Informational Interviewing
Your ApproachYou should have some idea of your own skills, interests and abilities prior to the interview. You will then be able to state what you can do and be better equipped to ask, "Where do you feel that best opportunities are for someone with my skills and experience/education/background?"
Obliviously, you should develop additional questions to fit your particular situation and experience level.
Some suggestions:
- What do you do in a typical work day?
- What kinds of problems do you deal with?
- How does this job fit into the organization/department?
- How long have you been in this job? With this organization?
- What are your major responsibilities?
- How did you reach your current position?
- Would you recommend it to others?
- If so, what skills, education and experience are required?
- What are typical entry-level jobs in your field?
- Could someone with a liberal arts, sociology, biology background obtain a position in this field?
- What do you find most satisfying about your job? Most frustrating?
- What are the toughest problems you face in your organization?
- What social or other obligations, outside of normal work hours go along with your job?
- How many hours do you work during the average week?
- What professional organizations do you belong to? Are you an active member? How has your membership helped?
- What sort of changes are occurring in your field?
- Is there a definite career path in your field/organization? Can you describe it?
- What are the professional journals in your field? Which one do you recommend?
- Can you suggest anyone else whom I could contact for additional information?
- If I become an applicant for this type of work, whom should I contact in your organization or in another firm in this field?