're reaching out to someone you don't know personally, be thoughtful and respectful. Mention something specific about their work to show you've actually looked at what they do and aren't just mass-messaging people. Be clear about why you're interested in learning from them specifically, and acknowledge that you're asking for their time and expertise.
Keep your message short, specific, and respectful of their time. Here's a framework that works:
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Brief intro (who you are in one sentence)
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Why you're reaching out to them
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What you're hoping to learn
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The ask (20-30 minutes of their time, virtual is fine)
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Flexibility and gratitude
Example message:
"Hi [Name], I'm a PhD candidate in computational biology at [University], currently exploring career paths in industry. I came across your profile and was particularly interested in your transition from academia to [Company/Role]. I'd love to learn more about your experience and what a typical day looks like in your role. Would you be open to a brief 20-30 minute conversation? Virtual works great for me. I'm happy to work around your schedule. I completely understand if you're too busy, but I'd really appreciate any insights you'd be willing to share. Thanks for considering, [Your name]."
This approach is specific, clear about what you want, respects their time, and gives them an easy out if they're swamped.
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Questions to Learn About the Role
A valuable informational interview comes down to the questions you ask. Avoid yes or no questions and go for ones that get people talking about their actual experience on the job. That’s what you’re there to learn about! Here are 5 questions to consider:
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What does a typical day or week look like for you?
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What surprised you most about working in industry after being in academia?
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What skills from your academic training do you use most? What skills do you wish you'd developed more?
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What do you find most rewarding about your current role? What's the most challenging part?
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If someone wanted to break into this field, what would you recommend they focus on?
The most important thing is to let the conversation flow naturally. The best informational interviews feel like genuine conversations.
If you want a more extensive list of questions, check out the list here.
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Following Up and Staying Connected
A thoughtful follow-up turns an informational interview from a one-off conversation into a positive professional impression. The goal isn’t to network aggressively, but to close the loop with clarity, gratitude, and respect for the other person’s time.
Within 24–48 hours, send a short, simple thank-you message: thank them for their time, reference one specific insight that stood out, and acknowledge how it helped you better understand the role or career path.
Example:
“Hi [Name], thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me yesterday. Your insight about [specific topic] was especially helpful and gave me a clearer sense of [what you learned]. I really appreciate your generosity with your time and advice. Best, [Your name]."
If you haven’t already, and especially if you had a great rapport with your interviewee, this is also a good time to connect on LinkedIn. A brief connection request that references your conversation helps keep the interaction grounded and personal, rather than transactional. You don’t need to pitch yourself or ask for anything further; connecting simply gives the relationship space to continue naturally as your career path evolves.
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Final Thoughts
Informational interviews are one of the most underutilized tools in career exploration. They give you insider knowledge you can't get from job postings or company websites. The key is being genuinely curious, respectful of people's time, and thoughtful in your follow-up. If you’ve been thinking about transitioning to industry, try reaching out to a couple people this month and see where the conversations take you!
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Want Your Job Featured in the Next Career Compass?
You can get your job featured in the Career Compass newsletter by selecting this option when you post a new job!
To do so, follow these steps:
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Sign in to the ISCB Career Center.
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From your Profile page or My Job Posts page, click the blue “Post a Job” button.
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On the next page, select option 2 that mentions the monthly marketing with Career Compass.
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Complete the required payment for the Career Compass upgrade.
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Fill out your job post details.
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Click “Submit” to post your job on the ISCB Career Center.
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Keep an eye out for the next Career Compass newsletter to see your job there, too!
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