With the help of information interview, you can prepare yourself for a real interview in several ways, including:
- Gaining insights into what skills are required, working conditions, and common traits of people you meet. Examining your compatibility by comparing your personal interests with this information.
- Conducting primary research on companies and industries
- Understand what sorts of topics your potential interviewers will be concerned about.
- Becoming more comfortable talking to people in the industry and learning the industry jargon
- Building your network
- Getting feedback on your strength and weaknesses.
An informational interview is not as stressful as a typical job interview for you and your interviewee. It differs from a typical job interview because it is initiated by you and you are the one who is asking the questions. To set up an information interview, you can request a meeting with someone with few years' experience working in your field of interest. Your goal is to learn more about the industry or company and to get advice from someone in the occupation.
Since you are the one who is taking the lead during informational interview, you need to prepare a list of ten to twenty questions. Here are questions that you can ask your interviewee:
- How did this type of work interest you?
- How did you get started in this business?
- How did you get to this point in your career?
- What is the ideal education and background? What other types of credentials or licenses are required?
- What are the most valuable skills to have in this field?
- What are the various jobs in this field or organization?
- What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
- What experiences have led you to your current position? What are the ways to obtain this necessary experience?
- What are your primary responsibilities in your current job?
- What is a typical day like for your job?
- What kinds of problems do you deal with?
- Why did you decide to work for this company?
- How does your company differ from its competitors?
- What can you tell me about the corporate culture?
- Why do customers choose this company?
- What do you like most about your job/your company/your industry?
- What do you dislike most about them?
- What has been your greatest challenge?
- Why did you want this job?
- If you could work with anybody in this field, whom would you want to work with?
- If you were in the job market tomorrow, what would you do? How would you get started?
- What are the basic requirements for an entry-level job in this industry?
- What is a must-read list in your field?
- How rapidly is the field growing?
- How is the economy affecting this industry?
- How has your job affected your lifestyle?
- What is the average length of time for an employee to stay in the job you hold?
- Is there a trade association/professional body that might help me in my job search?
- What are things that you are most concern about when you interview candidate for positions in this field?
- What are the turnoffs when you interview candidates?
- What advice would you give to someone looking for a job in the industry?
- What are the salary ranges for various levels in this field? Is there a salary ceiling?
- Based on my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research further before I make a final decision?
- What have I missed in this line of questioning?
