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List of Typical Questions to Ask During an Informational Interview

List of Typical Questions to Ask During an Interview

Questions

• Tell me about yourself.
• How did you become interested in ___? (industry, field)
• With what other organizations are you interviewing?
• Why should we hire someone with your background?
• Why our company and not some other in the same field?
• Are you happy with your grades?
• Why did you major in ____?
• How are you different from the other Williams students?
• If you had it to do over again, how would you change your Williams
  experience?
• Tell me about any leadership responsibilities you’ve had.
• How do you organize yourself to complete a job?
• What courses at Williams did you most enjoy and why?
• How do you work within a group? Give me an example.
• Tell me about a job you didn’t like.
• Is there anything you would like to add, any questions?
• Why consulting?
• Why are you here?
• Why are you interested in my firm?
• Our program lasts for two years – after that, then what?
• Describe a pressure situation and how you handled it.
• Tell me what an investment banker does.
• What is the most important thing on your resume and why?
• What is not on your resume that I should know?
• Tell me everything you know about consulting.
• Describe your greatest accomplishment?
• Describe your greatest failure?
• Is graduate school in your future?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What would your best friend tell me about you?
• What do you know about our company?
• Who are your heroes?
• Describe a time when you had to sell your ideas to others with a different
  point of view and describe the outcome.
• What’s the last book you’ve read, other than required reading?
• What part of the newspaper do you read first and why?
• What motivates you?
• What does an English major know about advertising?
• Tell me about your travels.
• How do you define success?
• How has your college experience prepared you for retailing?
• Tell me about a time when you had to juggle at least three things.
• What are the characteristics of a good manager?
• Can a person be a leader and a team player at the same time?
• Do you generally speak to people before they speak to you?
• What is your philosophy of education? (for teachers)
• What is your philosophy of advertising? (for advertising)
• Does a good manager manage by reason or intuition?
• What makes you interesting?
• The ultimate responsibility of the CEO is to whom?
• Is there a difference between a commercial and an investment bank?
• How has Williams changed because you have been here?

Also, be prepared to handle hypothetical, case-study questions. “If you were assigned to find out what the youth market is for dental floss, how would you start, organize, and conclude the project?” or “How would you handle an unruly child in your classroom?” or “What new things might you say to a potential donor who is thinking of giving to another organization?” (for you arts administrators).

Questions to Help You Conduct an Informational Interview with an Alumni Mentor

• What are some of your duties and responsibilities?
• What qualifications and skills are needed to do this work?
• What are the positives and negatives of this work?
• How does one succeed in this field?
• What is a typical career track in this field?
• What is the future job outlook of this field?
• What is your typical work schedule?
• What is the particular style of dress in this workplace?
• What was your major at Williams and beyond?
• Do I need a graduate degree to do this work?
• Who are the employers in this field?
• Where are vacancies in this field announced?
• What is the best way to approach these employers?
• Do you have any career advice to give me?

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