List of 70+ effective get to know you questions for work
Starting a new job is a whirlwind of introductions, training, and figuring everything out.
You’ll likely have a whole new team of people you need to get to know.
Getting to know your coworkers can be one of the most daunting parts of a new position — even for extroverts that thrive on small talk.
But connecting with your teammates doesn’t have to be awkward. There’s no need to restrict your conversations to work chit-chat or discussing the weather for the third day in a row.
Instead, let us introduce you to the power of the get-to-know-you question. These handy little questions will make getting to know your coworkers so much easier.
We have 73 questions to get you started on a range of topics, including career, home, hobbies, entertainment, and miscellaneous.
What is a get-to-know-you question?
Getting-to-know-you questions help you understand the people around you and build rapport. In a work context, that rapport contributes to better communication and collaboration with your coworkers, which are key skills for any job.
These simple icebreaker questions pack quite a punch. Get-to-know-you questions are helpful, whether you’re a new hire or an experienced trainer.
Good questions don’t have to be work-related, but you should avoid controversial or overly personal topics.
You can ask getting-to-know-you questions whenever you chat with someone new at work. And, you can speak to your team during meetings and events.
Even if you’re working remotely, there will still be opportunities to learn more about your coworkers.
Some companies have a buddy system for new team members. If you are paired with a buddy, these questions will help you get to know them.
How do get-to-know-you questions help at work?
Get-to-know-you questions may sound like something you should save for parties and social events, but they’re useful at work, too.
35% of companies have lost team members due to poor communication. Employers who value their teams will usually encourage good communication. They might even schedule team-building events to help their staff get to know one another.
Get-to-know-you questions can break the ice between employees and put everyone at ease, allowing for better communication, morale, and productivity.
Having a good relationship with your coworkers can make your job easier. If you have a question or need to collaborate, you’ll feel more comfortable asking your peers for help.
As a manager, icebreaker questions can help you learn important, useful, or fun information about your team in a low-pressure environment.
When you take the time to get to know other people on your team, it’ll create a positive workplace culture.
73 get-to-know-you questions for your coworkers
Asking get-to-know-you questions can be nerve-wracking, so we’ve made it easy on you. We’ve compiled a list of interesting questions you can use for reference or inspiration when getting to know your coworkers.
Save this list of conversation starters, or jot a few down on a sticky note to keep by your desk.
And, have your answers ready because a manager or workmate might ask you some similar questions during team-building exercises.
Career get-to-know-you questions
What was your first job?
What was your favorite job?
What's your top career highlight?
What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you doing it?
How did you get into your current field or position?
Do you have any side hustles?
What’s the most interesting job you’ve ever had?
What’s the weirdest thing a boss or coworker has ever done?
What’s the weirdest thing a customer has ever done?
Do you have a five-year plan? What is it?
What makes a good boss?
What makes a good coworker?
What piece of advice would you give yourself at the beginning of your career?
What’s the worst career advice you've ever received?
What do you listen to on your commute?
How to answer work and career get-to-know-you questions
Some of these questions can be asked during job interviews, so you may already have your answers prepared. Take a look at these common interview questions for tips.
When you talk about your career, think about some of the good things that have happened. For example, you can focus on your good role models, successes, and positive experiences. You can also talk about your goals and education.
Avoid talking negatively about previous employers and coworkers.
Home and family get-to-know-you questions
What does your family look like?
Do you have any pets?
Were you the oldest, middle, or youngest child?
Do you have any unique family traditions?
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
What’s your favorite thing to do with your family?
What TV or movie family best represents your own?
Have you ever been to a family reunion? What was it like?
What do you know about your family’s origins?
Who was your childhood best friend? Are you still in touch with them?
What's your favorite family tradition?
What's your favorite food?
What’s the weirdest food you've ever eaten?
How to answer home and family get-to-know-you questions?
If a work colleague asks you about your home life, give them a brief rundown of who is in your immediate family. For example, do you have siblings or children of your own?
Or, maybe you’re engaged, married, or saving for your first home.
Try to keep the conversation positive and professional. It’s too soon to talk about issues you’re having with your partner or a family member you no longer speak to.
Hobbies and sports get-to-know-you questions
What are your favorite hobbies?
How do you spend your free time?
Do you have a hidden talent?
Are you involved in any regular activities after work?
Do you watch sports? Who's your favorite team?
Do you have a favorite outdoor activity?
What was your favorite activity at school?
What was the last sports game you attended?
Do you play a sport?
Do you play a musical instrument?
Do you enjoy cooking? Do you have a favorite family recipe?
Do you have a vacation planned?
What are your favorite vacation spots?
Do you go to the gym?
