Changing jobs
Ask someone what the job is really like
A curious conversation to find out what a role you're considering is actually like, week to week
Ask someone who does the work you're curious about for 20 minutes, and find out what a normal week really looks like.
- 30 minutes
- You and one person
- Monthly
- Conversation
Why this can work
Job titles and job descriptions cover the highlights; the person doing the work knows the week. Twenty minutes with them can tell you where the hours actually go, what's hard and what surprised them, which is the part that decides whether you'd enjoy it. Many people are glad to talk about their work when the ask is small and clear.
Read moreHow to do an informational interview
You’ll come away with a realistic picture of one role's normal week and a clearer sense of whether you'd want it.
- Find someone who does the work now.
Former colleagues, friends of friends and alumni networks are good places to look.
- Ask for 20 minutes, and make it easy to say yes.To: someone doing the work you're curious about
I found you through how you found them, and I've been curious about the kind of work they do. I'd love to understand what it's really like from someone who does it.
Would you have 20 minutes for a call sometime in the next few weeks? I'm not looking for a job, just trying to learn. Any time that suits you works for me.
Swap the highlighted parts for your thing. Works on Slack, in email, or said out loud. - Ask about a normal week.
Where do the hours actually go? What's harder than people expect? What surprised them? Follow whatever interests you rather than working through a list.
You“What does a normal week look like for you, including the parts that never make it into a job description?” - Ask for advice, not a job.
Ask what they'd tell someone in your position. Advice is easy to give well, and it tends to open a better conversation than questions about openings.
You“If you were in my position and curious about this work, what would you do next?” - Thank them the same day.
Say one thing you took from the conversation. If you act on their advice, tell them later; people like knowing it helped.
Tip: Offer something back if you can: an introduction, an article, a view from your own field. It makes the conversation a trade, not a favor.
Good times to repeat it: once a month while you're exploringbefore signing up for a course or degreewhen a path keeps coming back to mind
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
The same role can feel very different depending on the company, the manager and the person's life. If a path matters to you, talk to two or three people before drawing conclusions.
What might make this harder
Ask friends and colleagues who they know; one introduction often leads to another. Alumni networks and professional groups are used to requests like this.
Questions people ask
What is an informational interview?
A short conversation with someone who does work you're curious about, to learn what it's really like. It's for learning rather than asking for a job, which is why many people are happy to say yes.
What questions should I ask in an informational interview?
Ask what a normal week looks like, what's harder than people expect, what surprised them, and what they'd do in your position.
How do I ask a stranger for an informational interview?
Keep it short: say how you found them, what you're curious about, and ask for 20 minutes at their convenience.
Why this works, and where it comes from
Research can tell you what a job is supposed to be. Postings, articles and salary sites describe the role on paper. What they leave out is the ordinary week, and the ordinary week is what you'd actually be living. The meetings, the waiting, the paperwork, and the parts that turn out to be more fun than they sound. That's what decides whether you'd enjoy it, and it's rarely written down.
Informational interviews are an old, well-worn idea, and this one keeps them narrow on purpose: one person, twenty minutes, and one question at the center, what a normal week looks like. Keeping it that small makes it easy to ask for and easy to agree to. Asking for advice rather than opportunities helps too; people tend to give advice generously and get wary when they sense an ask coming.
It helps to see it from their side. Someone who agrees to talk is giving you time from a full week. What makes that time well spent, for them, is a clear reason for asking, questions that show you've done a little homework, and a thank-you that names what you took away. Many people remember these conversations fondly, and some will think of you when something relevant comes up.
This isn't the right move if you already know you want the role and are looking for a way in. Then you're job hunting, and it's fairer to everyone to say so: ask about openings and referrals openly. Save the curious version for paths you haven't decided on, where learning is the honest goal.
Other simple things to consider
What to do next
More in Changing jobs
Know what you actually want
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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated September 25, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.