Who you want to talk with depends on what you want to find out and where you are at in your career. You should speak with individuals who can tell you the information you need to learn or share a perspective you want to explore. 

For instance:

• If you want to explore a particular degree program and what kinds of jobs you could apply for once you’ve graduated, you could talk with alumni of that program.  It is even better if you can find someone who is working in a job you think you might like and be good at, and for a company you think you would be proud to work for.
• Alternatively, if you are not sure what you want to be when you “grow up”, it might make sense to interview a number of people who work in a wide variety of jobs to learn a bit more about the roles than you could find on a website.
• Finally, if you are already well established in your career and it is time for a change or promotion, you could talk with your colleagues from your professional associations to understand what they see as the coming trends in the field and what organizations may be moving in a direction you could be interested in.

For more information about this topic, check out the informational interviewing on-demand tutorial, or if you prefer to learn by reading written material, read the informational interviews section of the Career Center.