We asked hundreds of technology startups the following: if you could only ask a person one question during an interview, what question would that be?

1. 150+TechStartups
ShareTheirBest
InterviewQuestions

2. Whydoyouwanttoworkforastartupwhenyoucouldgetajobatalargercompany,makemore
moneyandhaveabetterwork/lifebalance?
AskedbySohaSystems
Whatdoesculturemeantoyou?
AskedbyChoozle
Whydoyouwanttoworkfor_____?
AskedbyBridgefy,Ambassador,ViaHero,Installments,YouMail,GitLab,Phone2Action,andBizible
WWhatdoesyouridealworkdaylooklike?
AskedbyPayByGroup
Whatenvironmentdoyouthriveinthemostandwhatdrivesyourpassion?
AskedbyVbout
Asyoulooktomakeyournextcareermove,Iexpectyou'vespentafairamountoftimethinkingabout
what'simportanttoyou.I'minterestedinhearingwhatthosethingsare.Describeformeyourperfect
job,company,workenvironment,etc.Whateverfactorsaremostimportanttoyou.
AsAskedbyWealthminder,Parse.ly,andHypr
Whatareyourpersonalvalues?Andifyoubelievethatyourpersonalvaluesarealignedwiththe
company'svalues,pleasedescribewhy.
AskedbyVerlocal
LLet’ssupposethatyoufoundyourdreamjobwithyouridealcompanythatpaysyouwellandhasa
greatcareerpath,title,benefitsandperks.Youhavetostartin2daysandallyouhavetodoistell
yourbosswhatyou’dwanttodoatthisdreamjobandyoucanhaveit-justlikethat.Whatwouldyou
saythatyou’dliketodo?
AskedbyBeamm
Areyouthetypetocheckyourinboxonvacation?
AskedbySupportYourApp
IfIfyouwerestartingacompanyfromscratch,whatwouldyouwantyourcompany'sculturetobe?
AskedbyPauBox
Whatdoyouseeasyourbiggestcontributiontotheworldin30years?
AskedbySaneBox
Inyouropinion,whatisleadership?
AskedbyUnleashed
AAreyouincrediblypassionateaboutsolvingtheproblemthatwearesolving.Doyoudreamaboutit?
Doyouspendfreetimeonit?
AskedbyLittlstar

3. WhatdoyouwantfromworkingatWedgies?Howcanwehelpyouaccomplishthatinthisrole?
AskedbyWedgies
Whatkeepsyouawakeatnight?
AskedbyUnmetric
Whatareyoupassionateaboutoutsideofwork?
AskedbyBetterCompany
WWhatwouldyoufireapersonfor?
AskedbySEMrush
Whatothercommitmentsdoyouhaveinyourlife...i.e.otherjobs,school,family,community?
AskedbyWinningEmail
Doheroesmakemomentsordomomentsmakeheroes?
AskedbyReachInfluence
Whatisyourleadershipstyle?
AsAskedbyPeerspace
Putthefollowing3valuesintheorderofpriority:Freedomtocreate,decentsalary,andcompany
equity.
AskedbyBizmo
Considerthreethings–Humility,HungerandSmarts.Youmayrelatetooneorallofthese.Pleasetell
mewhatyouarethe‘most-of’andwhatyouarethe‘least-of’?
AskedbyTize
FFast,Good,andCheap.Whichtwowouldyoupick?
AskedbyEquityZen
WhatspecificallywouldyoucontributetoWordzenduringyourfirstweekofemployment?
AskedbyWordzen
Picktwoofourcompanyculturalvaluesandprovideanexampleforeachwhereyou'veexemplified
thevalue,preferablyfromyourpreviousemployment.
AskedbyTINYpulse

