Informational Interview

Questions to Ask an Alumni Career Partner

Since you will most likely be having a conversation with your alumni connection, whether over e-mail, phone, or in person, it’s important for you to be prepared. You may wish to connect with alumni simply to gather information about a potential career field or company. This type of situation is known as Informational Interviewing. In this type of interview, you may ask some of the following questions:

  • How did you get started in this line of work?
  • How did you prepare yourself for this profession?
  • What does your typical day involve?
  • How much travel is involved with your profession?
  • What do you find most rewarding about your work?
  • What are the challenges?
  • What type of people do you work with?
  • What, in your opinion, is the job outlook in this field/company/geographic location?
  • What types of classes would help me prepare for your field?
  • What skills or personal qualities are essential in this field?
  • Could you recommend specific types of internships or volunteer work I can do to prepare myself for this career area?
  • Which professional organizations would you suggest I join?
  • Do you know anyone else in this career field who might be willing to talk to me about what they do?
  • Would you allow me to use your name when I contact them?

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Student Profiles

David - International Business

International Business

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The United States and Venezuela are two different countries with different cultures and values, therefore the education is different. As I see it, the books, theories and the knowledge are all the same no matter where you are. What makes the difference is how the teacher is going to transmit all that to the student and what approach the teacher is going to use so the student can apply it in the future. At Daemen as a student we have the chance to create a good relationship with the teachers, which is priceless when we are in college.