Why Informational Interviews Matter in 2025
ChecIn the highly competitive 2025 job market, where AI tools make applying easier but also flood employers with applications, human connections matter more than ever.
I have personally benefited from informational interviews and have seen them help others as they make a career pivot into various career paths.
Before I was aware of informational interviews, I primarily relied on assumptions of career paths, or went with my “passions” without thinking of job prospects/pay, etc.
Informational interviews help you uncover insights that aren't found in job descriptions, expand your professional network, and often lead to future job opportunities.
Informational interviews are free, making them one of the most valuable low-cost tools for career exploration and networking. This can be an alternative to expensive career services.
Since you're not asking for a job but simply seeking advice or insights from their personal and lived experiences, most professionals are willing to chat without any expectation of payment. I find that other PhDs are more willing to share their experiences with other PhDs or academics.
But most importantly, informational interviews let you explore whether a role truly aligns with your interests and goals before committing. This is an important aspect, especially for those who are indecisive like me.
Informational Interviews In the Context of AI & Competition in the Job Market
In the highly competitive 2025 job market, where AI tools make applying easier but also flood employers with applications, human connections matter more than ever.
Informational interviews help you stand out by building genuine relationships through conversations with people.
If there are hundreds of applications being reviewed by a hiring manager, you need to stand out, and having a referral will do just that. Informational interviews are not intended to get referrals, but organically, they happen because of them.
If you were lucky enough to have an informational interview in the past with the hiring manager or got a referral from someone else, you would likely stand out in a sea of AI-generated applications.
Informational Interview Guide is Now Updated on the After Your PhD Website
To help transitioning academics and anyone else looking to pivot their career, I created a resource about informational interviews. This has been shared before, but it's time for some updates - specifically expanding the content to be more inclusive of anyone exploring new career paths, not just those with PhDs.
This resource offers practical tips, personal insights, and a growing list of tools to help you confidently reach out, ask better questions, and build a network that supports your transition beyond academia.
See the latest update of the informational interview here.
After Your PhD Offical Sponsor
I’m excited to spotlight a resource I think my community will find useful: the “How to Use AI Tools to Write a Resume or CV” course from HigherEd+! 🚀 This course is relevant for anyone ready to (or curious) about leveraging AI to build their resume or CV.
🔗 Check it out: https://bit.ly/ai-resume-ayp
🔎 What’s Inside?
This interactive and practical course will help you:
🌟 Discover the unique benefits of using AI to craft your resume or CV
🛠️ Follow clear, step-by-step guides to 3 top AI-powered resume/CV platforms
💡 Learn actionable strategies to make your application stand out
👥 Who is this for?
🎓 Students, professionals, and researchers eager to streamline their job applications
🏫 Career centers and university staff looking to empower their communities with modern tools
🌍 Anyone interested in leveraging AI for career growth and success
👨🏫 Meet Your Instructor
Led by Muhammad Irfan, MSc—an international leader in AI-driven higher education and an expert in healthcare biotechnology. His expertise and passion make every lesson engaging and relevant!
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To obtain $20 OFF any HigherEd+ Unlimited Membership (gaining access to not only this course but all 200+ courses), use the coupon code: AFTERPHD20
Alt-Ac Career Coach Needs More Survey Respondents
I’m doing a survey of people’s perceptions of career coaches. I have only 8 responses so far, I’d love to have more responses in order to share the results. All anonymous.
Please see the purpose of the survey here: The goal of this anonymous survey is to better understand perceptions of online alt-ac career coaches. Many individuals seek paid coaching services to help accelerate their job search, and I want to gain insight into how the broader community views career coaches and their role in this transition, since opinions seem to differ.
Looking For a New Job?
If you’re currently looking for a new role outside academia, please reach out Ryan Collins PhD on LinkedIn or email afteryourphd@gmail.com. I’ll gladly include a free help wanted posting in the After Your PhD newsletter to help get your name out there!
Ways To Support After Your PhD
After Your PhD was founded in 2021 as a way to help other academics transition into new career paths. This isn’t my full-time job, but I do appreciate any help in supporting my efforts.
Try out paid membership from one of my trusted partners, HigherEd+ if you are interested in upskilling or exploring new career paths.
To obtain $20 OFF any HigherEd+ Unlimited Membership (gaining access to this program and all 200+ courses), use the coupon code: AFTERPHD20
I haven’t implemented any paid features on Substack, but I offer Resume & LinkedIn Review services, as well as general monthly support for $5 on Patreon.
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