An informational interview is at the heart of seeking and finding important career information. This interview, with an experienced professional in your field of interest, provides you with hard-to access, current, and relevant industry information from an \u201cinsider\u2019s\u201d point of view. When conducted with skill and proper technique, this association can also give you access to key decision makers and promising industry contacts. On a personal note, one of my early informational interviews resulted in meeting one of my mentors and choosing a particular career path where I had much success.
\nIn preparation for your interviews, be sure to review \u00a0Module 7 of our LifeLaunch! career course. Donald Asher has some very important interviewing tips that will help you achieve the outcome you desire.
\nRemember, these interviews are NOT job interviews, even though they are taking place in a professional context. You are gathering invaluable \u201cinsider\u201d information and your industry contact is forming an impression of you based on your preparation, your listening skills and how you conduct yourself. You should not ask for a job. Your job is to ask for a referral to another industry contact at the conclusion of your interview!
\nPrint out the list of the informational interview questions and bring them to your interview so that you are prepared for success.
\nReview Mod\u00adule 7 of our Life\u00adLaunch! career course to learn all of the inter\u00adview\u00ading tips that will make your informational interview a success.
\n", "content_text": "An informational interview is at the heart of seeking and finding important career information. This interview, with an experienced professional in your field of interest, provides you with hard-to access, current, and relevant industry information from an \u201cinsider\u2019s\u201d point of view. When conducted with skill and proper technique, this association can also give you access to key decision makers and promising industry contacts. On a personal note, one of my early informational interviews resulted in meeting one of my mentors and choosing a particular career path where I had much success.\nIn preparation for your interviews, be sure to review \u00a0Module 7 of our LifeLaunch! career course. Donald Asher has some very important interviewing tips that will help you achieve the outcome you desire.\nRemember, these interviews are NOT job interviews, even though they are taking place in a professional context. You are gathering invaluable \u201cinsider\u201d information and your industry contact is forming an impression of you based on your preparation, your listening skills and how you conduct yourself. You should not ask for a job. Your job is to ask for a referral to another industry contact at the conclusion of your interview!\nSome of the benefits of your informational interview are:\n\nFinding out if the industry is suitable for you\u2014are you headed in the right direction?\nGaining confidence from industry-specific suggestions regarding how to acquire experience and knowledge in that field\nPracticing and refining interviewing skills and techniques\nGaining access to decision-makers or insiders for internal job postings\nFinding out what it is really like in a particular industry or job title\nExpanding your network of industry contacts\nRequest for referrals\n\nYour informational interview should cover these subject areas:\n\nOverall Job and Company Information\nSpecific or ideal skills and qualifications\nCareer paths or career ladder\nIndustry trends\nRewards/challenges\nTypical compensation\nAsking for the referral\n\nPrint out the list of the informational interview questions and bring them to your interview so that you are prepared for success.\nLifeLaunch! Can Help\nReview Mod\u00adule 7 of our Life\u00adLaunch! career course to learn all of the inter\u00adview\u00ading tips that will make your informational interview a success.", "date_published": "2014-09-26T17:08:39-07:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-24T11:27:09-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://www.albertbakerfund.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://www.albertbakerfund.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Blog", "career success", "Informational Interviews", "Instructions", "For Job Seekers", "Prep", "Resources", "Career Resources" ] }, { "id": "https://abfcareeralliance.org/?p=373", "url": "https://www.albertbakerfund.org/2014/09/25/questions-to-ask-in-your-informational-interview/", "title": "Questions to Ask in Your Informational Interview", "content_html": "Here are some questions that will help you get the most out of that interview. Your goal is to 1) gain a realistic understanding of what it\u2019s like to work in this field, and 2) gather information that will help launch your career path in this field.
\nAlthough some questions may seem redundant, they may help produce different insights and perspectives. Be sure that you cover all topic areas, but it\u2019s not necessary to ask every single question.
\n\u2022 What is a typical day like?
\n\u2022 What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?
\n\u2022 What kind of decisions do you make?
\n\u2022 What percentage of your time is spent doing what?
\n\u2022 What was different from what you expected? What was the biggest surprise when you went into this?
\n\u2022 Any myths you\u2019d like to shatter for me?
\n\u2022 What are the various jobs in this field or your organization?
\n\u2022 Why did you decide to work for this particular company?
\n\u2022 What do you like most about this company?
\n\u2022 How does your company differ from its competitors?
\n\u2022 Why do customers choose your company?
\n\u2022 Are you optimistic about the company\u2019s future and your future with the company?
\n\u2022 What does your company do to contribute to its employees\u2019 professional development?
