• 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?
• 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?
• What related fields do you think I should consider looking 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?
• How relevant to your work is your undergraduate major?
• 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?
• What is the profile of the person most recently hired at my level?
• What are the most effective strategies for seeking a position in this field?
• Can you recommend trade journals, magazines or professional associations which would be helpful for my professional development?
• If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?
• 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?

Questions courtesy of University of California, Berkeley