Not sure how to start? Try these conversation starters!

For a classic coffee chat β˜•οΈ
  • What's your favorite way to spend a weekend?

  • Have you read any good books or watched any interesting movies lately?

  • If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

  • What's one hobby or interest you have that people might find surprising?

  • Do you have a favorite coffee shop or restaurant in the area? What do you like about it?

  • What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?

  • If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

  • What's one project or goal you're currently working on that you're excited about?

  • How did you get into your current line of work or field of study?

  • What’s one goal you have for this year, either personally or professionally?

For buddy programs 🀝
  • What inspired you to join this buddy program?

  • Can you share a bit about your background and what brought you here?

  • What are you most excited about in your current role or project?

  • What skills or knowledge are you hoping to develop through this program?

  • What's a recent accomplishment you're proud of?

  • How do you like to spend your free time outside of work?

  • What's one thing you wish more people knew about your job or field?

  • Can you tell me about a mentor or colleague who has made a significant impact on your career?

  • What do you find most challenging about your work, and how do you tackle those challenges?

  • What’s a goal you have for our time together in this buddy program?

For team networking programs πŸ”—
  • What's one thing you appreciate most about our team dynamic?

  • How do you like to celebrate team successes and milestones?

  • Can you share a time when your team overcame a significant challenge?

  • What's a project you worked on that you're particularly proud of?

  • How do you prefer to give and receive feedback in a team setting?

  • What do you think makes a team work well together?

  • What are your top priorities for improving workplace connections?

  • What strategies do you use to build rapport with new colleagues?

  • How do you handle conflicts or misunderstandings to maintain a positive work environment?

For remote work programs πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’»
  • What do you find most rewarding about working remotely?

  • Can you share your favorite tip for staying productive while working from home?

  • How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance in a remote work setting?

  • What's a challenge you've faced working remotely, and how did you overcome it?

  • What’s your favorite remote team-building activity?

  • What’s one thing you miss about working in a traditional office, and how do you compensate for it in a remote environment?

For onboarding programs πŸ‘‹

Ask the new hire...

  • What excited you most about joining our company?

  • What are your first impressions of the company culture here?

  • How can we best support you during your onboarding process?

  • What skills or experiences are you most looking forward to contributing to the team?

  • What do you hope to learn or achieve in your first six months with us?

  • Is there anything specific you're curious about regarding our team or projects?

  • How do you like to receive feedback and support as you get settled in?

Ask the senior member...

  • What advice would you give to someone just starting at our company?

  • Can you share a bit about the team dynamics and how new hires can best integrate?

  • What are some common challenges new employees face, and how can they overcome them?

  • What qualities or skills do you think are most important for success in this role?

  • How do you typically support new team members during their onboarding process?

For learning & mentoring programs πŸš€

Ask the mentee...

  • What are your primary goals and expectations for this mentoring relationship?

  • Can you share some specific areas where you’re seeking guidance or development?

  • What has been your biggest challenge in your career so far, and how are you addressing it?

  • How do you prefer to receive feedback and communicate about your progress?

  • What skills or knowledge are you most eager to learn from your mentor?

Ask the mentor...

  • What motivated you to become a mentor, and what do you hope to achieve in this role?

  • Can you share an experience where mentoring significantly impacted your career or personal growth?

  • What do you see as the most important qualities or skills for success in our field?

  • How do you approach setting goals and tracking progress with your mentees?

  • What advice do you give mentees to help them navigate challenges and opportunities in their careers?

For community programs 🌍
  • What motivated you to join this community-building program?

  • Can you share a personal story or experience that illustrates the importance of community in your life?

  • What do you think are the key factors that contribute to a thriving and resilient community?

  • How do you see technology and social media impacting the way communities connect and interact?

  • What role do you believe businesses and organizations should play in supporting local communities?

  • Can you identify any specific needs or challenges within your community that you feel passionate about addressing?

  • How can we ensure that marginalized or underrepresented voices are included and empowered within community initiatives?

  • What strategies do you think are most effective for fostering collaboration and cooperation among community members?

  • How do you envision sustaining the momentum and impact of community projects and initiatives in the long term?

  • What is one small action you can take today to contribute positively to your community?

For cross-cultural conversations πŸ’ƒ

Classic questions :

  • What do you think is interesting about your culture?

  • What is reverse, or re-entry, culture shock? Have you ever experienced reverse culture shock?

  • Do you know much about your own culture?

  • On what occasions do you exchange flowers in your country?

  • Have you ever felt confused by the actions of someone from another culture? If so, tell me about it.

  • How do young people in your culture behave differently from people in this culture?

  • What do you think is important when visiting another culture?

  • Who in your culture do you admire the most?

  • What’s a common misconception about your culture that you’d like to clarify or correct?

  • If you could introduce one aspect of your culture to the team, what would it be and why?

  • Can you share a story about a time when understanding a different culture helped you in a professional or personal situation?

  • When people from other countries think about your culture, what do they usually think of?

  • In your culture is it polite to be straightforward and direct when you talk to someone? To whom is it OK and to whom is it not OK?

  • What does it mean to be polite in your culture?

  • Would you ever consider marrying or dating someone from another culture?

  • What is considered rude in your culture?

  • What is the best/most important thing your culture has given to the world?

  • How do you express feelings in your culture?

Funny Questions :

  • Pinneapple on pizza?

  • Removing shoes when you enter home?

  • Black Coffee or Coffee with milk?

  • Pain au chocolat or chocolatine?

  • If aliens visited your country, what might surprise them?

  • Do you eat in silence or make slurping while eating?

  • Soccer or Football?

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