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GETTING STARTED
• What training is required for this type of work?
• What personal qualities or abilities are important to
being successful?
• How do people find out about job openings in your
occupation?
• How did you get this position? What are common
career paths?
• What types of training do companies offer people
entering this field?
• Are there internship or volunteer opportunities?
• What are typical hiring procedures?
• What areas of knowledge are most important
for advancement in this field? What degrees?
Certifications?
• If you were starting out again, would you do anything
differently?
ROUTINE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
• What do you do on a typical day in this position?
• How many people do you supervise and to whom do
you report?
• What part of this job do you find the most
challenging or satisfying?
• What are the positive/negative aspects of your field?
• How many hours do you typically work each week?
Do you often work in the evenings or weekends?
Can you arrange your own hours?
• What is a typical starting salary? Average salary?
Other benefits?
• What are some of the rewards of your occupation?
• What are the geographic restrictions in this field?
How much are you required to travel?
INDUSTRY AND FUTURE
• What is unique about your organization?
• Would you rather work for a smaller or a larger
company? Why?
• Is there demand for people in this occupation?
• What are the problems you see working in this field?
• What are your alternative career paths?
• What are the “hot issues” in this field?
• How does your job fit into the organization or
department?
• How would you evaluate the future of this field?
• Can you describe your company’s culture?
• How do you see jobs in this field changing in the
future? What areas do you feel promise the most
opportunity? The most growth?
• What opportunities for advancement are there?
• How will this job change over the next 5-10 years?
• Is your organization expanding, shrinking or
maintaining?
• Who are the competitors in this field?
SPECIAL INTEREST QUESTIONS
• What advice would you give a person entering this
field?
• What, if anything, do you wish you had known before
you entered this occupation?
• What professional journals in this field should I read?
• What strategy would you suggest for a person to break
into this field?
DO NOT FORGET TO ASK
• Can you suggest anyone else whom I could contact?
When I call, may I use your name?
• What is the long-term and short-term outlook for
hiring in this field?
THE FOLLOW UP
ASSESS THE INTERVIEW
• Did you get the information you needed?
• How do you feel about this occupation?
• Did you get an objective opinion?
KEEP IN TOUCH
• Write a thank you letter or email within 24 hours of
the interview.
• Follow-up with future notes or phone calls to let the
person know the time spent was valuable to you and
how you are doing in your career exploration. This
will further remind the person of you and encourage
them to let you know of future opportunities.
• Immediately after the interview, record any
information you might need in the future.
• Keep records of everyone you meet (take business
cards, names and addresses)
.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS