Questions to Ask During an Informational Interview

While you won’t have enough time to ask every question below, pick and choose those that feel most relevant to you or
what you hope to get out of the informational interview. And of course, feel free to develop your own questions!

General/Getting to Know You Questions

  • Tell me about your career path.
  • Do you have a mentor, and if so, how have they helped you in your career?
  • What was your experience at WCU like? Were you involved in any clubs or organizations?
  • What is on your reading list?

Identity Questions

  • Are you involved in any employee resource groups, or how do you connect with colleagues?
  • What part(s) of your identity do you feel have the most impact on your interactions at work?
  • How do you recommend I evaluate if an employer has a culture of belonging that goes beyond a DEI statement?

Preparing for the Workforce Questions

  • What is the most important thing someone can do to prepare for a role like yours?
  • Outside of work, were there other experiences that helped you in your career?
  • Is your undergraduate major related to your current career?
  • Are there any particular certifications that you recommend for this field?
  • Does your employer value internship experience?
  • How do you see this field changing in the future?
  • If you were to hire someone, which of the following would be most important in your hiring decision and why?
  • If you were a college student again, what would you do differently to get into this field?
  • What was the interview process like at your current employer?
  • Which professional organizations do you recommend?

On the Job Insight Questions

  • What types of skills have you developed on the job?
  • What’s it like to work for your employer? / Describe the culture at your employer.
  • What is your favorite/least favorite thing about your job?
  • What are some interesting projects you are working on now?
  • What challenges do you face in your role?
  • What surprised you the most about your position? Your industry?
  • How much flexibility do you have in dress, work hours, where you live?
  • Are you able to establish a work/life balance in your field/at your employer?
  • Do you have advice for giving or receiving feedback at work?

Graduate School Questions

  • What was the process of applying to graduate school like for you?
  • How did you decide on pursuing graduate school, and what program to pursue?
  • Did you use any resources to fund graduate school, like scholarships?
  • Is an advanced degree required for this field?

Next Steps Questions

  • Are there other questions I should be asking you?
  • Is there someone else in your network that you think I could benefit from meeting?
  • Are there any resources you recommend, people or companies I should follow on LinkedIn?
  • Can I follow up with you in a few [weeks, months] to check in?
  • How can I help you? (networking works both ways!)