A postdoc asks—

I've heard that informational interviews are helpful, but also that it is a bad idea to reach out to people after you applied to a job to ask them to recommend you. Should you still do informational interviews while you are actively job searching and applying? How does that fit in?

I think informational interviews can be useful at pretty much any time, whether it's investing in a relationship for the future or to get support with an immediate need (like when you are job searching). However, I also think it is good advice to avoid reaching out for an informational interview with someone when you have already submitted your application to work with their team. Primarily, since the goal of an informational interview is to gather information and advice that can help you, waiting until after you applied leaves you in a spot where you no longer have a chance to act on their advice and incorporate it into your application! So, I think informational interviews while you are actively job searching make the most sense for organizations where you anticipate applying, not ones where you have already submitted.

Additionally, professionals currently involved in hiring are typically less available than those who are not. For many, hiring is an additional duty on top of their regular job duties that still need to get done, so they frequently have less time available. In fact, I generally find that former employees of the organization you want to apply to can give you the best information. They are in a better position to be candid and transparent about the pros and cons of working for their former employer.;

-David Blancha, Assistant Director, Career Development Team for Researchers