4. Whatdoyoudoforfunandwhathobbiesdoyoupartakeinwhenyouarenotatwork?
AskedbySimpleNight,Readz,GeniusMonkey,andVengo
Identifyaprojectortaskthatyouwouldbethemostproudofandwouldconsideryourmost
significantaccomplishmentinyourcareertodateanddescribethecircumstances.Howyougot
involved,yourcontributionsandparticipationalongwithyourreasoningonwhythisistheoneyou
picked?
AsAskedbyHireIQandAppbase
Basedonallthefacetsofourcompany(bigdata,unconsciousbias,diversity,analytics,mobileapps,
etc)whatrelevantworkhaveyoudoneOUTSIDEOFWORK?
AskedbyBlendoor
Haveyouevercreatedanyside-projectsororganizedanycommunityevents?
AskedbyCloudpeeps
TTellmeaboutsomethingyou'veworkedonrecentlyoutsideofschooloryourjobthathelpedyou
buildnewskills.
AskedbyTailwind
Describethelastbookyoureadandwhy/whynotyouthinkIshouldreaditaswell.
AskedbySocial123,andSerps
Whatdidyoudoincollegeasidefromgoingtoschool?
AskedbyOwnLocal
WWhat'snextonyourbucketlistandwhy?
AskedbyBoatBound
Whatarethethreemostinterestingjust-for-funprojectsyou'vebuilt?
AskedbyGigster
Haveyoueverplayedateamsport?
AskedbySPLT

5. Howmanytimeshaveyoufailed?
AskedbyMobileAction
Whatisyourbiggestcareerscrew-up?
AskedbyTeamSupport,Stanza,Magoosh,MetricStory,andFattmerchant
Whatisyourbiggestworkrelatedfailureinthelastsixmonthsandhowdidyouovercomeit?
AskedbyInboundMarketingAgents,andBlink

6. WhenyoulookbackinayearfromnowandIbumpintoyouatourholidayparty,howyouwillhave
knownthatworkingherewasagooddecisionandwhatwouldyoutellme?
AskedbySpendsetter
Ifyourmemorywaswipedandyouhadtoreadonebooktoregainyourperspective,whichwouldit
be?
AskedbyEstate
IfIfwehireyourightnow,whatareyoudoingatourcompanytomorrow,andwhatwillyoubedoingat
ourcompanyoneyearfromnow?
AskedbyRollio
Whoissomeoneyouaspiretobelike,andwhy?
AskedbyLogCheck
Whatisyourcurrentlifegoalisandwheredoyouwanttoendup?
AskedbyHawkeMedia
WWhatdoyouwanttodo?
AskedbyMarkodojo,andAvanoo
What'sthejobyouwanttwojobsfromnow,andhowdoesthisrolehelpyougetthere?
AskedbyChewse,Aha!,SkySpecs,Seniorly,Panjo,Opiatalk,andTome
Whatareyoulookingforinyournextpositionthatyoudon'thavewhereyouarecurrentlyworking?
AskedbyCoachMarket
Whatdoyouwanttobeknownfor?
AsAskedbyCalendlyandIndigenous
Whatgetsyourfiredupandleapingoutofbedinthemorning?
AskedbyVenzee,Delivra,Razuna,SherpaDesk,VisagePayroll,Thanx,TravelTag,andUrsus

7. Whenwasthelasttimeyouhadtoworkhardtoaccomplishsomethingseeminglyinsurmountable
wheretheoddswerestackedagainstyou?
AskedbyLingoLive
Ifyouwokeuptomorrowabillionaireandneverhadtoworkanotherdayfortherestofyourlife,
whatwouldyoudo?
AskedbyBuddyTruk,Everlance,Crowdcast,andSpeakUp
Whatmakesyouexcitedtogotowork,andwhy?
AsAskedbyHealeyEngineering,andSnappii
What'syourfavoritethingaboutmarketing?Andwhydoyouloveit?
AskedbyLinkCaffeine
What'stheONEthingyouneedforyournextpositiontobethebestjobexperienceofyourlife?
AskedbyKnack
Howdoyoustayuptodateinyourskills?Givemeexamples.
AskedbyMariposaInteractive
WWhatisyourpersonalmission,andhowdoesthisjobdescriptionalignwiththatmission?
AskedbyMazlo
In2026,howdoyouenvisionPersonalDataFusionmakingyousmarter?
AskedbyModuleQ
FinishingupyourJuniorsummer,headingintoyoursenioryear,whatwereyouthinkingaboutplans
foraftergraduation?
AskedbyCrayon

