Ready to kick your panel discussion up a notch? The secret sauce is all in the questions you ask. The right questions not only get people chatting but also make the event unforgettable.

From career advice to life hacks and everything in between, the questions are your magic wand to make the discussion truly awesome.

About Jobs

1. How did you get your first job in this field?
2. What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
3. What’s the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your job?
4. What skills do you think are most important for this job?
5. How do you handle stress at work?
6. Can you describe a typical workday for you?
7. What advice would you give to someone starting out in this field?
8. What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your job, and how did you handle it?
9. How important is teamwork in your job?
10. How do you keep learning and growing in your career?
11. How do you balance work and life?
12. What do you wish you knew before starting this job?
13. How has your job evolved over the years?
14. What are some industry trends that people should be aware of?
15. Do you think higher education is necessary for this job?
16. How do you deal with difficult coworkers or bosses?
17. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
18. Can you share a fun project you’ve worked on?
19. How do you set goals for yourself at work?
20. What are some common misconceptions about your job?
21. What’s the best way to get noticed and move up in this field?
22. Are there any ethical considerations in your job that people should know about?
23. How has technology changed your job?
24. How do you handle failure or setbacks in your career?
25. What are the opportunities for advancement in this field?
26. How do you network within your industry?
27. How important is salary in choosing a job?
28. Do you have any side projects or hobbies related to your job?
29. How do you stay updated with news and changes in your industry?
30. What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned from your job?

About Their Careers

1. How did you decide this was the career for you?
2. Can you talk about a mentor who helped shape your career?
3. What was your first job ever, and what did you learn from it?
4. How did you make the jump from an entry-level role to where you are now?
5. What’s a career highlight you’re most proud of?
6. Have you ever switched careers, and if so, why?
7. What do you think sets you apart from others in your field?
8. What do you like most about the industry you work in?
9. Did you face any obstacles because of your background or identity?
10. Do you have a routine or habit that’s key to your career success?
11. What would you do differently if you could restart your career?
12. How do you measure success in your career?
13. Is work-life balance important in your career, and how do you achieve it?
14. Can you describe a time you had to adapt to big changes in your career?
15. What’s something you wish you’d done earlier in your career?
16. Have you ever had to make a difficult ethical choice in your career?
17. How do you handle criticism or feedback at work?
18. Do you have a “dream job” you’re working towards?
19. What’s the best way to keep up with industry knowledge?
20. What’s a book or resource that has significantly influenced your career?
21. Have you ever felt like giving up on your career? What kept you going?
22. What role do friendships and relationships play in your career?
23. Is there a skill you wish you had that would advance your career?
24. How do you prepare for big career moments like interviews or presentations?
25. What do you do to unwind after a stressful period at work?
26. How important is company culture in your career decisions?
27. What’s something you wish everyone knew about your job?
28. How do you stay motivated in your career?
29. Can you share a piece of career advice that’s often overlooked?
30. What are your career goals for the next 5 years?

About Challenges They’ve Faced

1. What was the biggest obstacle you faced when starting your career?
2. How do you handle failure or setbacks?
3. Can you share a story of a challenge that made you a better professional?
4. Have you ever had a project go completely off track? How did you handle it?
5. What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make in your career?
6. Have you ever dealt with workplace conflict? How did you resolve it?
7. How do you manage stress during high-pressure situations?
8. Was there ever a time you doubted your career choice? How did you overcome it?
9. Can you share an example of a challenge you faced due to a lack of resources?
10. Have you ever faced ethical dilemmas at work? How did you navigate them?
11. What’s the hardest part about leading a team or managing people?
12. How do you handle challenges that come with remote work?
13. Have you had to overcome any challenges related to diversity and inclusion?
14. How do you keep going in a job or project that you don’t enjoy?
15. What challenges have you faced in keeping up with industry changes?
16. Was there a time you had to adapt to a major company change? How did you cope?
17. Have you ever had to manage a crisis situation at work?
18. How do you tackle challenges that require skills you don’t possess?
19. What do you do when you disagree with your boss or higher-ups?
20. How do you deal with burnout or job fatigue?
21. Have you faced challenges in maintaining a work-life balance?
22. How do you approach challenges that you’ve never encountered before?
23. What’s the most constructive criticism you’ve received, and how did it help you?
24. Have you had to bounce back after being laid off or fired?
25. How do you handle the challenge of juggling multiple responsibilities?
26. Was there ever a moment when you felt like your job was at risk? How did you handle it?
27. How do you deal with challenges that arise from gaps in team communication?
28. Can you share an example where you had to change your approach due to negative feedback?
29. Have you had to overcome any personal challenges that impacted your professional life?
30. How do you prioritize when faced with multiple urgent challenges?

