40+ Best Informational Interview Questions to Ask

An informational interview is a short, casual conversation — usually 20–30 minutes — where you ask someone working in a role, company, or industry you're targeting for their honest perspective. You're not asking for a job. You're gathering intelligence and building a relationship.

Why it works:

- You get information you can't find online. Salary realities, team culture, what hiring managers actually care about, which skills matter day-to-day — none of this is on the careers page.
- You become a warm contact. If a role opens up, the person you spoke to is far more likely to refer you than a stranger who submitted a form.
- It builds confidence. Talking to 10 people in a field gives you a mental model that makes every interview and application sharper.

The research is clear: a significant portion of jobs are filled through referrals and networks before they're even advertised. Informational interviews are how you get inside that process.

Who to ask: former classmates, LinkedIn connections at target companies, alumni from your university, speakers at industry events, or second-degree connections who've agreed to an intro. Most people are willing to give 20 minutes if you ask well.

Start here — these questions are easy to answer, warm up the conversation, and give you grounded, practical information.

1. What does a typical day or week look like for you?
2. How much of your time is spent on [main responsibility from job description] versus other tasks?
3. What parts of your job do you find most engaging?
4. What parts are the most frustrating or draining?
5. What decisions do you make independently versus with your team or manager?
6. How much has your role changed since you started?
7. What tools and systems do you use most?
8. What skills do you use every day that weren't obvious from the job description?

What to listen for: the gap between what a role looks like on paper and what it actually involves day-to-day. If the interesting parts are buried under admin, you want to know that before accepting an offer.

These questions tell you what actually moves people forward in this field — not what's listed as requirements, but what really matters.

9. How did you get into this role / industry? Was it a planned path or more accidental?
10. What did you wish you had known at the start of your career in this field?
11. What experience or qualifications mattered most when you were hired?
12. What would you do differently if you were starting out today?
13. Are there common entry points into this type of role, or does it vary a lot?
14. How do people typically progress from this role — what does the next step usually look like?
15. Is a specific degree or certification genuinely important in this field, or do skills and portfolio matter more?
16. Who else would you suggest I talk to at a similar stage of their career?

Why question 16 matters: always ask for one more name. A single informational interview that produces two more contacts compounds quickly. This is how you build a real network in a few weeks.

These questions give you the industry context that makes your applications and interviews sharper.

17. How would you describe the culture at your company compared to others you've worked at?
18. What do you think makes your company different from competitors?
19. What are the biggest trends or changes you're seeing in this industry right now?
20. What skills or knowledge do you think will matter more in this field in 3–5 years?
21. Which companies in this space have a particularly good reputation for developing people?
22. Are there any industry publications, communities, or events you'd recommend following?
23. What's the job market like for this type of role right now — competitive, or relatively easy to get into?
24. What does the hiring process typically look like for roles like yours?

Tip: question 24 is one of the most valuable you can ask. Knowing whether a company does take-home projects, panel interviews, or case studies lets you prepare specifically — long before you apply.

Ask these near the end once rapport is established. They often produce the most candid and useful answers.

25. Given my background [briefly describe your situation], what would you focus on if you were in my position?
26. Is there anything on my resume or LinkedIn that would raise a flag for someone hiring in this field?
27. What do strong candidates for roles like yours tend to have in common?
28. Is there anything I should know that I haven't asked about?
29. Are there any common mistakes people make when trying to break into this field?
30. What would you do in the first 90 days of a new role like yours to make a strong impression?

How to use the feedback: if someone points out a gap in your profile, thank them and follow up in your thank-you note. "You mentioned X was important — I've since looked into Y and wanted to share what I found." It shows you took the conversation seriously.

The request message is where most people go wrong. Keep it short, specific, and make it easy to say yes.

LinkedIn connection request (300 characters max):

"Hi [Name] — I'm exploring [field/role type] and found your background really interesting. Would you be open to a 20-minute conversation? I'd love to hear about your path into [their role]. No agenda, just curious to learn from someone doing it."

Email request:

Subject: Quick question about your work at [Company]

"Hi [Name],

I came across your profile while researching [company/industry] and was impressed by [specific thing — their career transition, a project they posted about, their company].

I'm currently [your situation in one sentence]. I'd love to ask you a few questions about your experience — a 20-minute call at your convenience would be hugely helpful.

Happy to work around your schedule. Would [two options] work, or feel free to suggest another time?

Thanks,
[Your name]"

What makes these work:
- You explain why you're reaching out to them specifically (not just anyone)
- You make the time commitment clear and small (20 minutes)
- You make it easy to respond with a yes or a counter-offer
- You're not asking for a job — you're asking for information