Contact's Background

• Can you describe your background?
• What were the experiences that had an effect on your career development?
• How did you become interested in your field?
• Does your work relate to any experiences or studies you had in college?
• How did college prepare you for this job?
• Has your career progress been a planned, controlled process?
• How much has it been affected by external factors? ... by chance?

Contact's Job and Career Path

• What do you do in your job? What is a typical day?
• What skills are particularly important in your field?
• How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work?
• How should someone considering the field best prepare?
• What is the necessary or recommended education or training?
• What are the entry level opportunities in your career field?
• What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
• Is there any type of training program? What skills are necessary and what experience?
• What personal qualities are shared by most of the successful people in your field?
• What aspects of this field do you consider particularly satisfying?
• What are the rewards, both tangible and intangible?
• What are some of the more difficult aspects of your work?
• Are these typical of the field?
• What are some of the stresses and frustrations, and how do you prepare for these?
• How do the satisfactions and difficulties balance out?
• How does your career affect your life-style?
• Time available for relationships and other interests?
• Salary and benefits that support a particular way of life?
• Impact of this field on being single? ... partnered? ... having children?
• If you were to start over, would you choose the same path? ... the same work?
• What major changes are anticipated in your field in the next ten years?

Contact's Company or Organization

• What are primary goals and concerns of this organization?
• What are the prospects for advancement?
• Is that typical of organizations in this field/industry?
• My stongest assets (skills, areas of knowledge, personality traits, values) are … Where would they fit in with this organization? Where might they fit in other fields? Where might they fit in other organizations?
• Is there a basic philosophy of the company or organization and what is it? (Is it a people, services, or product oriented business?

Recommended Next Steps

• Can you suggest reading material that might give me further insight into this field (organization)? What publications and professional associations are important to the field?
• Whom else would you recommend that I speak to for advice? May I tell them that you suggested I contact them?
• Can you suggest other professionals who might be helpful?