Here is a suggested list of questions for the Informational Interview. Make up some of your own as well.

What has your career path been like? or

How did you get your start in this career?

What is a good day like? A bad day? Does your day have a set schedule or are you expected to adapt to situations as they develop?

What do you like about this work? What don't you like?

Does your work tend to be the same each day or does it change daily?

Are the hours regular? Are you expected to work evenings, weekends, overtime?

How would you describe the pace, level, or pressure of this work?

Do you work most of the time with others or do you work primarily alone?

Are you closely supervised with expectations clearly spelled out for you, or are you expected to carry projects out on your own?

What is the salary range for people in this kind of work? (Note: Be careful not to sound like you’re asking his or her salary.)

What are the opportunities for advancement in this field? This company?

What skills are most important for your kind of work? (Highlight some of your own skills.) How do you think I can transfer my skills into this field? Can you recommend any training that would make me more marketable? Is there usually on-the-job training available?

How do people usually find out about openings in this field?

What personal advice would you give a person entering this field? What steps
would you advise me to take to get into this field?

Can you give me the names of other people in this field whom I can talk to? May I use your name?

These last two items are the most critical.