5 Steps to Follow Up After Informational Interviews
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5 Steps to Follow Up After Informational Interviews

Author

Shabuddin MS

Following up after an informational interview is crucial for building strong professional connections. Here's a quick guide to get started:

  • Step 1: Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Keep it personal, concise, and professional.
  • Step 2: Follow up 1–2 weeks later. Share updates, industry news, or how you’ve applied their advice using the '3 I's' - Interest, Introduction, and Industry News.
  • Step 3: Use LinkedIn to stay connected. Engage with their posts and send meaningful messages every few weeks.
  • Step 4: Build the relationship over time. Share career updates, ask for feedback, and offer value in return.
  • Step 5: Look for collaboration opportunities. Suggest specific ways to work together once trust is established.

These steps help turn a single conversation into a lasting professional relationship. Consistency and meaningful interactions are key.

Step 1: Send a Thank-You Email Within 24 Hours

Make It Personal

Show that you genuinely valued the conversation by referencing specific points from your meeting. For example, if they shared advice about industry trends or career paths, mention how helpful their insights were and how you plan to use their suggestions. Focus on the parts of the discussion that stood out to you the most - this will make your message feel sincere and memorable.

A well-thought-out, personal thank-you email can lay the groundwork for a strong professional relationship and show that you value meaningful connections.

Keep It Brief and Professional

Your email should be concise yet impactful. Include these key elements:

  • Subject line: "Thank You - Informational Interview [Date]"
  • Acknowledge their time and insights with gratitude
  • Highlight 1-2 key points you found particularly helpful
  • Confirm any agreed-upon steps or follow-ups
  • End with a professional closing, including your contact information and LinkedIn profile

It's a good idea to reply to the original email thread to keep everything organized [2].

Once you've expressed your thanks, the next step is to stay in touch and build on the connection.

How to EFFECTIVELY Follow Up After an Informational Interview

Step 2: Follow Up Again to Stay Connected

Keeping in touch consistently is key to building a strong professional relationship. A good time to send a second follow-up email is about 1–2 weeks after your informational interview [1].

Make Your Follow-Up Worthwhile

In your second follow-up, focus on offering something valuable. Share an interesting article, let them know how you’ve implemented their advice, or pass along relevant industry updates. For example, if they mentioned struggles with managing remote teams, you could send them a recent case study that tackles this challenge. This not only shows initiative but also deepens the connection you’ve started.

The '3 I's' Framework

The '3 I's' - Interest, Introduction, and Industry News - can guide you in creating thoughtful follow-ups [1]. Here's how it works:

  • Interest: Share how their advice has influenced your actions or decisions.
  • Introduction: Offer to introduce them to someone in your network who might be helpful.
  • Industry News: Forward updates or insights that align with their professional interests.

"Having a strategy for follow-up is the most important piece of the informational interviewing process." - Stephanie Brown, author of Fired: Why Losing Your Job Is the Best Thing That Can Happen to You [1]

Keep your email short and professional, using the '3 I's' to show genuine interest and dedication to maintaining the relationship.

Once you've built this momentum, you can think about connecting through other channels to strengthen your network further.

Step 3: Use Different Platforms to Stay in Touch

Building connections through multiple platforms helps you maintain a deeper, long-term relationship. While email is still a key tool, platforms like LinkedIn offer additional ways to stay engaged and visible.

Connect on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to keep up with someone’s professional updates and maintain regular interaction. When sending a connection request, make it personal - reference something specific they’ve shared, explain how their advice has helped you, and thank them for their time [2].

Once connected, stay active by engaging with their posts. Like, comment, or share their updates to show genuine interest without overstepping professional boundaries. This keeps you visible in a meaningful way.

Follow Up Thoughtfully

Regular interaction is key, but don’t overdo it. Start with biweekly messages and adjust based on how they respond [1]. Use LinkedIn’s features to make your follow-ups more impactful:

  • Engage with their posts weekly by liking or leaving thoughtful comments.
  • Every 2-3 weeks, send direct messages with relevant industry insights.
  • Once a quarter, share updates on how you’ve applied their advice.

When reaching out, focus on quality. Each message should offer something meaningful - whether it’s a useful resource, a shared professional interest, or participation in a group discussion. Respect their time and keep your communication purposeful.

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Step 4: Build the Relationship Over Time

Once you've made initial contact through platforms like LinkedIn, focus on strengthening the connection through consistent and meaningful interactions. Building a solid professional relationship takes time and effort, but it can be incredibly rewarding.

Share Updates and Request Feedback

Every few months (around 2-3), share updates about your career progress. Highlight specific achievements, certifications, or new responsibilities that show how their advice has helped you grow professionally. For example, if they suggested focusing on a particular skill, mention how you've applied it and the results you've achieved [1]. This not only keeps them in the loop but also shows you value their guidance.

When asking for feedback, be specific and tie it back to earlier conversations. Reach out quarterly or twice a year to get their input on areas like career direction, skills to improve, or trends in your industry [1][3]. For instance, you might say, "Your advice about project management was incredibly helpful. Since then, I’ve led two cross-functional teams and received great feedback. Do you have any suggestions on how I can further develop in this area?"

Offer Value in Return

Relationships are a two-way street. Share articles or insights that might interest them, introduce them to someone in your network who could be helpful, or offer support with their projects or initiatives [1]. This kind of reciprocity helps transform a one-time conversation into an ongoing connection.

As the relationship deepens, you can begin exploring opportunities to collaborate or work together, which we’ll cover in the next step.

Step 5: Look for Ways to Work Together

Once you've built a strong connection through consistent communication and meaningful exchanges, it's time to think about how you can collaborate. Working together can deepen professional relationships and open doors to partnerships that work well for both sides.

