• How did you choose this career field?
• How do you spend your time during a typical workweek?
• What do you find most rewarding about the work?
• What are the toughest problems you must deal with?
• If you were ever to leave this kind of work, what would drive you away from it?
• Would you describe the organizational structure of your company?
• What is the average length of time employees stay with your organization?
• What type of formal or on-the-job training does your organization provide?
• How does your organization compare/differ with its competitors?

Advisor's Career Future

• 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?
• If the type of work you do was suddenly eliminated, what different kinds of work do you feel you could do?

Advisor's Prior Experience and Preparation

• How did you prepare for this kind of work? What was your college major?
If you were a college student again, had it to do all over, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
• What has been your career path?

Lifestyle

• How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?
• Must you perform all your job responsibilities in your place of work?
• What obligations does your work place upon you, outside of the ordinary workweek? Do you enjoy these obligations?

Hiring Decisions

• If you were to hire someone to work with you today, which of the following factors would be most important in your hiring decision and why: Educational credentials? Past work experience? Personality or personal attributes? Specific skills and talents? Applicant's knowledge of your organization, department, or job? Others?

Questions to Help Prepare for a Career in this Field

• What educational preparation do you believe would be best for working in this industry?
• What skills, talents, and personal qualities are most essential in this job?
• What kinds of experiences (paid employment or other) would you most strongly recommend?
• What credentials, educational degrees, licenses, etc. are required for entry into this kind of work?
• How rapidly is your present career field growing? What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
• What entry-level opportunities offer the most ability to learn a great deal? What is the typical salary for these positions?
• How do people find out about jobs in this field? How are they advertised, or is word of mouth more important?
• Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
• How well suited is my background for this type of work?
• With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields would you suggest I research further before making a final decision?

Questions about a Particular Organization / Company

• What are the main job categories within this organization? What "types" of people tend to be in each?
• Why did you decide to work for this organization and what do you like most and least about it?
• How does your company differ from its competitors?
• How does your organization distinguish itself from other organizations doing similar work?
• In what ways does this employer provide ongoing training and education for its employees?
• What is this organization's mission and philosophy?
• What is the "corporate / organizational" culture here?
• What do your hiring mangers look for on resumes and in cover letters? in interviews?

Referral to Others

• Based on our conversation today, what other people do you believe I should talk to? Can you give me names of a few who might be willing to see me?
• May I have permission to use your name when I contact them?