What:

• Just as the word implies, informational interviewing is interviewing designed to produce information related to career exploration and guidance. Usually lasting 20-30 minutes, the interview is a brief meeting between a person who wants to investigate a career and a person who is working in that career. Choose or refine a career path; understand what training/education is needed; learn how to succeed in a specific field; expand your social/professional network—all of these items are reasons for conducting an informational interview.

Why:

• Expand your professional network

• Sharpen your interviewing skills

• Explore your careers

• Clarify your careers goals

Search:

• Friends

• Family

• Professors

• Fellow students

• Present or former co-workers

• Supervisors

• Neighbors

Prepare:

• Research the organization

• Create a resume—can show professionalism

• Develop questions (See Sample Questions below)

Follow-up:

• Thank-you Letters

Sample Questions

What are the various jobs available in this field?

What kind of tasks do you perform on a typical day or in a typical week?

What types of tasks do you spend most of your time doing?

How is your daily/weekly time slot between working with people, data and things?

What do you like best about this job?

What is the most exciting part of this job?

What are some of the more difficult or frustrating parts of this job?

How is the economy affecting this industry?

Are there any other written materials, professional articles, etc that you suggest I read?

What personal characteristics does one need to be successful in this career?

Do you spend more time working independently or as part of a team?

What types of decisions do you typically need to make?

What types of advancement opportunities are available for an entry level worker in this career?

What are some of the possible career paths in this field?

How do you see this career changing?

What is the typical entry-level salary range for someone entering the field?

What is the current employment outlook/demand for this occupation?

Is the demand for this job higher in certain geographical areas?

Can you describe the organizational structure at your company/organization?

Do you know of other people whom I might talk to who have similar jobs?

How many hours do you typically work each day/week?

Is your schedule flexible or do you have set hours?

Are your hours typical for most jobs in this field, or do some jobs have different hours?

What's the dress code here? Is it conservative or casual? Does the company have dress-down of casual days?

What educational background did you obtain to prepare for this career?

Is a certain major or degree required for this job?

How did you find your job?

What classes or experiences do you think are most helpful in preparing for this career?

How important are internships?

What advice would you give a person entering this field?

When you/your organization hire new employees, what methods do you most often use to find candidates (newspapers, job fairs, internet, referrals, etc)

What characteristics or experiences make one candidate stand apart from the rest?

What do you wish you had known before you entered this field?

How can I assess whether or not I have the skills needed for a position such as yours?

How important are grades/GPA for obtaining a job in this field?

What courses should I be taking? What courses have proved to be the most valuable to you in your work?

What courses do you wish you had taken that would have prepared you?

What is the best way to obtain a position that will get me started in this occupation?

What obstacles do you see getting in the way of the company's profitability or growth?

Why did you decide to work for this company?