Open Ended Questions
Using open ended questions in conversations will require a response longer than a single word and can easily lead to a more in depth interaction. Below are some examples of open ended questions that you can ask.
Daily Life and Current Plans
- What does your typical weekday routine look like?
- What did you do today?
- What's the best part of your day?
- What are your plans for the weekend?
- What are you looking forward to most this week?
- What is something new that you learned this week?
- What upcoming vacation plans do you have?
- What is the most challenging thing about your [life/job/school] right now?
Lifestyle and Personal Preferences
- Describe what would happen on your perfect day.
- Describe your ideal [spouse/job/home/etc].
- If you had $100,000 to plan a party for yourself, how would you use it?
- What does your dream vacation look like?
- If money was not a concern and you didn't have to work, what would a typical day in your life be like?
- What would your ideal society or utopia look like?
- What do you like and/or dislike about where you live?
- What motivates you?
- What qualities do you value in a friend?
- What's your favorite time of year?
- What are you passionate about? Why?
- What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
- How do you like to spend your free time?
Life Experiences and Reflections
- What are you most thankful for at this moment?
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
- What's one goal or achievement you're especially proud of?
- Can you share a mistake that taught you an important lesson?
- Can you describe a time you recently received or given an act of kindness?
- What's one fear you've conquered, and how did you overcome it?
- What social situations make you uncomfortable?
- What's the best story from your work or school experience?
- Tell me about an accomplishment that you are proud of.
- What is your most embarrassing moment?
- What's the best advice that you've received?
Hobbies and Interests
- How did you get started with your current hobbies?
- What are some of your favorite travel destinations, and what makes them special?
- What's one skill or hobby you've always wanted to learn and why?
- What are some things that make you [laugh/smile/happy]?
- How did you get interested in [name of hobby or sport/etc]?
- What are some things that make you [laugh/smile/happy]?
- What is your favorite [food/restaurant/TV show] and why?
- What is your favorite [vacation experience/season/book/movie/childhood memory/etc] and why?
Goals and Aspirations
- What's a dream or goal you're currently working toward?
- Where do you see yourself in [a year/3 years/5 years/etc]?
- What do you plan to do after you [graduate/retire/etc]?
- If you could change one thing about this world, what would it be?
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
- What scares you most about the future?
Philosophical and Hypothetical
- What important lessons should we learn from history?
- If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
- What methods do you use to make big decisions?
- If you could change one thing about this world, what would it be?
- What would you do to prepare for a zombie apocalypse?
- What do you think about [a news story/sports team/etc]?
Relationships
- How did you meet [host/mutual friend/significant other]?
- Tell me about your family.
- How do you like to celebrate [your birthday/Christmas/New Year's Eve]?
- What qualities do you value in a friend?
Work and School
- What's the best story from your work or school experience?
- What is the most challenging thing about your [life/job/school] right now?
- What do you like and/or dislike about [school/your job/etc]?
Misc
- What happened after I left last night?
- What's the scariest dream you've ever had?
- What would you do if [you won the lottery/lost your phone/etc]?
- Tell me about your biggest pet peeves.
- What would you do to prepare for a zombie apocalypse?
