Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview

Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview 26informational interview. ’ Senior Career Specialist, Brie Reynolds, says “One thing to note about informational interviews is that people typically enjoy talking about themselves and their experiences, so having good questions to ask is the key to keeping the conversation flowing and getting the most out of it.” Lets take a closer look at what to expect. About the Informational Interview Informational interviews differ from a job interview due to the nature of the meeting. Job seekers typically initiate the interview in an effort to gain more knowledge about their desired career or an employer they are interested in working for. There is also unspoken etiquette with informational interviews similar to traditional job interviews. The environment, attire, and questions should be professional (but follow the lead of the person youre talking with and the work environment of their career field), and time constraints should be determined ahead of time to make sure there are no misunderstandings. Additionally, you should be prepared by having done your research on the company and industry, as well as by having a prepared list of questions. Questions to Ask Knowing what to ask is really dependent on what you are looking to learn. If you are interested in a specific industry, you would focus on that. Likewise, you should do the same when trying to get information about a type of career, job, or company. Consider the following questions to ask in an informational interview, and tweak them according to your needs. What is your job title? What would you say are similar or related job titles to yours? What level of education is needed for this job? Is an advanced degree necessary? What were your interests in school? How did that lead to your career choice? What kind of tools/programs/equipment/apps do you use to do your work? Do you have coworkers around you when you are working or is this more independent? How long have you been in this position? What are your duties? How would you categorize your work environment? Is it fast-paced? Do you have daily routine tasks? What is a typical day like for you? What do you like most about your job? What do you like least? What do you wear to work? What skills do you think are required for this career that you think I should know? Are there any specific classes or experiences you would recommend that would prepare me for this type of job? How did your previous work experience or schooling relate to your career? What is the path for advancement in your field? What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your job? What have you learned from some of the jobs you have had? What kind of career advice would you give to a person who is interested in a similar career? How has your job and your career field changed over the years? Is there anything that you would do differently to get into this type of work if given the chance? If you had only one piece of advice to give me, what would it be? Is there another person you’d recommend I talk to about this? If you were job searching right now, what three things would you do? Are there advancement opportunities? If you could go back and change something about your career path, or do something differently, what would it be? Have you learned any great tips from people in your network about careers in this field you could share? How has your job affected your life? What types of personalities fit best with this career? Who do you look up to professionally? How would you describe the potential for this field? What professional organizations, journals, or websites should I look at? Who else would you recommend I talk to? While the informational interview is not necessarily going to lead directly to a new job, it is a great place to start. By getting a personal perspective of the industry, career, or company, you can decide how best to approach your networking and job search activities. Want to talk through your job search and career questions with someone? Sign up for online career coaching with a expert today. REGISTER FOR CAREER COACHING WITH A EXPERT