Offer Help Where It Counts

Pinpoint specific ways to assist based on what came up during your earlier conversations. Avoid vague offers like, "Let me know how I can help." Instead, suggest clear, actionable steps. For example, if they mentioned struggling with team productivity, you could recommend a tool or strategy that has worked for you in similar situations. Use the '3 I's' framework (introduced earlier) to keep your suggestions focused and relevant [1].

For example, instead of saying, "I’d love to help with remote work challenges", try: "I noticed you're focusing on remote team engagement. I recently rolled out a virtual team-building program that worked well. I'd be happy to share what we did and the results we saw."

Explore Collaboration Opportunities

Timing matters. Wait until you've built trust and fully understand their needs before suggesting specific ways to collaborate [1][3]. Here are a few ideas for potential collaborations:

Collaboration Type What It Involves
Content Creation Co-authoring articles or reports to showcase shared expertise
Project Participation Offering your skills or resources for ongoing initiatives
Knowledge Sharing Hosting workshops or presentations on topics of mutual interest
Mentorship Providing structured guidance based on shared goals

When pitching a collaboration, focus on how your skills or experience can help them achieve their goals. At the same time, emphasize the mutual benefits, such as shared learning. Be clear about what you're proposing and mindful of their schedule [1][2].

If they're not ready to collaborate now, stay in touch. Keep sharing helpful updates or ideas to maintain the connection and leave the door open for future opportunities [1][3]. Every collaboration strengthens your relationship and could lead to more opportunities down the line.

Conclusion: Steps to Build Strong Professional Relationships

After identifying collaboration opportunities, the next step is ensuring long-term success by focusing on relationship building. This takes effort, sincerity, and a well-thought-out approach. The goal is to form genuine connections that are mutually beneficial.

Strong professional relationships go beyond a simple thank-you note. As career expert Thea Kelley puts it:

"Turn informational interviews into lasting relationships."

Consistency and providing value are critical to successful networking. Career expert Jim Peacock highlights this idea:

"People will hire you when they know, like, and trust you" [2].

Reliability and follow-through are equally important. Jo O'Neil warns:

"If you don't honour the follow ups you say you'll make at an event, it can actually negatively impact your perceived credibility" [1].

To build trust, focus on meaningful interactions. Share industry insights, offer help, or stay in touch regularly. Career expert Asal Mirsalimi offers a realistic reminder:

"You are not going to become new best friends with every person you have one of these conversations with" [2].

The goal isn't to collect as many contacts as possible but to nurture relationships that grow naturally. Consistency and genuine value are what turn casual connections into lasting professional bonds.

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  • Staying in touch after informational interviews
  • Building and maintaining professional connections
  • Preparing thoroughly for interviews
  • Attending events to expand your network

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    Such a great service!

    Such a great initiative and service! Applying jobs everyday has been super daunting. But now with scale jobs, one can apply 100s of jobs per day as well as focus on prep for interviews.

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    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    I've had an exceptional experience

    I've had an exceptional experience with the Scale Jobs team, and I can't recommend them highly enough. From the outset, their dedication and enthusiasm were palpable, making a significant...

    Sajia NikitaApril 01, 2024
    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    Great experience, Reliable Team, Highly Recommended

    I have had a great experience with the scale.jobs team. The associate assigned for me is trustworthy and sincere in their approach. I would recommend trying out scale.jobs to anyone looking to make more time in their schedule for interview prep and networking, so that the repetitive portion of job application process can be outsourced. I personally feel it's good value for money. Would recommend setting up a call with their team if you're doubtful about whether or not the product will be useful for you. They are a really honest bunch of folks and I appreciate it so much.

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  • 5 stars

    Really good with applying jobs

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    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    Superb service!

    Great team of people and the person that was assigned to work with me was wonderful too. Majority of the heavy lifting is done by them and they are in constant communication with you....

    Adnan LakdawalaJuly 01, 2023
    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    Drastically reducing the burden!

    Apply at scale has immensely helped me with my tedious job application process. Their team is proactive and smart. Once they understand your profile, they are good at applying.......

    Mihika SrivastavaDecember 01, 2023
    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    They took away the work I was slacking…

    They took away the work I was slacking on, which allowed me to relax and not worry about submitting my applications. I was on an extremely busy schedule.

    Harish Reddy KondapalliJanuary 29, 2024
    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    Great for international students

    Scale.jobs has been an excellent help in applying for high volume of jobs which otherwise would be very time consuming. This is extremely useful in the current job market as a high-volume approach helped me get few interview calls which I wasn't getting earlier. Also, they keep bringing in new features such as the networking tool. Excited to try it out!

    Shobhit DattaMay 31, 2024
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  • 5 stars

    Great service to save time while interviewing

    Great service to save time while interviewing. I have been using it for a week. The support is nice and turnaround is within 24 hours. Price point maybe on the expensive side, but you pay for the time it saves to create accounts on several sites and apply jobs.

    Hemil PMay 20, 2024
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  • 5 stars

    extremely helpful in this challenging…

    I've been using Scale.jobs, and it has been an incredibly useful tool for my job search. The platform's intuitive design and user-friendly interface make it easy to navigate through various job listings. I appreciate the detailed job descriptions and the ability to filter positions based on my preferences. The application process is streamlined, saving me a lot of time. Overall, Scale.jobs has significantly enhanced my job search experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for new opportunities.

    Avinash AmudalaMay 28, 2024
    via Trustpilot
  • 5 stars

    Good service to save some time from job applications

    So far, my experience has been positive. I have been using their service for 2 months and am looking forward to continuing.

    Hari VilasMay 19, 2024
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