Informational Interviewing is a widely accepted method of acquiring information about careers, job search strategies, and potential employers. These interviews help you to learn more about specific jobs and career fields and helps clarify your goals for future employment. Personal acquaintances, professional contacts, teachers, family members, and University Career Advisors are all potential sources for this kind of advice.

Informational Interviews are arranged by contacting potential career advisors by phone or requesting an interview via email. These interviews are done at the career advisors convenience, and last for as long as they wish. Informational Interviews are best done in person; however, they can also be conducted over the phone or through email when distance or circumstances make an actual visit impractical.

Questions for Informational Interviewing:

1. What qualifications or education are required (or useful) for entry into this kind of work?

2. What kinds of experience are absolutely essential?

3. Describe how you spend your time during a typical workday.

4. What skills or talents are most essential for success in this field?

5. When you were in college, what did you think your career would be? What did you major in?

6. What are the toughest problems you have had to deal with?

7. What do you find most rewarding?

8. How rapidly is this field growing? How does the future look?

9. What obligations does your profession place upon you (outside of the ordinary workweek)?

10. How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours of work, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?

11. What types of employees are hired for this line of work?

12. What kind of person does well in this type of work? Why?

13. Is employment turnover high? How does one move from position to position within the company?

14. How would you describe the average earnings in this profession? What do newcomers typically earn? Are salaries the only source of compensation or are there others (bonuses, commissions, stock options, etc.)?

15. How are employment decisions typically made? What factors are most important?

 

University of Hartford • Career Services • GSU 309
200 Bloomfield Ave • West Hartford, CT 06117
tel: 860-768-4287 • fax: 860-768-5141 • email: career@hartford.edu