• Getting Started
• Etiquette and Guidelines
• Employee Referrals
• What is an Informational Meeting?
• Who to Contact
• How to Prepare
• How to Obtain an Informational Meeting
• Keeping Track of Your Contacts
• Dos and Don’ts of the Informational Meeting Process
• Developing Your Elevator Pitch
• Using AI

A network of professional connections will help you:

• Explore career interests and options.
• Identify resources for informational meetings.
• Obtain information about organizations you might want to work for.
• Receive career advice about how you might prepare for a certain field or position.
• Discover potential job or internship opportunities.
• Connect with other people in an organization or career area.

Meeting people in your fields of interest is the MOST EFFECTIVE method of finding a job or internship!

Getting Started

You have a much better chance of getting an interview through your own personal and professional connections than through other means (such as job postings and company websites).

You just need a few things to get started:

• An idea of what you are looking for at this point in your career exploration or job search
• A brief personal introduction
• A system to manage contacts (e.g. an Excel spreadsheet or Google Docs)
• An interest in learning and an openness to meeting new people
• A smile
• A few questions to get the conversation going

Interact with people who have interests similar to your own:

• Get referrals from other people in your network.
• Join social networking websites and professional networking websites such as LinkedIn. Use LinkedIn to find Harvard alums who might be willing to speak with you.
• To connect with Harvard alums, the Harvard alumni database is available to Harvard students and graduates at: alumni.harvard.edu.
• Explore Firsthand Advisors for alumni who want to connect with students.
• Talk to academic department representatives (including faculty members and TFs).
• Attend professional association meetings/conferences. (Use the Vault Guides & search Google for associations in your field(s) of interest.)
• Join networking meetup groups and alumni shared interest groups (SIGs) such as Harvardwood and Boston New Tech Meetup.
• Get involved with community organizations; do volunteer work.
• Attend Mignone Center for Career Success career programs and workshops.

Start simply: Set a goal to meet one new person whenever you travel!

Etiquette and Guidelines

• Be prepared for each conversation. When you ask for advice or help, and know what you’re looking for, it’s easy for people to say “yes.” Develop a list of questions ahead of time.
• Find a connection to make introductions easier. Look for Harvard alumni through the Harvard Alumni Association’s alumni database, LinkedIn, or Firsthand Advisors.
• Always be professional, courteous, and considerate.
• Be genuine. Possess a sincere desire to learn.
• Be interested in the people you meet. Most people enjoy having the chance to tell you about their own careers and activities.
• Don’t explicitly ask for a job. Ask for advice on how to obtain jobs in that field. Let the contact decide if they are willing to pass on job leads to you. *See the Employee Referrals section below.
• Ask for names of other people in the field whom you could contact.
• Give back. Learn enough about the people you meet to pass on ideas, articles, and contacts that will interest them.
• Be gracious. Appreciate the time and effort of your contacts and send a thank you note or email.
• Stay in touch. Check in periodically. Update people in your network when you make significant progress in your research or job search.
• Have confidence that building a professional network will ultimately result in job leads.

Employee Referrals

In certain industries such as finance, consulting, and technology, referrals from current employees can play an important role in the hiring process. Companies often value the judgment of their employees and encourage them to refer qualified job-seeking candidates whom they know. In fact, some companies even provide a financial incentive or “referral bonus” to the employee if the referred candidate is ultimately hired. If someone you know is at an organization you are interested in working for, reach out and express your interest. If you don’t know anyone at a particular organization, one of your connections likely does—reach out and ask for an introduction. LinkedIn can be a helpful tool to find connections at different organizations who can potentially help you land an interview.

Tip: Don’t wait until you are applying to reach out. It is good to establish a network that you can pull on as needed during your career.

What is an Informational Meeting?

An informational meeting, is when you talk with a professional, typically employed in your field of interest, to gather career-related information and to add to your professional network. It is NOT a job-seeking meeting. Instead, your goal is to ask questions such as:

• Can you tell me more about your career path?
• Is there a typical career path in this field? If so, what is it?
• Do I have the right background and abilities for the career I’m considering?
• What resources, publications, or professional organizations do you recommend I look into?
• How is this field changing, and what are you watching closely?
• How do I get my foot in the door once I’ve made a decision?
• What would you do differently if you were to do it again?
• Is there anyone else in your network you think would be valuable for me to speak with?

A mutually beneficial process

Building a network doesn’t come naturally to everyone. There are a variety of reasons people use to rationalize why they don’t need to (or can’t) build their professional network as they explore career options, search for a job, or develop their careers. One of the most common misperceptions holding people back is: I’d probably be wasting their time! Why would they want to talk with ME?

