You will probably have time for 10-15 questions, so prioritize!  Use open-ended questions to engage the person in a conversation.  Lastly, if time permits, you may have the opportunity to ask more specific personal, organization, and industry questions and/or for an additional contact with whom you could also conduct an informational interview.  Consider the following sample questions when developing your list of questions for your informational interview:

• How did you get started in this field?  What has been your career path?  Is this typical, and if not, what is?
• What are the entry-level positions in this career field?
• What career paths are generally available from entry-level?
• What are the major responsibilities of these positions?
• What skills and education are needed to enter this field?
• What are your major responsibilities?  How do you spend a typical day/week?
• What kinds of problems do you deal with?  What kinds of decisions do you make?  What do you find most and least satisfying about your job/this field?
• What are the positive and negative aspects of working in this field?
• What do you see as the hot issues in the field now and in the next few years?
• What trends and developments do you see affecting career opportunities in this field?
• What is the culture or personality of your organization?
• What is the mission and future of the organization?  (i.e. challenges, new products or services, expansion, market share?)
• What is the philosophy of the organization?  What types of training programs are available?
• What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into this field?
• Are you active in any professional organizations?  What are the key professional organizations in this field?
• What publications, conferences, or other resources do you recommend in order to keep current in this field?
• If you had to do it over again, would you have done anything differently?  What avenue would you take if you were entering the field right now?
• Are there alternative methods of entering this field?  (part-time, mid-career change, volunteer work, or others kinds of training?)
• Could you take a look at my resume and give me any suggestions you might have for it?
• What resources would you suggest to find internships or entry-level positions in this field?
• Are there other people that you would suggest I talk with to learn more about this organization/field?  May I tell them you referred me to them?

You can also gain insight into the informational interviewing process by reviewing Information Interviewing: How to Tap Your Hidden Job Market, by Martha Stoodley, available in the CDO's Career Resource Library.

Informational interviewing is an effective tool in your career planning process.  It can be one of your most valued strategies in gathering information and establishing contacts as you begin or continue to plan for the future.  For more help with informational interviewing, talk with a CDO staff member.