Informational interview questions are the questions candidates ask the employer to learn about the role, industry, and company. Unlike job interview questions, these are asked by candidates who want to explore their career options and grow professionally.
By preparing the right informational interview questions, you can gain valuable insights, build connections, and create opportunities for career advancement.
Key Takeaways
Being prepared for the informational interview means choosing the informational interview questions carefully and researching the person you’ll be talking with.
Asking the right interview questions can help you gain valuable insight into the role, industry, and company in which you are interested and help you build important professional connections.
When conducting the informational interview, avoid simple yes/no questions so that the answers you get can give you a more detailed insight into the role.
You can use the insights from informational interview questions to tailor your cover letter and resume to align with the employer’s expectations.
Informational Interview Questions to Ask
Informational interview questions can target different aspects of the job, industry, and employer you’re interested in. To give you an idea of how an informational interview can help you land the job you want, let us go over some of the most useful ones.
#1. Informational Interview Questions About the Role
Informational interview questions about the job and the role should be designed so that the answers paint a very clear picture of what your daily life would look like if you worked in the role you are asking about.
They should help you understand how well you fit into the role, both personally and professionally, what skills you should have or improve, and what type of motivation is required to succeed.
Here are some examples of this type of questions that can help you get the info you need:
Questions About the Role
What does a typical day in this role look like?
What are the most important skills and qualities to succeed in this position?
What is the most challenging aspect of this role?
What should someone aspiring to this position pay close attention to?
How did you start your career in this field?
How do people typically start working in this field?
What personal quality is the least needed in this role?
What is the typical starting salary range for this role?
On what basis are people in this role evaluated?
What is the typical educational background of people working in this role?
What do you find the most rewarding about this role?
What do you find the most frustrating about this role?
Is there something you would like to change about this role?
Do you think people in this role get the recognition they deserve?
How much interaction does this role imply with other people?
#2. Informational Interview Questions About the Industry
Questions about the industry should allow you to understand all the key aspects of the industry, its challenges, characteristics, and emerging workplace trends. They should also inform you about the seasons and yearly periods that are most important for this industry.
Ideally, you should have a clear picture of your possible place in the industry after you get all the answers. Here are some examples of good informational questions about the industry:
Questions About the Industry
What have been the developments in the industry over the past five years?
How have these developments impacted this role?
What changes are on the horizon in this industry?
How frequent are layoffs in this industry?
Who are the most important people in the industry today?
Is there a lot of interest in this role in the industry?
Why do people decide to look for employment in this industry?
What is the most promising aspect of this industry?
How do technology development and AI impact this industry?
What kind of education, specialized training, or classes would best prepare me for a career in this field?
What do you think should change/improve in this industry?
What trends do you see shaping the future of your industry?
What are the most exciting opportunities in the industry right now?
#3. Informational Interview Questions About the Company
Informational interview questions about the company should help you get an overview of how it feels coming to work every day in the company, what the company culture is, and how well you would fit in. Here are some examples to inspire you:
Questions About the Company
How would you describe the professional atmosphere in your office?
What’s the policy for overtime, evening, and weekend work?
What are the major changes that took place in the company in the last five years?
What excited you the most when you joined this company?
How are the company’s values respected in day-to-day work?
Why do people leave this company?
How often are team-building events organized?
What does the company do to boost employee morale?
How much does the company encourage professional development?
What’s the company policy about remote work? Is the hybrid model supported?
#4. Informational Interview Questions About Professional Development
Questions about professional development should provide a realistic insight into the possibilities for professional advancement within the company. Moreover, career exploration questions can help you understand your career direction better.
Let’s take a look at some of these questions:
Questions About Professional Development
What steps did you take to reach the position you currently hold in the company?
What advice would you give to someone looking to grow in this company?
How do you stay motivated and dedicated to your career in the long term?
What technical or hard skills are the most important for success in this role?
What soft skills are the most valuable for success in this role?
Have you had mentors who helped you reach the position you now hold?
How do you build and maintain a strong professional network in this role?
What’s your advice for finding a mentor or becoming a mentor to others?
Are there plenty of opportunities for growth in this role?
What are the biggest challenges to overcome to advance in this role?
