If a professional agrees to meet with you to discuss their career, you should come prepared.

It’s best to write down a set of questions beforehand in order of priority, then adjust on the fly during the conversation.

Some people will give short answers to everything you ask, requiring you to be ready with follow-up questions. Other people will be extremely talkative without much prompting. You should be prepared for either scenario.

In any career conversation, your goal is to develop a relationship, not to get through your list of questions. Even if you only ask one question, the conversation is a success if you build a strong rapport with the professional. However, the quality of your questions does influence the other person’s perception of your competence. So choose wisely!

Finally, don’t forget about small talk. Depending on your time limit, in the first minute or two of the conversation, you should chat about how their day is going, what they are currently working on, or a simple question about something you have in common with them.  
 
Here are my recommendations for the top 5 questions to ask during career conversations. Be sure to follow your curiosity and prioritize your questions based on your unique goals and situation.

This question lets other person share the most relevant details of their career path and how they ended up in their current job. It also shows that you did some research about their background and education. After someone answers this question, ask a follow-up question about a part of their answer that you found interesting or even possibly confusing.

If you are interested in learning more about the daily rhythms and routines of the person’s work, this question can help to demystify their job responsibilities and tasks. 

Understanding which skills the person uses on a daily basis is incredibly actionable for you—it gives you a roadmap of what skill areas you will need to improve upon.

A professional will be able to give you more actionable advice than any article on the internet ever can. Companies are sometimes vague about what they look for in applicants on their websites, so asking a hiring manager or current employee is likely to yield more actionable insights. You might also learn about skills or experiences that you can invest in to raise your odds of getting hired in your desired career field.

Don’t only stick to a list of questions! You bring your unique experience and goals into the conversation, so don’t be afraid to explain your thought process and ask about what you are truly curious about relating to the other person’s career. You will likely be surprised and excited by how gracious and helpful people can be.