You have identified an industry leader or a person who will be able to see the industry more thoroughly than you have so far. You asked for a short appointment and have been honest about why you called them. A friend recommended them as very successful or knowledgeable, or maybe you have awareness of their role in the industry. You have 30 minutes to ask questions that will help you in your job and career search exploration.

The questions you will ask are essential, and you would like to ask if you would like to take notes. Your contact will want to know something about you and your goals, but you don’t want to take up too much of the time with that, so you use your ”me in 30 seconds speech”. You don’t want to ask things that would have been quickly learned on your own. Still, it will be helpful to ask the person about their journey to their current position, for a description of their day-to-day responsibilities, and for tips they would offer you as someone interested in working in the field.

When the interview is over, you can review your notes and outline what was discussed and what you learned.

Here are some occupation-focused questions that you can ask about the persons job or the job you are considering:

1. What is the title of the person you are interviewing? Is this person’s title similar to others in the industry with similar jobs? If you know the title of the job you are considering, is that title identical throughout the industry, or does it have different titles?

2. What duties and skills are used during a typical day, week, month, or year? Does the routine of the job change on a day-to-day basis? What does success look like?

3. What educational degrees or certificates are recommended? Which courses are most valuable to gaining the skills necessary for this occupation?

4. What kind of past work or internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant

5. What are the essential keywords or buzzwords to include in a resume, cover letter, or interview dialog when job searching in the field?

6. What would the advisor suggest as a practical job search approach?

7. What are the main, or most important, personal characteristics for success in the field?

8. What other departments or kinds of workers frequently interact with this position?

9. Is there evidence of differential treatment between male and female workers concerning job duties, pay, and opportunities for advancement?

10. What are the employment prospects in the advisor’s geographic area? Where are the best employment prospects?

11. What are some related occupations?

12. What are the different salary ranges?

13. Does the typical worker have a set schedule, or are the hours flexible?

14. What demands and frustrations typically accompany this type of work?

15. How can you determine your ability or potential to succeed in this specific occupation?

16. Is this a rapidly growing field?

What types of technology are used, and how are they used?

17. Where are job listings found?

18. What entry-level positions are there in the industry and companies considered?

19. What does the advisor know now that would have been helpful to know when they were in your shoes?

General Questions to Ask

20. How many hours does the person you are interviewing work?

21. What education does the advisor have?

23. What was the advisor's career path from college to the present?

24. What are the satisfying aspects of the advisor’s work?

25. What are the work's most extraordinary pressures, strains, or anxieties?

26. What are the primary job responsibilities?

27. What are the most challenging problems and decisions the advisor must deal with?

28. What is frustrating about the work?

29. How would the advisor describe the atmosphere/culture of the workplace?

30. Does the advisor think you left out any important questions that would be helpful to learn more about the job or occupation?

31. Can the advisor suggest others who may be valuable sources for you? If you call them, can you use the advisor’s name?

32. Express gratitude for the help and also follow up with a Thank You Note