Informational Interview
Definition
An informational interview is a short networking conversation — typically 15 to 30 minutes, by phone or coffee — that a candidate requests with a banker to learn about their path, group, and firm. The candidate initiates via a concise cold email or a warm introduction (alumni networks are the highest-yield channel), asks thoughtful questions, and is not formally being interviewed.
Informally, it is absolutely an evaluation: bankers who come away impressed can refer you to recruiting, flag your resume, or 'push' for you internally — in IB recruiting, accumulated advocates inside a bank materially affect first-round invites. Standard etiquette: research the person first, prepare specific questions, keep to time, send a brief thank-you, and maintain the relationship with occasional updates.
A common closing move is asking whether there is anyone else they'd suggest you speak with, which compounds the network.
Why interviewers ask
IB recruiting is heavily networking-driven — especially for candidates from non-target schools — and informationals are the primary mechanism. They also feed directly into interviews: 'who have you spoken with at our firm?' is a common question, and named conversations demonstrate genuine interest in a way no cover letter can.
Related terms
Interviews don't test definitions — they test recall under pressure.
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