(1) Identify the Occupation or Industry You Wish to Learn About

• Assess your own interests, abilities, values, and skills, and evaluate labor surroundings and trends to discover the best fields to research.

(2) Prepare for the Interview

• Read all you can about the field before the interview. Decide on what information you would like to obtain about the occupation/industry; and prepare a list of questions that you would like to have answered.

(3) Arrange the Interview
Contact the person to set up an interview:

• by telephone
• by a letter followed by a telephone call
• by having someone who knows the person make the                                                     appointment for you

(4) Conduct the Interview

• Dress appropriately
• Arrive on time
• Be polite and professional
• Refer to your list of prepared questions; stay on track, but allow for spontaneous discussion
• Before leaving, ask your contact to suggest names of others who might be helpful to you and ask permission to use your contact's name when contacting these new contacts

(5) Follow Up

• Immediately following the interview
• Record the information gathered
• Be sure to send a thank-you note to your contact within one week of the interview