The Art of the Informational Interview for Academic Physicians
If you're an academic physician thinking about a new direction — maybe a leadership role, a different subspecialty focus, or a move into medical education — one of the most underused tools at your disposal is the informational interview. Career exploration in academic medicine doesn't have to mean applying blind. A well-placed conversation can tell you more about a role in thirty minutes than months of reading job descriptions ever will.
Yet most physicians I work with have never done one. Or they've done something they called an informational interview that was really just an awkward ask for a job. There's a difference, and it matters.
What a Physician Informational Interview Actually Is
An informational interview is a short, structured conversation where you're the one asking the questions. You're not asking for a position. You're not pitching yourself. You're genuinely trying to learn what a particular role, department, or career path looks like from the inside.
The beauty of this approach is that it removes the pressure for both parties. The person you're talking to doesn't feel cornered into evaluating you as a candidate, and you don't have to perform. You get to be curious, which is something most of us were pretty good at before the training years beat it out of us.
Why This Works Especially Well in Academic Medicine
Academic medicine is a smaller world than people realize. Reputations travel. Relationships matter. And most senior faculty and administrators genuinely enjoy talking about their work when someone shows real interest.
In their book Designing Your Life, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans describe these kinds of conversations as "life design interviews" and argue they are the single most effective way to test assumptions about a career path before committing to it. The same principle applies here. You probably have assumptions about what it's like to be a vice chair for education, or to run a simulation center, or to transition into industry-sponsored clinical trials. Some of those assumptions are wrong. The informational interview is how you find out which ones.
How to Set One Up Without It Being Weird
Start with your existing network. A former co-resident who's now in a role you're curious about. A colleague from a national committee. Someone your mentor knows. The ask is simple: "I'm exploring some career directions and would love to hear about your experience in [role]. Would you have twenty minutes for a conversation?"
Most people say yes. Physicians are busy, but they're also flattered when someone genuinely wants to learn from their path. Keep it brief, keep it focused, and be respectful of their time.
A few practical tips:
- Prepare five to seven questions in advance. Focus on what surprised them about the role, what they wish they'd known, and what skills turned out to matter most.
- Don't ask for a job. This is the cardinal rule. The moment you pivot to "so, are there any openings?" you've broken the contract.
- Take notes afterward, not during. Be present in the conversation. Write down key takeaways within an hour of finishing.
- Follow up with a thank-you note. Brief, specific, and genuine. Mention something concrete you learned.
Think of It Like Scouting
If you'll forgive a coaching analogy: informational interviews are your scouting reports. A good coach doesn't build a game plan based on assumptions about the opponent. They watch film, talk to other coaches, and gather intelligence before making decisions. You're doing the same thing for your career. Each conversation gives you data that helps you make a sharper, more informed choice about where to invest your time and energy.
Building a Habit, Not a One-Off
The physicians who get the most out of informational interviews don't treat them as a one-time event. They build a rhythm — one or two conversations a month with people in roles or institutions they find interesting. Over time, this creates a network of informed relationships that pays dividends whether or not you ever make a move.
And here's the part people don't expect: sometimes the informational interview talks you out of something. That's equally valuable. Learning that a role you romanticized actually involves eighty percent committee work and twenty percent of what you'd enjoy saves you from a costly mistake.
Start Small, Start Now
You don't need a polished career plan to begin. You just need genuine curiosity and the willingness to ask someone about their experience. Pick one person this week. Send the email. See what you learn.
If you'd like to learn more, contact us to schedule a time to chat.