About Advice for Newcomers

1. What’s the one piece of advice you wish you had when you were starting out?
2. How can a newcomer make a good first impression in this field?
3. What skills should beginners focus on developing?
4. Is there a common mistake newbies make that they should avoid?
5. What’s the best way for newcomers to network in the industry?
6. How can someone entering the field gain practical experience?
7. What resources would you recommend to someone who’s new to the industry?
8. How important is it to have a mentor, and how do you find one?
9. What’s the best way to handle nerves or jitters when starting a new job?
10. Should newcomers speak up in meetings, or is it better to observe at first?
11. How can a newcomer stand out in a competitive job market?
12. What’s your advice for balancing learning with doing in a new role?
13. How can newcomers adapt to a company’s culture quickly?
14. What are some useful habits for success in this industry?
15. How can newcomers build a good relationship with their bosses and colleagues?
16. Is there any etiquette in the industry that newcomers should be aware of?
17. What are some good small wins newcomers can aim for in their first few months?
18. How should newcomers handle criticism or negative feedback?
19. Should newcomers focus on breadth (learning a bit about everything) or depth (specializing)?
20. How do newcomers identify the tasks that will make them most valuable to the team?
21. How can newcomers keep up-to-date with industry knowledge?
22. What’s your advice on navigating office politics for someone just starting out?
23. Should newcomers take on extra tasks or stick strictly to their job description?
24. How important is it for newcomers to understand the history of the field or company?
25. What do you wish newcomers knew about work-life balance in this industry?
26. Should newcomers actively seek leadership opportunities?
27. How can newcomers effectively advocate for themselves in the workplace?
28. What’s the best way for newcomers to deal with feeling overwhelmed?
29. How important is personal branding for someone just starting out?
30. What’s your ultimate do’s and don’ts advice for someone new in the field?

About Work-Life Balance

1. How do you define a healthy work-life balance?
2. What are your go-to strategies for maintaining work-life balance?
3. How has your approach to work-life balance changed over your career?
4. How do you handle work-life balance during busy or stressful times?
5. What role does your employer play in helping you maintain work-life balance?
6. Can you share a time when your work-life balance was off, and how you corrected it?
7. Do you have any routines that help you separate work time from personal time?
8. How do you manage work-life balance when working from home?
9. What are the biggest challenges you face in keeping a balanced life?
10. How do you make time for family and friends while managing work responsibilities?
11. Do you set boundaries with your colleagues and bosses to maintain a work-life balance?
12. How do you prioritize self-care in your busy schedule?
13. Is it possible to climb the career ladder and still maintain a work-life balance?
14. How do you handle unplanned work emergencies without sacrificing personal time?
15. Do you have any apps or tools that help you manage your work-life balance?
16. How do you manage to fit in exercise or hobbies with a demanding job?
17. What advice do you have for someone struggling to find work-life balance in this industry?
18. Do you believe work-life balance is more difficult to maintain in your industry compared to others?
19. How do you handle the guilt of not being able to give 100% to work or home at times?
20. What’s your opinion on “unplugging” from work, like not checking emails after work hours?

About Teamwork and Collaboration

1. What’s the key to successful teamwork in your experience?
2. How do you handle disagreements within a team?
3. Can you share an example of a team project that went really well and why?
4. What traits do you value most in a team member?
5. How do you keep everyone on the same page when working on a project?
6. How do you divide roles and responsibilities within a team?
7. What’s your advice for someone who’s new to team-based work?
8. How do you build trust within a team?
9. Can you talk about a time when teamwork helped overcome a big challenge?
10. What role does communication play in effective teamwork?
11. How do you manage to collaborate well with remote or virtual teams?
12. What’s the most challenging part of working in a team setting?
13. How do you keep a team motivated, especially during tough times?
14. Do you have any tips for leading a team versus just being a member?
15. How do you handle a situation where a team member is not contributing enough?
16. What are some team-building activities that you’ve found to be effective?
17. How important is it to celebrate team wins, and how do you do it?
18. What role do diversity and inclusion play in building a strong team?
19. How do you manage team dynamics when members have different skill sets or backgrounds?
20. What advice do you have for teams to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality?

