Sample Questions for Informational Interviews

							           Sample Questions for Informational Interviews

A day in the life
 What do you do in a typical workday?
 What kinds of problems do you deal with?
 What kinds of decisions do you make?
 How does your job fit into the organization or department?
 What are your major responsibilities?


Career preparation and progression
 How did you enter the field? How long have you been in it?
 How did you reach your current position?
 What skills, education, and experience are required?
 What are typical jobs appropriate for my level of experience in your field?
 What courses or work experience would you recommend?
 What is the career path in your field/organization?


Career pros and cons
 What do you find most satisfying/frustrating about the job?
 What are the toughest problems you face?
 What obligations, outside of normal hours, come with the job?
 How many hours do you work during an average week?


Career trends
 What kinds of changes are occurring in your field?
 What is the job market like in your field?
 What industry trends do you foresee over 5 or 10 years?


Job search and networking in this area
 Can you recommend any publications / associations I should read / join?
 Any suggestions for how to conduct my job search?
 Can you recommend organizations you feel would be good employers for
  someone in this area?
 Is there someone else you would recommend I speak to?