Informational meetings are mutually beneficial in many ways:

Who to Contact

Create a list of potential contacts within your field(s) of interest. Look for people doing a job you’d like to do, in a field you’d like to investigate, or for a company that interests you. Obtain names of new contacts through:

• People you already know. Career advisors, friends, relatives, faculty, house tutors, past and present work associates or supervisors may be able to refer you to professionals in a variety of fields. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you’re looking for—you never know who has a great connection. Utilize your LinkedIn network, paying attention to 2nd degree connections who can perhaps offer you an intro.
  
• Alumni. Alums have a common bond and often find it gratifying to provide assistance to those following in their footsteps.
  
  Ways to connect with alums:
  • Harvard’s alumni database lists the contact information for alums who have indicated that they’re willing to speak with students about their career paths. Also, check out the international clubs and special interest groups (SIG) for open networking events and webinars.
  • MCS Firsthand Advisors is an online tool that connects current Harvard students to over 3500 alumni advisors offering career conversations, resume reviews, and mock interviews.
  • LinkedIn has an alumni tab on university websites and you can filter your search by industry/field, company and role.

• Industry directories and trade associations. These can help you identify organizations that may interest you. Contacts within these organizations can be professionals in positions that appeal to you or managers of departments you might enjoy working in. Avoid human resource departments (unless you’re considering jobs in human resources!) since you are seeking information, not a job. Visit company websites or call their main number to secure the names/titles of appropriate individuals. Examples include: MassBio (for Life Sciences in Massachusetts), International Trade Administration, Y Combinator (YC) Startup Directory, Climateaction, Americans for the Arts

How to Prepare

Research: Read relevant literature, trade publications, Vault guides, company information, and biographical information of your contact. Find out as much as possible about the individual, company, and career field before you meet. It’s better to use your expert contact as a resource for specific information rather than the basics.

Questions: Think about what you hope to learn and develop questions that will elicit that information (see examples in Informational Meeting section above). Write a list before you begin reaching out to contacts. Questions you may want to ask include:

• A detailed description of the job: What challenges, rewards, or frustrations have you encountered? What kinds of decisions do you make? What does a typical day look like?
• Desirable skills, education, and experience: What training or experience is required? What did you do to prepare for entering this field? What coursework, skills, and internship experience(s) might be valuable for me if I decide to enter this field?
• Career paths and advancement: What are your career goals? What kinds of opportunities do you see this job preparing you for?

Other important areas of discussion might include:

• Lifestyle implications of the work: e.g. travel, hours, pressure, flexibility, salary/benefits, work/life balance, job security, etc. It’s acceptable (and recommended) to ask about what range of salary you might expect upon entering at a specific level. Do NOT ask how much money the interviewee makes.
• Work environment: physical setting, people (colleagues and clients), organizational structure and culture—How does this job fit into the department’s/organization’s structure? How does this department work with other departments, and which ones?
• Current issues in the industry (beyond what you’ve read): What trends or changes are occurring in your field? Have these changes affected pathways into the industry? If so, in what ways?
• Ways to get more information: Ask for recommendations of journals, other contacts, professional groups, and names of other organizations known within the field for offering great internship or postgraduate opportunities.

Tip: Avoid questions “Yes” or “No” questions. Asking open-ended questions (particularly “What” and “How” questions) will allow your contact to provide the most information possible.

How to Obtain an Informational Meeting

Start with your least intimidating contacts. Write an email or call: Call first if they have specified that they would like to be contacted by phone. Email first if you think the contact would appreciate having a brief introduction and a sense of what you’re exploring, or if you’re not confident about presenting yourself over the phone (see the sample introductory email below). Remember, even when emailing, it’s preferable to set up a conversation either by phone, Zoom, or in person to build rapport and get more out of the meeting. Experiment and decide what works best for you.

When you reach out, remember:

• Explain what you want (NOT a job, just information)
• Suggest a time frame (a particular week), a specific location (local coffee shop, Zoom), and a limited duration (15-30 minutes).
• Follow-up. If they connect with you on LinkedIn, feel free to message them to set up a call.
• Say thank you. After you connect, make sure to follow-up via email with a polite note expressing your gratitude for their time and advice.
  

Sample Phone Introduction
“Ms. Smith, my name is Emilio Sanchez, and I’m a student concentrating in Sociology at Harvard. I found your name in the Harvard alumni database. I understand that you’re a writer for The New York Times. I’d love to hear more about your career path, and how you started in publishing, and was wondering if you’d be willing to set up a time to share your experience with me in a brief meeting.”

Tip: If you call and get their voicemail, briefly introduce yourself and explain your interest in wanting to connect. Say you’ll try calling back, but also leave both a phone number and email address where you can be reached. Follow up by email, referencing the phone message.

Sample Introductory Email

Dear Morgan Smith:

I am an English concentrator at Harvard College and will graduate with an A.B. in May, 2027. I found your name through the Harvard alumni database, and I am writing to ask your advice about the field of publishing.

