Get-to-know-you questions for interviews, co-workers, and new jobs

Whether you are just starting the interview process or are ready to begin a new position or join a new work team, asking get-to-know-you questions can help you break the ice and build strong relationships. These types of questions can also allow interviewers and new co-workers to understand your personality and work style while allowing you to learn more about the company’s culture.

The best get-to-know-you questions are those that reveal values, experiences, and interests about yourself, those who are interviewing you, or your new co-workers. Having a set of go-to questions prepared ahead of time can make a conversation flow smoothly, which can help you create a positive first impression.

This guide will take a look at some examples of the types of questions you can use in a variety of professional settings. Here’s what we’ll look at:

• Get-to-know-you questions for interviews

• What to ask as an interviewee

• Team-building questions and ice-breakers

• Questions you should avoid asking

Common get to know you questions you might get asked in an interview

One of the first times you will face get-to-know-you questions is during the interview process. Not only are interviewers hoping to determine if you are the right fit for the role you are interviewing for, but they also want to learn how you will fit in with the company’s current culture. Get-to-know-you questions can help with that process.

Naturally, questions are a big part of interviewing, so it is important to have some prepared answers ready ahead of time. Here’s a look at some of the questions you may face during an interview.

1. Icebreaker questions

The goal of icebreaker questions is to help an interviewer feel relaxed during the interview process. Here are some examples of these types of questions.

• Did you have any trouble finding us here?

• What do you know about the area where you’ll potentially be working?

• What made you apply for this position?

• What do you like most about this field?

2. Open-ended questions

As the name suggests, open-ended questions give you room to go into more detail about your hobbies, interests, and personal history. Here’s a closer look at some get-to-know-you questions from this category.

• Tell me about yourself.

• Which skill do you feel is your strongest/weakest and why?

• Do you have goals for the future, and how do you measure success?

• How do you handle making difficult decisions?

• Why do you want to leave your current position?

3. Behavior questions 

Behavioral and situational interview questions allow an interviewer to dive a little deeper into your specific skillset and experience. During this portion of the interview, you will face hypothetical situations that you may face daily in the role you are applying for. Here are some of the questions you may need to answer.

• What actions would you take if you noticed a project was falling behind schedule?

• How do you handle customers who aren’t satisfied with the company or your work?

• Tell me about a time you had to handle a conflict with a co-worker.

• What steps do you take to manage your time so you complete projects on time?

• Describe a situation where you failed at something. How did you overcome that?

4. Strength-based questions 

Along with understanding how you will react in certain situations, an interviewer will also want to know where your strengths lie. Here are some questions they may ask to determine that.

• Why do you believe you would be a good fit for this role?

• Are you motivated by constructive criticism?

• How would you respond if a manager asked you to do something unethical?

• Do you prefer to work as part of a team or on an individual basis?

• What steps do you take after you realize you’ve made a mistake at work?

5. Personal questions 

Interviewers ask personal questions in an attempt to learn more about you and to get to know you better. Some of the personal questions you may need to have answers ready for include the following.

• Which of your accomplishments is your greatest?

• What type of company culture would you like to see?

• What do you like to do in your spare time?

• What was it about our company that appealed to you most?

• How has where you grew up shaped who you are today?

What get-to-know-you questions can I ask an interviewer? 

After your interviewer has had a chance to get to know you better, you will have a chance to do the same. Asking the following questions can help you learn more about the position, the company you will potentially be working for, and the company’s culture.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask an interviewer:

1. What will be my primary responsibilities in this role?

2. Can you tell me more about the person I will be reporting to?

3. What do you think are the company’s strengths?

4. What areas could be improved upon?

5. What are the next steps in the interview process?

What are some interesting questions you can ask new co-workers?

After you’ve landed the job and it’s time to meet your new co-workers, you will have an entirely new set of questions to prepare. You’ll want to make a good first impression, and you can do that by being personable and eager to meet new people. These are some of the questions you may want to ask.

• How long have you worked for the company?

• What do you like best about working here?

• Do you have any fun hobbies?

• What type of entertainment do you like the most?

• What advice do you have for a new co-worker?

Key takeaways

1. Some of the questions your interviewer will ask will be simple get-to-know-you questions, which can let them learn how you will fit in with the company and the team.

2. Part of the prep work for your interview should be developing questions for your interviewer that give you more insight into the company and the position.

3. Asking new co-workers interesting get to know you questions about themselves, the company, and the work they do can help you feel more at ease on your first day at work.

4. Only ask questions that bring value and that are appropriate for the workplace and that will allow you to give a great first impression.