The more prep you do in advance of a meeting with a new contact, the more smoothly it will go. Consider these questions, along with those based on your research into a field. Depending on your career level, your questions may be more or less specific.

A Day in the Life

• How did you enter this field?
• What has your career path been like?
• Do you use any of your graduate training in your job, and if so, how?
• On a typical day (or week) in this position, what do you do?
• What are the toughest problems you have to deal with?
• What is the most rewarding part of your job?
• If you were to leave this kind of work, what would drive you away?
• Does your work become more interesting as you stay longer?
• If things develop as you would like, what does the future hold for your career?

Assessing the Field

Trends and Insights

• Is there a demand for new talent in this occupation?
• How do you see this field changing in the future?
• What opportunities for advancement are there?
• Which professional journals and organizations cover this field?
• Based on my education, skills and experience, what other fields would you suggest I research further before making a final decision?

Company-Specific Questions

• What is the average length of time that employees stay with the organization?
• What type of formal or on-the-job training does the organization provide?
• How does the organization compare/differ with its competitors?

Qualifications

• What kinds of prior experience are absolutely essential?
• What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job?
• What is your opinion of my background and resume? Do you see any problem areas or weaknesses?
• Who do you know that might be willing to speak with me as well? May I use your name when contacting him/her?

Opportunities

• Which opportunities offer the most ability to learn a great deal?
• What is the typical salary range for these positions?
• How do people find out about these jobs?