Questions to Ask a Guest Speaker
Engaging questions to ask guest speakers to maximize learning opportunities, build connections, and gain valuable insights from their expertise.
1What inspired you to pursue your career path?
Click to see why this works
What inspired you to pursue your career path?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their motivation helps you connect with their journey and may inspire your own career decisions.
2What was the biggest challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it?
Click to see why this works
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their challenges and solutions provides valuable insights for handling your own obstacles.
3What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Click to see why this works
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Their advice can provide practical guidance for your own career development and decision-making.
4What skills do you think are most important for success in your industry?
Click to see why this works
What skills do you think are most important for success in your industry?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding key skills helps you focus your learning and development efforts on what matters most.
5How has your industry changed since you started, and what trends do you see for the future?
Click to see why this works
How has your industry changed since you started, and what trends do you see for the future?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about industry evolution helps you understand current trends and prepare for future changes.
6What's the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Click to see why this works
What's the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding what they find rewarding helps you assess if their career path aligns with your interests and values.
7What was your biggest mistake and what did you learn from it?
Click to see why this works
What was your biggest mistake and what did you learn from it?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their mistakes and lessons helps you avoid similar pitfalls and grow from their experience.
8How do you stay current with developments in your field?
Click to see why this works
How do you stay current with developments in your field?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their learning strategies helps you develop your own approach to staying updated and relevant.
9What do you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Click to see why this works
What do you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Their hindsight wisdom can provide valuable guidance for your own career journey and decision-making.
10What's the most interesting project you've worked on?
Click to see why this works
What's the most interesting project you've worked on?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their interesting projects helps you understand the variety and excitement in their field.
11How do you balance work and personal life in your career?
Click to see why this works
How do you balance work and personal life in your career?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their work-life balance approach helps you assess if their career path aligns with your lifestyle goals.
12What networking strategies have been most effective for you?
Click to see why this works
What networking strategies have been most effective for you?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their networking approaches helps you develop your own professional relationship-building skills.
13What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career?
Click to see why this works
What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their key lessons helps you gain wisdom and avoid common mistakes in your own career.
14How do you handle failure and setbacks in your work?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle failure and setbacks in your work?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their resilience strategies helps you develop your own approach to handling challenges.
15What opportunities do you see for young professionals in your field?
Click to see why this works
What opportunities do you see for young professionals in your field?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding opportunities helps you assess the potential for growth and advancement in their industry.
16What's the most challenging aspect of your work?
Click to see why this works
What's the most challenging aspect of your work?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their challenges helps you assess if you're prepared for the difficulties in their field.
17How do you approach problem-solving in your work?
Click to see why this works
How do you approach problem-solving in your work?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their problem-solving methods helps you develop your own analytical and creative thinking skills.
18What's the most important quality for success in your field?
Click to see why this works
What's the most important quality for success in your field?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding key qualities helps you focus your development efforts on what matters most for success.
19How do you handle the pressure and stress of your work?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle the pressure and stress of your work?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their stress management strategies helps you develop your own approach to handling pressure.
20What's the most exciting development you've seen in your field recently?
Click to see why this works
What's the most exciting development you've seen in your field recently?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding recent developments helps you stay current with trends and opportunities in their industry.
Maximizing Your Guest Speaker Experience
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Preparing for the Speaker
Research the Speaker
Learn about their background, career, and expertise to ask informed and relevant questions.
Prepare Your Questions
Have thoughtful questions ready that demonstrate your interest and help you gain valuable insights.
Listen Actively
Pay attention to their presentation and ask follow-up questions based on what they share.
Types of Questions to Ask
Career Development
Professional Insights
Industry Knowledge
Following Up After the Event
Send a Thank You Note
Follow up with a personalized thank you note expressing appreciation for their time and insights.
Connect on LinkedIn
Send a professional connection request with a personalized message referencing their presentation.
Apply What You Learned
Use the insights and advice they shared to inform your own career development and decision-making.