16 career and college questions to ask someone new

What people do all day — and what they wish they were doing — says a lot. These questions are about interests and ambitions rather than job titles, so they work as well for students as for people who've been working for years.

1. 1what did you want to be when you were a kid?
2. 2what's a skill you're trying to learn right now?
3. 3dream job, no constraints — what is it?
4. 4what's the best piece of career advice you've gotten?
5. 5do you have a side project you're excited about?
6. 6what's the most useful thing you learned outside a classroom?
7. 7what does a good day at work or college look like for you?
8. 8what would you do if money wasn't a factor?
9. 9what's a job or subject you thought you'd hate but ended up liking?
10. 10who would you love to have as a mentor?
11. 11what's a mistake you learned the most from?
12. 12how do you switch off after a stressful day?
13. 13what could you talk about for an hour without any notes?
14. 14what's a career you'd love to try for a year?
15. 15what's the best team you've ever been part of?
16. 16what do you want to have built five years from now?