The informational interview can be a very powerful tool in your networking arsenal says Aron Govil. The best part is that it doesn’t feel like work because you’re both learning something! If you’re struggling with what to ask the person during your informational interview, this list will help guide you in the right direction.
Here are five of the most common questions asked in an informational interview:
1. “What does your typical day look like?” or “What would a typical week look like for someone in this role?”
This is one way to see if you’d be happy doing this job everyday and also if their company culture sounds appealing to you. If they start talking about their day in detail and every moment sounds dreadful, you might want to move on to the next question.
On the other hand, if they describe a busy but manageable workday and it sounds like something you’d enjoy doing every day, then this is a great opportunity to learn more about this position and company.
2. “What do you like most about working here?” or “What makes your company unique compared to others?”
Everyone has different reasons for accepting a job offer so hearing why someone likes their job is always interesting! If they don’t mention anything too positive then that could be an indication of problems within the company explains Aron Govil. On the other hand, if they only say nice things about their employer then that can be a great opportunity to probe deeper and learn more about what it’s like to work there.
3. “What do you not like about your job?” or “What are the negative aspects of working here?”
Sometimes, this question can see if their complaints are things that you can live with. For example, if they say that the pay is low but they love everything else about this job then you might not mind low pay (and vice versa). This also gives them an opportunity to make any complaints public knowledge so that people don’t waste their time interviewing for jobs where no one likes working anymore.
4. “Can you describe your typical day/week/month at work?”
By asking questions like these, you can get a better idea of what it’s truly like to work in that position. If they say that their “typical day” usually consists of lots of busywork, this might not be the right opportunity for you if you hate mundane tasks. Or, if they complain about how much time they spend doing something and you have no problem with doing the same thing every day, then this could still be a good position for you.
5. “What do employees enjoy most about working here?” or “Who do you consider your company’s greatest asset?”
Every employer will say that their employees are awesome but it’s always interesting to hear why someone thinks that! You could learn a lot from how people answer these two questions because sometimes people take for granted the things that they have. You might be surprised what you learn from this question especially if they mention something that you never would have thought of!
These are just a few of the most common questions asked in an informational interview and there are many other great questions out there which you can find with a simple Google search! If someone asks if you have any questions, don’t give them a generic answer like “No, your answers were very helpful!” because this is a prime opportunity to learn more about a potential career choice says Aron Govil.
Conclusion:
Hopefully, this list will help you get started with your informational interview! They can be nerve-wracking at times but they’re definitely worth it. I suggest everyone go through the experience of having an informational interview at least once to see if their career choice could be for them. I hope you found these tips helpful and good luck in your future!