| Questions to ask in informational interviews | |
| DON'T ASK for information that is provided to you in VT CareerLink, such as: | |
| College major | |
| Job title | |
| Name of employing organization | |
| Other degrees held | |
| DO be prepared to be flexible: | |
| Exhibit the most important
communication skill: LISTENING. DON'T become so absorbed in getting through your questions that you forget to listen. Sometimes just one question begins a conversation that yields everything you need to know. |
|
| DON'T use the list of questions below as a script. Customize questions that make sense for your situation and for each individual alumnus you meet. | |
| DO ASK about
things that truly interest you, such as: |
|
| 1. |
How did you get started in your career field and what paths has your career taken? |
| 2. | What kind of experience, if any, did you get during college, that helped qualify you for your first job at graduation? |
| 3. | Do you consider yourself a specialist, and if so, what experience and/or education developed you as a specialist? |
| 4. | What do you like most about your job / your industry / your career field? |
| 5. | What are the frustrations or challenges in your job / your industry / your career field? |
| 6. | What professional organizations do people in your job / your industry / your career field tend to join? Are there student chapters or can students become involved? |
| 7. | I was researching careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and read that people who work as (----------) typically have master's degrees and sometimes have Ph.D.s. Is that true in your organization? |
| 8. | What is a typical day / week / year like in your job / industry / career field? |
| 9. | What personal qualities are needed to succeed in your job / industry / career field? |
| 10. | What skills and abilities have you found to be most important to your work? |
| 11. | How closely does college major correlate to your job / industry / career field? |
| 12. | What advice do you have for someone interested in your job / industry / career field? |
| Close window and return to VT CareerLink info. | |