Questions to Ask on an Informational Interview
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Informational interviews are a great way to learn about a job, a career, a company and much more from people who are ahead of you and are doing what you want to be doing.
This list of questions is not all-inclusive but contains questions that will help you whether you are inexperienced or very experienced.
What are your main responsibilities as a…?
What is a typical day (or week) like for you?
What do you like most about your work?
What made you choose the specific company you’re currently working for? What is the office culture like?
What parts of your work are the most rewarding?
What do you like least about your work?
Is there something that surprised you about the work when you first started?
What kinds of problems do you deal with?
What kinds of decisions do you make?
What former jobs of yours helped prepare you the most for your current position? Why?
How does your position fit within the organization/career field/industry?
How does your job affect your general lifestyle?
What current issues and trends in the field should I know about/be aware of?
What are some common career paths in this field?
What kinds of accomplishments tend to be valued and rewarded in this field?
What are the typical salary ranges for this occupation from entry-level to senior-level?
What related fields would you recommend I also look into?
How did you become interested in this field?
What kind of traits do you think someone needs to excel in a similar role?
How did you begin your career?
How do most people get into this field? What are common entry-level jobs?
What steps would you recommend I take to prepare to enter this field?
What specific professional certifications are important to have in your occupation?
How relevant is your undergraduate major to your work?
What kind of education, training, or background does your job require? What types of training or professional development opportunities are you currently doing or considering?
What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field?
Can you recommend trade journals, magazines or professional associations which would be helpful for my professional development? What professional organizations do you recommend becoming involved with?
Is your industry growing? What is the employment trajectory for the field as a whole?
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?
I’ve read that the entry-level salary range for this field is usually in the range of ______? Does this fit with what you’ve seen? (Don’t ask about the person’s actual salary.)
If you could go back to the beginning of your career, what, if anything, would you change?
What advice would you give someone who is considering this type of job (or field)?
Can you suggest anyone else I could contact for additional information?
Are there any questions I’m not asking that I should be?
Would it be alright for us to stay in touch?
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2022
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 2300 episodes. He also hosts Job Search TV on YouTube, and Amazon, as well as on BingeNetworks.tv for Apple TV and 90+ smart sets.
I do a livestream on LinkedIn, YouTube (on the JobSearchTV.com account) and on Facebook (on the Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter page) Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 PM Eastern. You can send your questions about job search, hiring better, management, leadership or to get advice about a workplace issue to me at TheBigGameHunter(at)gmail.com. In the subject line, put the phrase “Office Hours.” You can also message me through chat during the approximately 30 minute show.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching? Please click here to see my schedule to book a free discovery call or schedule time for coaching.
Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.
We grant permission for this post and others to be used on your website as long as a backlink is included and notice is provided that it is provided by Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter as an author or creator plus a backlink to www.TheBigGameHunter.us.
