Informational Interview Questions You Can Consider

Best Questions for an Informational Interview

Preparing for an informational interview is all about having the right sample questions. Here’s a list of questions that you might want to use when talking to someone that you’re doing an informational interview with:

• Why did you choose this career?
• What is a typical day like for you in this career?
• What types of training do you recommend for someone who wants to do this job?
• What do you wish someone had told you before you chose this career path?
• What past work experience do you most frequently use?
• What are the biggest rewards and downfalls of this job?
• What professional journals do you recommend for someone entering the field?
• Are there any professional associations and professional organizations that are important to join?
• What was your job interview like?
• What is the general salary range for this career? What entry-level salary can I expect?
• What personality traits are most helpful in this job?
• Did you do any internships before landing this job?
• Is there a good work/life balance in this career?
• What advancement opportunities can I expect in this career path?
• What are the challenges of the job market right now?
• Do you enjoy your current position and the kind of work you do?
• Would you recommend any career services?
• What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
• How do you expect this field to change in the short-term and long-term future?

The actual questions you choose will often depend on what information you feel you’re missing. If you’re mostly missing information about how the job works day-to-day, then you’ll want to ask different questions than if you’re lacking information about general professional development.