If you’ve ever read a career advice book, you are probably already familiar with the idea of informational interviewing. The term was invented by the master himself, Richard Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute? The idea is to go out and conduct research interviews  to gather information about a career, job role, or company that interests you. Sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, most people are too shy or otherwise intimidated to take advantage of this very useful job search and career change strategy. For years, I refused to do it. I was afraid to annoy people or look like an idiot.

However, I have since learned to get over these fears. It turns out that most people are actually pretty kind and generous about sharing their time and career advice if you approach them the right way. The key is to make it as easy as possible for your future mentors. Approach them in a considerate and non-stalkerish manner. Be clear about how much time you’ll need and arrive prepared with focused questions.

For more information about informational interviewing, check out the great resources at EmployAid.com. They have some good tips on how to conduct an effective informational interview. Even better, there’s a video showing an informational interview in action.