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Maurice Horowitch
Career Center
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Sample Informational Interview Questions
You will probably ask 5-10 questions in any given informational interview, depending on how much time the person has available. Choose your questions carefully, and select them according to what will generate the most helpful information for YOU!
The Fundamentals (these are probably the most important to ask):
- How did you get started in this field?
- What do you like about your job? What do you not like about your job?
- Do you know of anyone else in this field that you think it would be beneficial for me to speak with? (ask for specific names) May I have permission to use your name when I call or contact them?
Present Job:
- Describe what you do during a typical work week.
- What skills or talents are most essential to be effective in this job?
- What are the greatest challenges you must deal with?
- What do you find most rewarding about the work itself, apart from salary, fringe
benefits, travel, etc?
Preparation:
- What educational degrees, licenses, etc. are required for entry into this field?
- What kinds of prior experiences are absolutely essential?
- What did you personally do to prepare yourself for this work?
Lifestyle:
- What obligations does your work place upon you outside of the ordinary work week?
- How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours of work, vacation schedule, etc.?
Hiring Decisions:
- If you were to hire someone to work with you today, which of the following factors would be most important in your hiring decision, and why?
- Educational credentials
- Past work experiences
- Personality, personal attributes
- Specific skills, talents
- Applicant's knowledge of your organization, your department, your job
Supply/Demand:
- What types of employers hire people in your line of work? Where are they located?
- How do people find out about these jobs? Are they advertised?
- Is turnover high? How does one move up with your organization?
- Do many people in your line of work accept positions abroad? Where? Why?
- How much do wages or salaries vary in your line of work (by employer, region, etc.)?
Career Future:
- If things develop as you would like, where do you see yourself five years from now?
- If your job was suddenly eliminated, what different kinds of work could you do?
- How rapidly is your career field growing? How would you predict future prospects?
Advice:
- How well suited is my background for this type of work?
- What kinds of experiences, paid or otherwise, would you most strongly recommend?
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