8. TellmesomethingwhichyouknowverywellandyouaresurethatIormostofthepeopleherehave
noclueaboutit.
AskedbyApplozic
Whoareyougoingtocalltotellaboutour(amazingnew)product,andwhatwillyouaskthem?
AskedbyWoxxer
Whereeveryoneseesaproblem,whatdoyousee?
AskedbySafeBeyond
IfIfyouhad$100,000tobuildyourownbusiness,whatwouldyoudoandwhy?
AskedbyHoney,andHelpScout
Youearnyourfirst100dollars.Whatwouldyoudowiththefirst10%ofthat.
AskedbyHowler
Ifyouweretobuildaproductthataddressestheproblemwearetryingtosolve,whatwoulditlook
like?
AskedbyMathx
EstimaEstimatethenumberofcabsinNYC.
AskedbyFractl
Weaskcandidatestowritearebuttaltoanarticlefromamajorpublicationthatreliedonshoddy
statisticalmethodstoreachitsconclusions.
AskedbyBaydin
Teachmesomething.
AskedbyKahootsandReviewTrackers
CanCanyoutellmewhatyourunderstandingofwhatourcompanydoes?
AskedbyScoop.it
Teachmeaboutsomethingyou'vemastered.I'llgiveyou5minutestoprepare,andthenletstake15
minutesandtalkitthrough.
AskedbyHirabl
Ifyouhadtoautomatethejobforwhichyouareapplying,howwouldyoudoit?
AskedbyWriteLab
IIwouldaskarealworldproblemquestionthatI’mcurrentlyfacingintheareaofthecandidates
expertise,andaskthemhowtheywouldsolveit.
AskedbySpeechpad

9. Whywouldclientsandprospectswanttouseourproduct/service?
AskedbyWiO
Walkmethroughhowyoufoldaloadoflaundry.
AskedbyBraidio
Tellthemmybiggestchallengeasacompany(fortheirdepartment).ThenIwouldjustaskhowthey'd
goaboutsolvingitiftheywerehired.
AsAskedbyGlobevestor
Couldyoudothishomeworkassignment?
AskedbyPopularPays
Tellmeaboutsometypicalactivitiesthatyoucompletedinyourlastjobthatmadeyoufeelexcited,
wereinyourflowand,afterwards,madeyoufeelemotionallystronger?
AskedbyPreScouter
Whatimportanttruthdoveryfewpeopleagreewithyouon?
AsAskedbyStartupDocuments
Ifyoucoulddesignabusinesstodisruptours,whatwouldthatbusinesslooklike?
AskedbyPivotDesk
Whatismycompanydoingwrongandhowwouldyoufixit?
AskedbyTenon
WhatchangesshouldbemadetoenterprisesoftwaresolutionstomakeitaSaaSsolution?
AskedbyAMODIT
IfIfyouweretheCEOofyourlastcompany,whatare3thingsyouwouldofchanged?
AskedbyiDoneThis
YouareinterviewingforjobX...supposeweinsteadofferedyoujobY(unrelatedtocurrentareaof
proficiency),whatarethefirst3thingsyouwoulddotoensureyoursuccessinthatrole?
AskedbyMyagi
YYou’reintheairportabouttoboardaplanetogotoSingaporeandyourealizethatyoulostthe
contactinformationofthepersonyouweregoingtovisitanddon’thaveenoughmoneytostayina
hotelorgetanotherairplaneticket—what’syourplan?
AskedbyRenegade

10. Describethemostchallengingsituationyouhadexperiencedinyourlastjobandhowdidyou
overcomeit?
AskedbyCodeproof,andPeer5
Relateaclassicnoveltoacontemporarysocialissue.
AskedbyTrendify
BeatlesorStones?Andwhy?
AskedbyLately
WWhatquestionsdoyouhaveforme?
AskedbyBonus.ly

11. Describethemostchallengingsituationyouhadexperiencedinyourlastjobandhowdidyou
overcomeit?
AskedbyCodeproof,andPeer5
Relateaclassicnoveltoacontemporarysocialissue.
AskedbyTrendify
BeatlesorStones?Andwhy?
AskedbyLately
WWhatquestionsdoyouhaveforme?
AskedbyBonus.ly
IfItalkedtoyourcurrent/pastmanagerandaskedthemtodescribeyou,whatwouldtheysay?
AskedbySpotio,SocialFulcrum,andComnio
Howdoyouandknoweachother?
AskedbyMyDigitalShield
CanCanyouprovide2-3referencesthatwecouldshootaquickemailtothatwouldbeoksharingtheir
experiencesofworkingwithyou?
AskedbyHubstaff
Whoareyourmentorsandwhy?
AskedbyLT&Co

