Exploring Careers by Interviewing Adults

One of the most important things we can do as parents is to help our students take control of their future. Part of this process is to explore and decide from among a variety of careers. And one of the most overlooked methods to help high school students do this is through interviewing adults about their careers—especially the adults in their lives. These interviews can build their confidence, active listening skills and networking ability. In addition, they provide students with real insights into how people move from education to meaningful work. And with your support, your student can design and execute career interviews that are structured, purposeful, and transformative.

Here’s how parents can guide students through this process.

Start With Purpose and Planning

When they conduct career interviews, students should have clear goals of what they want to learn. So, before they set up the first interview, have your student think through:

• What careers are they curious about and why?
• What do they want to learn from someone who works in that field?
• Are they exploring education requirements, typical duties, salary expectations, or day-to-day realities—or, all of the above?

Once they know what they want to know, help them draft their interview plan. The first step in this process is identifying who to interview. It’s easiest to start with family members—folks who are likely to consent to an interview. From here, have them branch out to other adults with whom they have a relationship, such as friends of the family, coaches, teachers, scout leaders, etc.

It’s okay if some of the interviewees aren’t in a career that your student is interested in. Speaking with those adults will give them interview practice. Further, it may reveal interesting facts about their career that the student wasn’t aware of.

This initial planning teaches students to take ownership of the process and reduces anxiety when reaching out to adults.

Help Them With Outreach

Contacting people for an interview is a valuable real-world communication skill for your student. They should start with a friendly, yet professional email message. If they’re interviewing teachers or others they see frequently, they may approach the interviewees in-person first, then follow up with an email. For example:

“Hello [Name],

My name is [Student]. I am a high school student at [School]. I am exploring different careers to help me plan for college and beyond and would really value the opportunity to learn about your work as a [Career]. Would you be willing to speak with me for 20–30 minutes by phone or in person at your convenience? Thank you for considering my request.”

This email tells potential interviewees everything they need to know. This includes the person making the request, and what is expected of them. Many adults appreciate being asked and are often honored to help a young person learn about careers. Many will willingly spend more than 30 minutes in an interview.

Prepare Thoughtful Questions

Now that they know who is open to being interviewed, your student should focus on preparing clear, open-ended questions. These should be beyond the “what do you do” types of questions. Examples include:

• “How did you choose this career, or did it choose you?”
• “What does a typical day look like in your work?”
• “What education and training did you need?”
• “What do you enjoy most about your career? What’s the hardest part?”
• “What skills have helped you succeed?”
• “If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering this field, what would it be?”

Studies on informational interviewing show that open-ended questions yield deeper insights and help interviewees feel heard and respected. In addition, help your student to tailor questions to the person they are interviewing. I also suggest having the student carry a list of the questions on paper, rather than digitally. It’s often distracting for both the interviewer and interviewees when the interviewer has to keep touching a screen to keep a document open.

Practice Active Listening and Note-Taking

Interviewing is not just asking questions—it’s about listening. Teach your student to:

• Listen actively — nod and make eye contact (in person); avoid interrupting.
• Take notes — either on paper or on a device.
• Ask follow-up questions to clarify or explore deeper.

Remind students that they don’t need to write down every word—they should focus on the main ideas and any advice or insights that are meaningful to them. Also, encourage them to connect as positive as they can with the interviewer. This is ideally a conversation not a boring question and answer session. And as to whether you ought to be there with your student, play that by ear. If you go to “grease the wheels” or help them be more confident, step back as quickly as you can so they control the interview. After five minutes or so, they should be able to handle the interview while you sit and enjoy the show.

Reflect and Follow Up

After the interview, reflection turns experience into learning. Students can complete a short reflection, including:

• What they learned;
• How what they learned may have changed their understanding of the career;
• What questions they still have;
• Whether this career might fit their interests and strengths.

In addition, help you student draw conclusions and inferences from among several interviews. They might learn, for example, about the importance of clinical experience for people seeking medical careers. This may encourage them to seek volunteer or internship opportunities in clinical settings while in high school or college.

Encourage your student to send thank-you notes to their interviewees—either handwritten, email, or a message on LinkedIn. Spoiler alert: even for younger interviewees, handwritten notes are king. Showing genuine gratitude can strengthen relationships. And don’t forget that the person they interview might also become a great college admissions reference.

Conclusion

Career informational interviews can be a powerful tool in your student’s career exploration toolkit. They build communication skills, expand networks, deepen understanding of education pathways, and help students make informed college and career decisions. With your support in planning, outreach, and reflection, students can transform curiosity into clarity—and chart a path that aligns with their strengths and aspirations.