To get the most benefit from an information interview, it’s important to carefully choose the great questions you’ll ask BEFORE the information interview. Which questions you should ask during an information interview will depend on your goals.

• You can ask questions that will help you identify good career options.
• You can ask questions about what a specific career is really like.
• You can ask questions about how to enter a field after graduation or make a career transition.
• You can ask questions to learn about job openings.
• You can ask questions that will help you prepare for a job interview.

        To help you get the career information and advice you need and to keep information interviews flowing smoothly, I’ve formulated a list of questions you can ask. In an information interview, you won’t have time to ask all of these questions. To get the most beneficial information, it’s important to carefully choose your questions in advance and have them handy during your information interview so that you can stay focused and keep the conversation on track.  

Information Interview Questions To Ask About The Person And His or Her Career

• How did you get into this career field / position / company?
• • What did you do before you entered this field?

• • What was your career path to reach your current position?

• • What is your current title?  What do you do in your current job?

• • What is a normal day like?

• • What are your responsibilities? What percentage of time do you spend on each of these?

• • What skills do I need most to be successful in this position / career?

• • What types of problems do you deal with?

• • What types of decisions do you make?

• • How much of your time do you spend on (fill in the blank with the information you want)?

• • What do you like and dislike about your job?

• • What are some of the most interesting projects you have worked on?

• • What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

• • What are the most frustrating aspects of your job?

• • What aspects of your job are routine / repetitive?

• • Is the work environment competitive? Cooperative? How so?

• • How much interaction do you have with clients, colleagues, supervisor, staff?

• • How much time do you work alone? In teams?

• • What other social or networking responsibilities are part of this field?

• • How is your work important to your department / company?

• • How much job security does this type of position have?

• • What hours do you typically work? Do you need to work at night? On weekends? At home?

• • What are the keys to your success in this field?

  Information Interview Questions To Ask About A Department / Company / Industry / Profession

• • • How large is this department / company / industry / profession?

• • How is this department / company / industry / profession changing now?

• • How does the economy impact this department / company / industry / profession?

• • What do you see as the future of this department / company / industry / profession 5 to 10 years from now?

• • Do you think it is a secure department / company / industry / profession in terms of income potential, opportunities, future demand, etc.?

• • What is the employment outlook like in this department / company / industry / profession?

• • What is the potential for career advancement in this department / company / industry / profession?

• • Who are the major employers in this profession / industry? Are there any employers that you recommend I look at?

• • What are the various careers available in this field?

• • How does someone advance in this career?

• • How quickly do people advance to the next level?

• • Based on what you have learned about my skills and interests, which careers do you think could be a good fit for me?

• • What are the most important things that I need to know about entering this department / company / industry / profession?

• • What are the typical entry-level jobs in this field?  What are the typical responsibilities for those positions?  What are the educational or experience requirements for those positions?  If I performed well, how quickly could I advance in this field?

• • What is the salary range for more senior positions in the field?

• • What sacrifices do people typically need to make to succeed in this position / field?

• • What are the different career paths I could take in this profession as I gain experience?

• • What sort of compensation could I expect, including salary range and other benefits, if I did this type of work?

• • What is the highest-level job one can achieve in this field?

• • What else do people need to know about this field before they enter it?

• • What are the reasons that people typically leave this field?

• • When people leave this field, what other careers could they transition to?

• • Do you have any other advice for people considering this department / company / industry / profession?

  Information Interview Questions To Ask About Entering A Profession

• • • What courses / degree are most helpful to enter this field?

• • How important are grades / internships / college reputation for entering this field?

• • How do people typically get started in this field?

• • What is the best way to land a job in this profession?

• • What suggestions do you have for me to enter this field?

• • How can I gain the experience necessary to enter this profession?

• • Are there any other careers that you think would be a good fit for my qualifications and background?

  Information Interview Questions To Ask About Making A Career Transition

• • • Based on my current job and work experience, how easy or difficult do you think it would be for me to transition to this position / industry / company?

• • Based on my background, what type of positions could I land in this field?

• • What sacrifices might I need to make to transition to this field?

• • Do you know anyone who has made a career transition to this field?  How did they make the transition?

• • If you were me, how would you go about getting into this position / company / industry / profession?

• • Based on what you have learned about me, what skills do I have that can be used in / transferred to this company / industry / profession?

• • What would be the biggest obstacles to making this transition?

• • What other challenges might I face getting into this department / company / industry / profession?

• • How am I better / differently qualified than a typical candidate?

• • What aspects of my background would be helpful to transitioning to this department / company / industry / profession?

• • What would I need to do to become a more attractive candidate for a job in this department / company / industry / profession?

• • What type of paid or volunteer experience could I get to make my transition easier?  What’s the best way to get that experience?

• • What would be the best training / education for me to get to support my transition?

• • Would you be willing to give me some quick feedback on ways I can better tailor my resume to make this career transition?

• • Are there any other careers that you think would be a good fit for my qualifications and background?

  Information Interview Questions To Ask People Who Could Hire You

• • • What are the qualities and skills of the people who have been most successful in this department / company?

• • How does your company evaluate job performance?

• • When you choose people to be on your team, what skills and characteristics are important to you?

• • What are the most important short-term goals for this department / company?

• • What are the company’s / department’s most important long-term goals?

• • What is currently the greatest opportunity for you and your department / company?

• • What kinds of challenges are you currently facing in your department / company? What would solve this problem?

• • In what areas do you see the department / company expanding? Why?

• • In what areas is this department / company adding new products or services?

• • In what areas do you think this department / company could use more staff? Why?

• • If your company had unlimited resources, in what areas do you think new positions should be created? Why?

• • If you had the funding to hire someone, what tasks would you give them?

• • Is your department / company likely to have future job openings?

  Information Interview Questions to Ask for More Career Advice and Assistance

• • • Can you refer me to other people in your profession / company / department who could be of assistance, answer further questions, or give me a different perspective?

• • What professional associations should I look into?

• • Do you know anyone who has transitioned into this profession that I could talk to about their experience?

• • What books / trade publications / industry journals / blogs do you recommend that I read to learn more?

• • May I contact you again if I have another question?

• • Who are the hiring managers that could use my skills and experience in this company? Who could I contact in those departments? If I wanted to talk with any of them in the future, would you be able to introduce me?

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