12. What'syourstory?
AskedbyTattle,MetaCert,Nuvi,andUpKeep
Tellmewhereyou’refrom.
AskedbyLootsie
Tellmeaboutatimewhenyouwereworkingonateamandyoudisagreedwithsomeoneabouthow
todosomething.Tellmethewholestoryandhowitwasresolved.
AsAskedbyBinti
Tellmeaboutthreemajorlifedecisionsthathadyouarrivehere.
AskedbyArchively
Canyoutellmethestoryofyourpriorsuccess,challenges,andmajorresponsibilities?
AskedbyCampNativem,andDeepsense
Howhasyourbirthordermadeyouwhoyouare?
AskedbyGrade.us
TTheonesinglequestionthatIkeepaskingtodetectBS:Howdidyoudoit?
AskedbySynthesio
Tellmeaboutsomethingyouhavebuiltfromscratch.
AskedbyDuubl,RedCanary,andThimble
Whatissomethingthatyouaccomplishedinthelast2yearsthatrequiredahighamountofgrit?
AskedbyGrowthGeeks
TTellmeatimeyouhustledtogetsomethingofimportancedone.Akeycustomerdeal,apartnership,
gettingafeatureoutquicker.
AskedbyTalentIQ
Weliketohireleaderswhoexcelintheircurrentroleandshowthoughtleadershipoutsideoftheir
role,sogivemeanexamplehowyouhavedonethatinyourcurrentrole/company.
AskedbyClientSuccess

13. Whichsuperheropowersdoyouvaluemost?
AskedbyWinly
WhyshouldIhireyouvsthenextperson(orrobot)towalkthroughthedoor?
AskedbyAstilLink,Adchemix,Edgar,Packlane,CloserIQ,Sightly,Crewspark,Maz,Nomad,VentureFund,and
Thirstie
Whatareyougoodat,andwhatdoyouWANTtodo?
AsAskedbyFounderSuite,andSalesWise
Doyouhaveachiponyourshoulder?
AskedbyVisibl
Howdoyougetoutofyourconfortzoneinyourlife?
AskedbyTrackin
What'sthehardestthingyou'veeverdone?
AskedbyTribeandFieldbook
WWhatdoesadayatworklooklikewhereattheendyoulookbackandIthinktoyourself:thisisso
muchfun,theywouldn'tevenhavetopayme!
AskedbyImmediately
Atourcompany,webelievewecandoanything.Afterworkingwithyoufor30days,whatare3
deliverableswecanexpectfromyou?
AskedbyINTURN
InInyourprofessionalcareer,whatistheonethingyouaremostproudof,andlikewise,what’stheone
thingyouareleastproudof?
AskedbyGenoo

14. Whatmakesyoulosetrackoftimeandwanttoworknonstop?Wheredoyoufindyourselfin'the
flow'?
AskedbyApptentive
Whatareyoumostproudof?
AskedbyJebbit,Bizyhood,Quietkit,NuoDB,ExpertKnowledge,andJotForm
Whatdoyouwanttobethebestintheworldatdoing,andwhydoyouwanttobeknownforthat?
AskedbyVoiceKickandPraxis
HHowwillyoucontributewithyourworkandskillstomakeourcompanyreachaspecificrevenue
increasein3years?
AskedbyShazura
Whatistheonewordthatbestdescribesyou?
AskedbyUnigma
Tellmeaboutyourmostembarrassinghiddentalent.
AskedbyBounceExchange
IIwouldaskacandidateabouttheirformermanagers'strengthsandweaknesses.
AskedbyJustworks
Whyshouldn'tIhireyou?
AskedbyRainforestandNinjaOutreach
Howwouldyoudobetter?
AskedbyIndepayment
IfIfyouwouldn'thavelearnedthebiggestlessonyouhavelearnedlastyear,howdifferentyourcareer
wouldbetoday?
AskedbyPyrus

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