Conversation starters

Not sure how to start the conversation with your match? Pick a few questions from the list that fits your program, and let the conversation flow from there.

For a classic coffee chat

• 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

• 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

• 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

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 and mentoring programs

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

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?
• What is considered rude in your culture?
• What is the best or most important thing your culture has given to the world?
• How do you express feelings in your culture?

Funny questions

• Pineapple 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 noises while eating?
• Soccer or football?