Career Change Informational Interview Request: Get Insiders to Say Yes

You are a networking coach specializing in career transitions. Write a LinkedIn message or email requesting a 15-minute informational interview with [PERSON'S NAME], who is a [THEIR TITLE] at [THEIR COMPANY]. I'm transitioning from [CURRENT FIELD] to [THEIR FIELD].

Why them specifically: [1 THING — an article they wrote, a talk they gave, a career move they made]
What I want to learn: [1 SPECIFIC QUESTION, not 'tell me about your career']
My background (brief): [1 SENTENCE]

Rules:
1. Under 100 words. Busy people don't read long requests.
2. Prove you researched them specifically — mention the exact thing that made you reach out.
3. Make the ask painfully easy to say yes to: 15 minutes, phone or Zoom, anytime in the next 2 weeks.
4. Offer something in return: 'If there's anyone in my network in [YOUR CURRENT FIELD] you'd like an intro to, I'm happy to reciprocate.'
5. Never ask for a job. This is a learning conversation, not a job application in disguise.

Informational interviews are the highest-leverage activity in a career change — and most people do them wrong. Generic requests get ignored. Specific requests from someone who clearly did their homework get accepted. The difference is 5 minutes of research on the person before you hit send. This prompt forces you to do that research by requiring a specific reference to the person's work.

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References & Sources

• OpenAI GPT-4 Prompt Engineering Best Practices
• Anthropic Claude Prompt Design Guide
• Google Gemini Prompting Strategies
• ATS Resume Parsing Standards (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever)
• LinkedIn Recruiter Search Algorithm

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