Do you enjoy painting or drawing?
If you could start a new hobby, what would it be?
How to answer hobbies and sports get-to-know-you questions?
Learning about someone’s hobbies is a good way to get to know them. Be prepared to talk about your hobbies or what you do in your spare time.
If there’s something unique that you’re passionate about, such as karate, playing the guitar, or volunteering, this will be easy.
But, if you don’t have time for extracurricular activities, you can talk about your interests. For example, you could mention you enjoy traveling, reading, or drawing. You can even mention something on your bucket list.
Entertainment get-to-know-you questions
What’s the last book you read?
Who's your favorite author?
Which fictional character do you most relate to?
What’s the last movie you watched?
What TV show(s) are you currently watching?
What movie have you seen the most times?
Do you have a favorite book or movie?
Do you enjoy podcasts? What are your favorites?
Do you enjoy binge-watching Netflix shows? What’s your favorite show to binge on?
What was the first concert you attended? Do you still listen to that artist?
What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
Who's your favorite cartoon character?
What's your all-time favorite board game?
Do you play video games?
What type of music do you like?
Who's your favorite actor?
How to answer entertainment get-to-know-you questions?
Television shows, books, music, and movies are common watercooler conversation topics. If you get asked about your favorite book, series, or movie, don’t take your answer too seriously.
Can’t pick a favorite? Just choose something that you enjoyed and would recommend. For example, your go-to show could be Friends, or you could be a fan of Ozark. Don’t say “I can’t choose” or “I don’t know.”
When you talk about entertainment, don't forget to ask for their recommendations. You might find something in common or discover something new.
Miscellaneous get-to-know-you questions
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
What was your favorite subject in high school?
What would you do in a zombie apocalypse?
Do you have a bucket list? What’s on it?
Do you collect anything? How did you start?
What's your favorite material possession?
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What's your most irrational fear?
Who's your fictional hero?
Who’s your real-life hero?
What is the best (or worst) gift you have ever received (or given)?
Have you ever received a compliment you still think about today?
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
If you could instantly acquire one talent or ability, what would it be? Why?
How to answer miscellaneous get-to-know-you questions?
Miscellaneous questions are fun, and the answers will usually be interesting or creative. These questions are designed to make you think.
If a colleague asks you one of these miscellaneous questions, put some personality into your answer. You can be funny as long as it isn’t insensitive or offensive to others.
For example, if you’re asked about your preferred superpower, you might talk about flying. This way, you can travel quicker and enjoy a traffic-free commute. Don’t talk about being invisible so you can spy on people.
3 tips for asking get-to-know-you questions
Are you still feeling nervous about how to ask these get-to-know-you questions? Here are three tips for having a good conversation with someone new.
Practice active listening
Active listening is a way of demonstrating that you are paying attention.
Active listening means that you fully process what the other person is saying before responding. You don’t interrupt, don’t rush to judgment, and don’t assume you know what the other person means.
Active listening is a soft skill that helps you have better conversations and remember more information about the people you’re talking to. This makes it easier to build relationships with your coworkers.
Ask follow-up questions
You can put active listening to good use by asking additional questions about your coworker’s responses. Don’t overthink it — just ask about what makes you curious.
To really keep the conversation going, be sure to ask open-ended questions rather than those that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
Keep it positive
While your get-to-know-you questions don’t have to be strictly work-related, you should still keep them lighthearted and professional.
Avoid hot-button topics like politics, religion, sexuality, conspiracy theories, and overly personal questions about people’s lives. It’s okay to ask about the basics of their partners, kids, and pets, but don’t get into the details of their romantic relationships.
As a rule, let it go if someone seems hesitant or uncomfortable. Change the subject with a get-to-know-you question on a lighter subject.
Get ready to get to know your coworkers
Getting to know your coworkers can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With our handy small talk tips and list of get-to-know-you questions, you can have more interesting conversations.
When you take the time to learn about your coworkers, you can build rapport, boost morale, and improve communication and productivity across your team. If you want to be a good communicator, you can practice your active listening skills, ask follow-up questions, and keep it positive.
Don’t forget, when you ask a question, you might need to come up with an answer of your own.
For more tips and advice on your work life and connections, join the Jobcase community. If you’re ready to start your job search, visit our job board.
I particularly appreciated how the questions were divided into different categories, making it easy for me to choose the ones that were most relevant to my team. The article was well-written and easy to understand, and I was able to incorporate many of the questions into our team building activities.
Overall, I would highly recommend this article to anyone looking for creative ways to get to know their coworkers, whether it be for a work project or just to build better relationships in the workplace. It definitely made my homework https://essayservice.io/do-my-homework assignment much more enjoyable and effective!
Thanks