Exploring Careers & Opportunities

Exploring Careers & Opportunities

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Exploring Careers & Opportunities

Select questions that are appropriate for your target career field and stage of decision-making or search for opportunities. Use some of the following questions or come up with your own.

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Questions To Ask: Informational Interview

– What are your main responsibilities as a...? – What is a typical day (or week) like for you? – What do you like most about your work? – What do you like least about your work? – What kinds of problems do you deal with? – What kinds of decisions do you make?

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Questions To Ask: Informational Interview

– How does your position fit within the organization/career field/industry? – How does your job affect your general lifestyle? – What current issues and trends in the field should I know about/be aware of? – What are some common career paths in this field? – What kinds of accomplishments tend to be valued and rewarded in this field?

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Questions To Ask: Informational Interview

– What related fields would you recommend I also look into? – How did you become interested in this field? – How did you begin your career? – How do most people get into this field? What are common entry-level jobs? – What steps would you recommend I take to prepare to enter this field?

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Questions To Ask: Informational Interview

– How relevant is your undergraduate major to your work? – What kind of education, training, or background does your job require? – What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field? – If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?

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Questions To Ask: Informational Interview

– I’ve read that the entry-level salary range for this field is usually in the range of ______? Does this fit with what you’ve seen? (Don’t ask about the person’s actual salary.) – What advice would you give someone who is considering this type of job (or field)? – Can you suggest anyone else I could contact for additional information?

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Questions to Ask: Networking for Opportunities

– What do you like most about working at this organization? – What kinds of projects do interns and entry level hires get involved in? – What is the profile of the person most recently hired at my level? – How long do people tend to stay at the organization? – What do you/hiring managers look for in candidates?

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Questions to Ask: Networking for Opportunities

– What skills and experience are most important? – Can you tell me about the hiring process you went through? OR Can you tell me about the hiring process -- what does it involve? – Do you anticipate any openings coming up? – What are the most effective strategies for seeking a position in this field?

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Questions to Ask: Networking for Opportunities

– Can you recommend anyone else here or elsewhere to contact for insights or advice for the internship/job search?

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