Informational Interviewing Potential Questions

Informational InterviewingPotential Questions

About the Person

What attracted you to this industry, your company, and your job?

What do you enjoy most about this industry, the company, and your job?

What do you see as possible next steps for you? What career expectations do you have in the short and long term?

What are you most excited/concerned about for this industry/company/career path in the future?

What do you wish you'd known before you entered this field?

Tell me about the most challenging projects that you have worked on?

Could you give me some examples of teamwork and the support that you get from your peers and superiors at the firm on projects?

What was your career path and what made you decide to work for this firm?

About the Job

What do you find unique about your career field?

What are the duties performed during a typical day? Week? Month? Year? Do you have a set routine?

How much time are you in meetings, on the phone, on the road, and working in teams versus working independently? Are there busy and slow times or is the work activity fairly constant?

Are there other things you are expected to do outside work hours?

To what extent does this job present a challenge in terms of juggling work and family life?

What are the most valuable skills in your job? Which experiences enabled you to develop these skills? How do you keep skills current? What do you read? What professional associations do you belong to? What seminars or continuing education do you consider useful?

What projects have you worked on that have been particularly interesting?

Where do you and your supervisor fit into the organizational structure?

What do you do if you can't solve a problem on your own?

What have been your biggest surprises in this field?

What are the common misconceptions about working in this field?

How much flexibility do you have in determining how you perform your job?

About the Company

What can you tell me about the corporate culture?

What do you see as the biggest competitive challenge