How do you handle setbacks in your professional journey?
If you could start over in your career, what would you do differently to develop professionally?
Can you describe a typical promotion path for this role?
Who else in the field would you recommend I speak to?
#5. Informational Interview Questions About Work-Life Balance
Questions about work-life balance can help you learn how professionals in your desired role manage their personal and professional lives and how you could achieve the same if you pursue the said career. Here are some that can help you get the information you need:
Questions About Work-Life Balance
How has your approach to work-life balance changed over the years?
How do you prioritize your personal life while meeting professional demands?
What tools or techniques do you use to stay organized and productive?
Do you set specific boundaries for working hours?
What steps do you take to prevent stress or burnout?
Do you feel guilt or pressure when you have to take time off?
How do you recharge after a particularly busy or stressful period at work?
How do you recognize when you’re feeling overwhelmed or approaching burnout?
How has remote or flexible work impacted your work-life balance?
What challenges have you faced with remote work?
How do you manage work and personal life when working from home?
How do you stay connected with your team while maintaining boundaries?
How do you make time for hobbies, interests, or activities outside of work?
How does the company culture support your work-life balance?
What policies or benefits at your job help you maintain a healthy balance?
What changes would you like to see in your workplace to improve your work-life balance?
3 Tips for a Successful Informational Interview
One of the most valuable aspects of an informational interview is receiving career advice from professionals who have already walked the path you’re considering. So, here are three more tips to ensure you get the most out of it:
#1. Do the Homework & Research the Person
Research the person and the company you want to interview before showing up so that you can ask informed and specific questions. Make sure you avoid asking questions that can be easily answered with a quick Google search. Instead, focus on personal experiences, insights, and advice.
In addition, when preparing for an informational interview with a hiring manager, consider asking about their hiring process so that you know exactly what you can expect as an applicant.
#2. Encourage Stories
Asking questions is important, but so is keeping the conversation and inspiring the other person to share real-life experiences and tell you their whole story about the role, career path, and company. You can achieve this by actively listening, making thoughtful comments that show real interest, and being honest.
So, avoid asking simple questions that require yes/no answers, and encourage the other person to share their personal insights. Their stories will reveal the true atmosphere and possibilities in the company, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the role you’re interested in.
It is also highly recommended to ask networking questions for career growth, like “Who else in the field would you recommend I speak to?”
Following selected questions with a curious “Why do you feel like that?” or “Why do you think so?” and similar follow-up questions will allow you to get a more realistic overview.
Also, don’t forget to include career advice questions or job shadowing questions, as these can give you a very clear insight into how to prepare for the role.
#3. Stay in Contact
Most people want to know that their advice was useful, so send a thank-you note within 24 hours and, if appropriate, extend an invitation to connect on a professional network such as LinkedIn or whichever platform is typical of the industry.
This way, you give the impression that you are genuinely interested in the role, and you can begin to build a professional relationship with the interviewee.
How to Use Informational Interview Insights for Your Job Application
An informational interview can give you a unique advantage in preparing your job application. By leveraging the knowledge you gained, you can tailor your cover letter and resume to align with the industry and company standards perfectly and stand out among other applicants. Here are a few practical tips on how to accomplish that:
Tips for Using Interview Insights
Identify key skills and competencies. After the informational interview, you should have a very precise picture of the kind of abilities and experiences that you should highlight in your resume. Use the information you got to refine your skills list and demonstrate your key competencies.
Emphasize relevant education. If the interviewee provided you with insights about the kinds of training and education that are the most desirable in the role you’re interested in, and you have them, make sure you highlight all the relevant certifications.
Gather resume tips from informational interviews. Align your cover letter and resume with the industry expectations. For example, if the interviewee mentioned that you should incorporate metrics or specific skills and experiences in your resume, make sure you do that.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the art of asking the right informational interview questions can lead to valuable connections, insights, and job opportunities. Seeking career path guidance from experienced professionals is a great way to make the first steps toward a desired career.
Remember that the questions also need to be specific to the industry you want to work in. For example, informational interview questions for lawyers are surely very different from those for professional athletes.
So, make sure you prepare well for the informational interview by asking questions that will help you tailor your cover letter and resume to make your application stand out. Good luck!