About Skills and Education

1. What’s the most important skill you’ve learned in your career?
2. How do you keep your skills up-to-date?
3. What are some “soft skills” you think are crucial for success?
4. Do you think formal education is essential for entering your field?
5. What skills do you look for when hiring new team members?
6. How have your skills evolved since you started your career?
7. What online courses or resources would you recommend for someone in your field?
8. How did your education prepare you for your job?
9. Are there any skills you think are overrated or underrated?
10. What’s the best way to show off your skills in a job interview?
11. How do you balance learning new skills with mastering what you already know?
12. Can you share a time when a particular skill saved the day?
13. How do you assess the skills of others when working on a team?
14. Do you have a skill that’s not directly related to your job but helps you anyway?
15. What are some future skills you think will be important in your industry?
16. How do you prioritize which skills to learn next?
17. What’s your take on the “hard skills vs. soft skills” debate?
18. How often do you take courses or attend workshops to improve your skills?
19. What’s the most challenging skill you’ve had to learn for your job?
20. Are there any skills you think are becoming obsolete?
21. How do you mentor others in developing their skills?
22. Can you share a skill that you had to learn the hard way?
23. What advice do you have for self-taught individuals in your field?
24. How do you measure the effectiveness of your skills?
25. Is there a skill you wish you had invested in earlier?
26. How important is it to have a broad set of skills versus specialized skills?
27. What role do certifications play in proving your skills?
28. How do you showcase your skills on your resume or portfolio?
29. Do you have any tips for negotiating based on your skill set?
30. How do you maintain a learning mindset throughout your career?

About Their Favorite Projects

1. Can you tell us about a project you’re most proud of?
2. What made that project stand out for you?
3. How did you come up with the idea for your favorite project?
4. What challenges did you face while working on it, and how did you overcome them?
5. Was there a “eureka” moment in that project when everything just clicked?
6. What role did teamwork play in the success of the project?
7. How did you feel when you finally completed it?
8. What was the impact of this project on your company or industry?
9. Did the project change your approach to work in any way?
10. What skills did you learn or sharpen while working on this project?
11. Was there anything you would have done differently looking back?
12. How did this project help your professional growth?
13. What’s the most memorable feedback you received about this project?
14. How did you manage to keep the project on schedule and within budget?
15. Can you share a fun or interesting anecdote that happened during this project?
16. How did you celebrate the completion of the project?
17. Did this project open doors for other opportunities?
18. How did you handle the stress or pressure associated with this project?
19. What role did technology play in the success of your favorite project?
20. If someone were to take inspiration from your project, what advice would you give them?

During Interview

1. How did you get started in your career?
2. Who has been the most influential person in shaping your career?
3. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
4. Can you describe a typical day in your job?
5. What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
6. What’s your favorite aspect of your industry?
7. What’s a common myth about your job that you’d like to debunk?
8. How do you stay motivated in your work?
9. What are some trends you see shaping your industry in the next 5 years?
10. How do you define success in your career?
11. Can you share an example of a professional risk you took that paid off?
12. What are some ethical considerations in your line of work?
13. How do you manage a healthy work-life balance?
14. Can you share a failure in your career and what you learned from it?
15. What’s the most interesting project you’re working on right now?
16. How do you keep learning and growing professionally?
17. What’s a challenge you’re currently facing in your job?
18. What’s your go-to productivity hack?
19. How do you handle work-related stress?
20. Can you share a rewarding collaboration experience?
21. What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your career?
22. How do you maintain a good relationship with your colleagues?
23. What’s the one thing that has changed the most since you started your career?
24. Can you share a fun fact about your job that most people don’t know?
25. What are the top qualities you look for in a leader?
26. What’s the most important trend in your industry right now?
27. How do you manage conflicts in the workplace?
28. What’s your perspective on remote work?
29. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in your field over the years?
30. Any last words of wisdom for those aspiring to join your profession?

For Female Leaders

1. What inspired you to take on a leadership role in your field?
2. Can you share your experience as a woman leader in a male-dominated industry?
3. How do you handle gender stereotypes in the workplace?
4. What advice do you have for women who aspire to be leaders?
5. How important is mentorship in your career journey?
6. Can you talk about a female role model who has impacted your career?
7. How do you negotiate for what you want in your career?
8. What’s your take on the “work-life balance vs. work-life integration” debate for women?
9. How do you make sure your voice is heard in meetings or team discussions?
10. How do you approach risk-taking and decision-making?
11. Can you share any tips for women about self-promotion without feeling uncomfortable?
12. How do you deal with “imposter syndrome” if you’ve experienced it?
13. What’s the best way to navigate office politics as a woman leader?
14. Have you ever faced discrimination, and how did you handle it?
15. How important is networking for women in leadership?
16. How do you manage your personal brand?
17. Can you discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership?
18. How do you empower other women in your organization?
19. What strategies do you use for conflict resolution?
20. Can you talk about a pivotal moment in your career?
21. How do you foster diversity and inclusion in your team or company?
22. What’s your advice for maintaining a strong support system?
23. How do you manage family expectations along with professional responsibilities?
24. How do you handle the stress that comes with a leadership role?
25. What are the unique strengths you think women bring to leadership?
26. How do you approach work-life boundaries, especially with remote work?
27. What’s your view on the “lean in” vs. “lean out” debate?
28. How do you recharge and take time for yourself?
29. What are some resources or books you would recommend for aspiring female leaders?
30. How do you envision the future for women in leadership roles?