Now that you have identified the reasons why you are seeking information and who to contact, it’s a good idea to formulate questions. Below are some suggested questions:
- What is your educational and professional background?
- How did you prepare yourself for this profession?
- What do you like/dislike about your job and why?
- What types of companies/organizations might employ someone to do this type of work?
- How did you decide to get into the field and what steps did you take to enter the field?
- What should I do to best prepare myself for a job in this field?
- What suggestions do you have for someone wishing to enter this field?
- What skills and background are needed to get into this field?
- What is the salary range for a person in this field?
- What personal qualities do you feel are most important in your work and why?
- What are the tasks you do in a typical workday and could you describe them?
- What types of difficult issues/stress do you experience on the job?
- What are the most significant changes facing your field/organization?
- What are the trends/issues to be aware of in the field?
- What is the job outlook in this field?
- Knowing what you know about your field, would you go into it again? If you weren't doing this what other careers would you pursue?
- What related occupations might I investigate?
- Is advanced education beneficial or required in this field?
- What qualities would one need to possess to do well in this profession?
- Are there professional publications or organizations that I should become familiar with?
- Is there anyone else that you could recommend that would be beneficial for me to speak with? May I use your name in contacting this person?
Always be sure to ask if the person can recommend additional people for you to talk to! This is one of the most important questions and the one that will provide you with further contacts.
"As opposed to asking question after question, treat the interview more like a conversation, it will help to make the experience more relaxing."
While all of these questions are good, don’t be afraid to have a conversation with the person. Tell them about yourself – interests, goals, where you’re from, etc. If, while asking the person a question, they mention something of interest to you or say something that you have in common, feel free to comment about it or inquire further. For example, if the person comments that their work varies from one day to the next, you could say, “I’m glad to hear that there is a lot of variety in your work. I like having different tasks to work on each day.”