\n\u2022 How does your company make use of technology for internal communication and outside marketing? (email, internet, intranets, World Wide Web page, video, conferencing, etc.)
\u2022 What kind of preparation is typical to get into your field? Is this really required, or just the typical approach?
\n\u2022 Can you suggest some ways a person could obtain the necessary experience?
\n\u2022 What skills and qualities are most valued in your industry?
\u2022 How did you get into this line of work?
\n\u2022 What ensures continued advancement in your field?
\u2022 What are significant issues or trends that are currently affecting your industry?
\n\u2022 Why does this type of work interest you?
\n\u2022 What kinds of problems do you deal with?
\n\u2022 What are some of the most important personal satisfactions and dissatisfactions connected with your occupation?
\n\u2022 What part of this job do you find most challenging?
\n\u2022 What do you like and not like about working in this industry?
\n\u2022 Do you find your job exciting or boring? Why?
\u2022\u00a0What is the typical salary range for an entry-level job in your field?
\n\u2022 What is the\u00a0top of the\u00a0salary range for\u00a0a position in your field?
\u2022 Is their one question or a series of questions that I have not asked that I should be asking?
\n\u2022\u00a0Who else does this line of work?
\n\u2022 What other companies?
\n\u2022 Who else should I be talking to?
\n\u2022 May I use your name?
Review Mod\u00adule 7 of our Life\u00adLaunch! career course to learn all of the inter\u00adview\u00ading tips that will make your infor\u00adma\u00adtional inter\u00adview a success.
\n", "content_text": "Here are some questions that will help you get the most out of that interview. Your goal is to 1) gain a realistic understanding of what it\u2019s like to work in this field, and 2) gather information that will help launch your career path in this field.\nAlthough some questions may seem redundant, they may help produce different insights and perspectives. Be sure that you cover all topic areas, but it\u2019s not necessary to ask every single question.\nOverall Job and Company Information\n\u2022 What is a typical day like?\n\u2022 What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?\n\u2022 What kind of decisions do you make?\n\u2022 What percentage of your time is spent doing what?\n\u2022 What was different from what you expected? What was the biggest surprise when you went into this?\n\u2022 Any myths you\u2019d like to shatter for me?\n\u2022 What are the various jobs in this field or your organization?\n\u2022 Why did you decide to work for this particular company?\n\u2022 What do you like most about this company?\n\u2022 How does your company differ from its competitors?\n\u2022 Why do customers choose your company?\n\u2022 Are you optimistic about the company\u2019s future and your future with the company?\n\u2022 What does your company do to contribute to its employees\u2019 professional development?\n\u2022 How does your company make use of technology for internal communication and outside marketing? (email, internet, intranets, World Wide Web page, video, conferencing, etc.)\nSpecific Skills and Qualifications\n\u2022 What kind of preparation is typical to get into your field? Is this really required, or just the typical approach?\n\u2022 Can you suggest some ways a person could obtain the necessary experience?\n\u2022 What skills and qualities are most valued in your industry?\nCareer Path or Career Ladder\n\u2022 How did you get into this line of work?\n\u2022 What ensures continued advancement in your field?\nIndustry Trends\n\u2022 What are significant issues or trends that are currently affecting your industry?\nRewards and Challenges\n\u2022 Why does this type of work interest you?\n\u2022 What kinds of problems do you deal with?\n\u2022 What are some of the most important personal satisfactions and dissatisfactions connected with your occupation?\n\u2022 What part of this job do you find most challenging?\n\u2022 What do you like and not like about working in this industry?\n\u2022 Do you find your job exciting or boring? Why?\nTypical Compensation\n\u2022\u00a0What is the typical salary range for an entry-level job in your field?\n\u2022 What is the\u00a0top of the\u00a0salary range for\u00a0a position in your field?\nCatch-All Question\n\u2022 Is their one question or a series of questions that I have not asked that I should be asking?\nThe Final Question: Asking for the Referral\n\u2022\u00a0Who else does this line of work?\n\u2022 What other companies?\n\u2022 Who else should I be talking to?\n\u2022 May I use your name?\nLife\u00adLaunch! Can\u00a0Help\nReview Mod\u00adule 7 of our Life\u00adLaunch! career course to learn all of the inter\u00adview\u00ading tips that will make your infor\u00adma\u00adtional inter\u00adview a success.", "date_published": "2014-09-25T14:29:46-07:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-24T11:27:09-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://www.albertbakerfund.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://www.albertbakerfund.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Blog", "career success", "Informational Interviews", "Instructions", "For Job Seekers", "Prep", "Resources", "Career Resources", "For Career Allies" ] } ] }