Alex · Interview Prep Interview Prep — Guides 40 Informational Interview Questions to Ask (By Goal)
The best informational interview questions ask about someone’s real path, their honest day-to-day, and what they wish they’d known — not about job openings. An informational interview is a low-pressure conversation you request to learn about a role, company, or industry from someone who’s living it, and the goal is insight and a relationship, never a direct ask for a job.
Below are 40 questions grouped by what you’re trying to learn, plus how to run the conversation so the person walks away glad they said yes.
What an Informational Interview Is (and Isn’t)
You reach out to someone doing work you’re curious about and ask for 20–30 minutes to learn from their experience. You’re the one asking questions; they’re sharing what they know. Done well, it gives you an inside view no job posting can, and it quietly builds a relationship with someone in your target field.
What it is not is a disguised job application. The moment you pivot to “so, are there any openings on your team?” you’ve broken the implicit deal. People are generous with advice and stingy with favors from strangers — lead with curiosity, and opportunities tend to follow on their own.
Questions About Their Career Path
These build rapport and reveal how people actually get where they are — which is rarely the tidy story on a résumé.
- How did you get into this field?
- What did your path look like — was it a straight line or a series of turns?
- What roles or experiences prepared you most for what you do now?
- Was there a decision or risk that changed your trajectory?
- If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?
- What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started?
Questions About the Day-to-Day Role
This is where you separate the glossy version of a job from the real one.
- What does a typical day or week actually look like for you?
- What parts of the job energize you most?
- What parts are harder or more tedious than people expect?
- What skills do you use most that aren’t in the job description?
- What does success look like in your role after six months? After a year?
- What surprised you most about this job once you were in it?
Questions About the Industry or Company
Use these to understand the landscape and where things are heading.
- Where do you see this field going over the next few years?
- What trends or changes should someone entering the field pay attention to?
- What separates people who thrive here from those who struggle?
- How is your company or team different from others in the space?
- What’s a common misconception people have about this industry?
- What skills are becoming more valuable, and which are fading?
Questions About Breaking In
For when your real goal is getting into the field yourself — asked as advice, not as an ask.
- For someone with my background, what would make me a strong candidate?
- What’s the most common gap you see in people trying to enter this field?
- Are there skills or experiences you’d prioritize building first?
- How did people you admire in this field get their start?
- What would you look for if you were hiring for a role like yours?
- Is there a certification, project, or experience that genuinely moves the needle?
Closing and Networking Questions
End every informational interview with these. They’re how a single conversation turns into an ongoing connection.
- Is there anyone else you’d suggest I talk to?
- Would it be alright if I stayed in touch and updated you on my progress?
- Is there a resource — a book, newsletter, community — you’d recommend?
- What’s the best way to keep learning about this field on my own?
The referral question (“who else should I talk to?”) is the most valuable one on this list. Each good informational interview should hand you the next one or two.
How to Structure the Conversation
Match your questions to the time you’ve been given.
| Time you have | How to spend it |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 1 path question, 2 role questions, 1 closing/referral question |
| 30 minutes | 2 path, 3 role, 2 industry, 2 closing questions |
| Format for all | Warm open → their story → the role → the field → referral → thanks |
Rough flow:
- Open warmly (2 min). Thank them, restate that you’re here to learn, and confirm the time you have.
- Start with their story (5–10 min). People love talking about how they got where they are, and it relaxes the conversation.
- Move to the role and the field (10–15 min). Your highest-value questions live here.
- Ask for a referral and permission to stay in touch (2 min).
- Thank them and stop on time. Ending early is a gift; running over is a cost.
Etiquette That Makes People Say Yes Again
Keep your promise on time. If you asked for 20 minutes, watch the clock and offer to wrap at 20. Respecting their time is the strongest signal you’re worth helping.
Do your homework first. Don’t ask what you could have learned from their LinkedIn or the company’s website. Ask what only they can tell you.
Never pitch yourself. No résumé attached to the request, no “here’s why you should hire me.” The conversation is about them and their knowledge.
Send a thank-you within 24 hours. A short, specific note referencing something they actually said. This is where most people drop the ball, so it’s easy to stand out.
Follow up on their advice. If they suggested a book, a person, or a next step, act on it and tell them you did. That single loop-closing move is what turns a contact into an advocate.
Prepare So You Sound Sharp, Not Scripted
An informational interview is still a conversation you can be good or bad at. If you fumble your own introduction or ask questions in a flat, list-reading way, you waste the goodwill. It’s worth rehearsing your opening, your two or three highest-priority questions, and your quick self-summary out loud so the whole thing feels natural.
The same practice that sharpens you for real job interviews sharpens you here — speaking clearly under a little pressure, thinking on your feet, and following up naturally. Rehearsing out loud with Alex, an AI interview coach is one way to get comfortable talking about your background and asking questions confidently before the real conversation.
FAQ
How many questions should I actually prepare?
Prepare 8–10 and expect to ask 4–6. A good informational interview flows like a conversation, not an interrogation, so their answers will branch and you’ll follow threads. Having extras ready means you’re never scrambling, but reading a fixed list of twelve makes it feel robotic. Prioritize your top three so you get real value even if time runs short.
Is it okay to ask about salary in an informational interview?
Be cautious. Asking someone’s personal salary is too direct for a first conversation with a near-stranger. Instead, ask about the field generally — “what does the compensation range tend to look like for this kind of role?” — which gets you the information without putting them on the spot.
Can I ask for a job at the end?
No — that breaks the unwritten agreement and makes people regret the conversation. The right closing move is the referral question and permission to stay in touch. If a role genuinely opens up later, the relationship you’ve built makes them far more likely to think of you or make an introduction, which beats a cold ask.
How do I even get someone to agree to one?
Send a short, specific request that makes it easy to say yes: mention how you found them, name what you admire about their work, ask for a modest 15–20 minutes, and be explicit that you’re seeking advice, not a job. Alumni networks and second-degree connections respond far better than cold strangers, so start there.