Questions to Ask Professional Associations and Organizations

The Ventures Scholars Program member professional associations and organizations can help you understand the requirements needed to pursue certain math- and science-based careers.

Take a few moments and go to their Web sites. You will probably have questions so feel free to email the representatives at the professional associations and organizations. You'll find them very helpful. To access this information, please click the Associations & Organizations link located on the left-hand side of this page.

Here are some questions that you can ask the professional associations:

1. What are the specific duties and responsibilities?
2. Describe a typical day/week.
3. What are the toughest problems you deal with?
4. What part of this work do you find most rewarding?

1. What kind of training, education, or course work is required?
2. What skills or talents are most essential in this career?
3. What personal qualities are important?
4. What kinds of prior experiences are absolutely essential?
5. How did you prepare yourself for this work?

1. What type of setting, hours, atmosphere, etc. can be expected?
2. What obligations does this type of work place upon you outside of the ordinary work week?
3. How much flexibility do you have in terms of hours of work, dress, vacation, etc.?

1. What types of employers hire people in this field? Where are they located?
2. How do I find out about internships/job openings in this field?

1. What additional training or qualifications are necessary for advancement?
2. What are some of the job possibilities for experienced workers in this field?
3. Is turnover high in this field?
4. Do people normally move to another company/organization or do they move up in the company/organization?

1. How rapidly is the present career field growing?
2. If the work you do was suddenly eliminated, what different kinds of work do you feel you could do?
3. How would you describe or estimate future prospects?

1. What is the average starting salary?
2. What are the salaries for experienced workers?
3. How much do salaries vary in this career according to the employer, region, or industry?