Book publishing is a career option I have considered for some time. I’m currently a writer for Arts Today magazine and also sit on the editorial board. Prior to attending Harvard, I was the editor of my high school newspaper and contributed to a local weekly as a movie critic. I am eager to learn more about the field of publishing to determine if my interest in writing and editing would be a good fit for the industry.

I will be in New York the week of October 6th and would greatly appreciate the chance to speak with you about your experience. If meeting with you at that time isn’t convenient, perhaps we could talk by phone at another time.

Please let me know if there are any particular dates/times that work best with your schedule.

Thank you for your consideration.

YOUR NAME

---

Tip Don’t be afraid to follow up if you don’t hear back from your contact within a week or so. Change the way you contact them. If you emailed the first time, try following up by phone or LinkedIn. People are busy, and you may not be a top priority. But this does not mean they are not willing to speak with you. Persistence is important, and people often appreciate the reminder that they haven’t returned your call, and that you are still interested in speaking with them. However, you won’t have a 100% response rate. Don’t take this as rejection, but as an indication of how demanding their job may be. If you have not heard back after the initial outreach plus two follow-ups, focus your attention on other contacts from your list.

Keeping Track of Your Contacts

When you’re actively building your network for a job or conducting informational meetings, it’s VERY IMPORTANT to keep yourself organized!

Set up a spreadsheet and include relevant information for each contact. Here’s the type of information you should track and some example data:

Contact name:	Bill Gates
Title:	Chair
Organization:	The Gates Foundation
Action Step:	Send thank-you note/email (update with most recent action step needed)
To-do by:	September 19, 2026
Referral Source:	Harvard alumni database
Location:	Seattle, WA
Website:	www.gatesfoundation.org
Email:	info@gatesfoundation.org (preferably Bill’s direct email!)
Phone:	206-123-4567

Tip: Make sure to note any contacts you were referred to. Example: For Bill Gates, make sure to note that he referred you to Mark Zuckerberg.

Do’s and Don’ts of the Informational Meeting Process

DO:

• Act professionally: email or call to confirm 1-2 days before, dress appropriately, ensure you are in a quiet environment (for virtual and phone meetings) and arrive/log on a little early (virtual: check your tech, in-person: leave time for traffic).
• Respect your contact’s time. Stick to the time frame suggested in your email or phone conversation unless you are invited to stay longer. Be sensitive to nonverbal cues when it is time to finish.
• Bring a list of questions with you to guide the conversation, and jot down any suggestions or notes during the meeting, being sure to clarify any terms you don’t know or anything you don’t understand. Remember to update your notes immediately after the conversation with what you have learned.
• Send your resume in advance and bring a copy along to your meeting (just as a way of presenting yourself and your background, not trying to obtain a job).
• Ask for advice on documents and skills in preparation for your job and/or internship search. It is usually fine to ask the person to review your resume with you. As active members of industry, they can often recommend targeted skill areas that need attention or development to best qualify you for that field.
• Ask about compensation in a general way, but DON’T ask about their personal income. You might say, “If I were to enter this field, what salary and other forms of compensation might I expect?” Inquiring with individuals in the field, coupled with salary research on the web, will prepare you well for negotiating in the future.
• Inquire about additional contacts: “Are there other people whom you think I should meet as I continue to investigate this field?” Be sure to optimize these suggestions by reaching out to any contacts you are referred to and research any professional organizations recommended to you.
• Offer to pay if you’ve gone out for lunch or coffee for your meeting (“One who invites offers to pay”). But you may accept graciously if they insist on paying.
• Write a timely thank you note expressing your appreciation for the person’s time. This is important regardless of how helpful you perceive the conversation to have been.
• Keep your contact network informed of your career development progress, particularly if they have taken an interest in your career or referred you to individuals. Maintaining professional contacts is an ongoing process that will benefit you throughout your career.

DON’T:

• DON’T ask your contact for a job, even indirectly. That’s not what you are there for.
• After speaking with only one or two people, DON’T assume their views are representative of the field. Get multiple perspectives and continue to develop your network!

Developing your “Elevator Pitch”

Over the course of your job search, it will be critically important to communicate to people who you are and what it is you’re looking for in a position. An “elevator pitch” serves as an introduction when speaking with people about your interests. You may have a 15-second version to use at a job fair, a 30-second version for a networking event, and a 60-90-second one for kicking off an informational meeting.

Remember that you won’t have just one elevator pitch. Develop your basic introduction, then alter it to be appropriate for different audiences and situations. PRACTICE delivering your introduction out loud to yourself and to friends. Once you feel comfortable and natural, it will be much easier to adapt your initial presentation on the fly.

With a concise, articulate, and relevant introduction, delivered with confidence,
good eye contact, and a smile, you will make a GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION.

Using AI

AI can also be helpful in making and sustaining new connections. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can help you refine your outreach messages, brainstorm questions to ask, and develop thank-you notes or other follow-up communications. Review our AI for Professional Development and Exploration resources for more information and sample prompts.