80 best icebreaker questions to begin an interview

It’s normal for a candidate to be nervous before an interview. A small amount of nerves may improve a candidate’s performance. However, if your candidate is too nervous before the interview, they may over-rehearse or fumble their answers. This will hide their true ability and may result in you making the wrong hire.

There’s a way to help put a candidate at ease: pre-interview icebreaker questions. Instead of diving straight into the standard questions, try kickstarting your interview with a lighthearted, engaging conversation fueled by icebreaker questions.

This will help the candidate feel less nervous before the interview begins and allow them to open up. As a result, they may reveal more about themselves and give more robust answers to questions. 

In this blog post, we explore the benefits of using icebreaker questions, provide tips for getting the most out of your questions, and reveal our top 80 pre-interview icebreaker questions.

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Why should you use icebreaker questions in interviews?

There are many benefits to using icebreaker questions before an interview. These include the following:

Relieves tension 

Interviews can be stressful for candidates. Asking pre-interview icebreaker questions can help dispel tension or anxiety and allow both the interviewer and interviewee to feel more relaxed and comfortable. 

Helps build rapport

Icebreaker questions help you get to know your candidate on a personal level before the measured interview questions begin. This can help foster a genuine connection between you and the candidate and develop a rapport.

Encourages openness

Candidates are more likely to answer questions openly if they feel relaxed and confident. This can lead to more insightful answers to help you make an informed recruitment decision. 

Assesses culture fit

Icebreaker questions help you understand a candidate’s communication style, personality type, and personal values which may not come across during measured interview questions. 

Assesses soft skills

Icebreaker questions can help you measure a candidate’s creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. These soft skills are crucial in the workplace. However, it can be difficult to measure them with traditional interview questions. Utilizing icebreaker interview questions is an excellent way to get around this. 

Shows genuine interest

Asking your candidate about their personal experiences or hobbies shows genuine interest in them as a person. Showing interest in their achievements and skills beyond workplace qualifications will make them feel valued and respected. 

Boosts confidence

Using icebreaker questions helps candidates get into the flow of answering interview questions. This will help them feel more confident when answering the measured interview questions, meaning they may give better, clearer responses. 

How to use icebreaker questions effectively

Although icebreaker interview questions are intended to be fun and relax the candidate, they can also effectively measure soft skills and communication style. 

To get the most out of your pre-interview icebreaker questions, try utilizing the following tips:

Tailor your questions to the role 

Your icebreaker questions should be relevant to the position you are interviewing for. For example, if you’re hiring a publishing manager or editor, asking them about the last book they read would be a great and relevant pre-interview icebreaker question. 

Keep it light and non-intrusive 

Pre-interview icebreaker questions are intended to be fun and make the interviewee feel comfortable. Keeping the interview questions light and non-intrusive will ensure the candidate feels comfortable. For example, questions about hobbies, travel experience, or what show they’re currently watching are all safe options. 

Actively listen

Pay close attention to your candidate’s interview questions. It will help you understand your candidate’s personality and provide valuable insights into their communication and problem-solving abilities. 

Use open-ended questions

Choose icebreaker questions that require more than a one-word answer. For example, who, what, where, when, and why questions are great open-ended interview questions that encourage conversation and allow the interviewee to share more about themselves.

Mix it up

Incorporate a range of icebreaker questions into your interview. This will keep the conversation fun and engaging. For example, you can ask questions about personal experiences, preferences, recent vacations, and more. 

Answer first

If appropriate, consider sharing some stories or anecdotes of your own during the pre-interview icebreaker questions. This can help this portion of the interview feel more like a conversation and create a more open and inclusive environment.

Be mindful of diversity

Some pre-interview icebreaker questions can be offensive to certain protected groups and should be avoided. For example, avoid asking questions about where they’re spending the holiday season, as some religious groups don’t celebrate certain holidays. 

Learn more about workplace diversity.

80 icebreaker questions for job interviews

Interview icebreaker questions are a handy interview technique that can relax candidates and set the tone for the interview. What’s more, these 80 icebreaker questions can be used in either an in-person or remote interview setting.

Hobbies and interests

These questions can provide insights into how candidates fill their time outside the office. They can help you understand their passions, learn about special skills they may have, and see that they’re well-rounded. 

1. Can you tell me about a hobby you like to practice in your free time?

2. Are there any new hobbies you’re looking to take up?

3. Tell me about a recent experience you’ve had related to your hobby.

4. If you could spend a day doing anything you wanted, what would you do?

5. Have you ever taken a trip to gain experience in a hobby? Can you tell me about it?

Personal achievements

These questions help you measure whether a candidate is committed to personal development regardless of monetary gain. Look out for candidates who display both personal and professional achievements. 

1. Can you tell me about a moment in life you’re especially proud of?

2. Tell me about a time you overcame a personal challenge.

3. Can you share a time you completed a personal project and how you stayed motivated?

4. What skill have you developed over time that you found difficult at the beginning?

5. Can you tell me about a personal goal you’re currently working towards?

Favorites and preferences

These questions are a great way to find common ground with your candidate and understand what makes them tick. Don’t be afraid to tell them if you share a favorite movie or book. It can help candidates feel more comfortable. 

1. What’s your all-time favorite movie? What makes it so special to you?

2. What’s your ideal way to spend a relaxing weekend?

3. If you could choose one book to read again and again, what would it be?

4. Do you prefer eating in restaurants or cooking at home?

5. What’s your favorite season of the year? What makes it so special to you?

Travel and adventure

Travel and adventure are great to get candidates talking about their dreams. Even if they have been away recently, most people have a dream travel destination or a preference between mountains and beaches. If they’re a homebody, ask them questions about that. What are their favorite things to do at home or places they visit locally? 

1. What’s the most memorable place you’ve traveled to and why?

2. Would you say you’re an adventurer or more of a homebody?

3. Do you prefer beach or mountain retreats?

4. What’s the most unusual type of transport you’ve used while traveling?

5. What vacation destination is on the top of your travel list and why?

Media questions

Questions about movies, books, TV shows, and podcasts are great icebreaker questions because most people will have an interest in at least one of them. This makes it easy to find something that the candidate feels comfortable talking about. You may even discover some common ground in terms of their interests.

1. Do you have a favorite podcast you’ve been listening to recently?

2. What was your favorite movie as a child? Does it still hold up today?

3. Tell me about the last book you read. What was something you particularly enjoyed about it?

4. Tell me about your favorite type of music. 

5. If you could be any character in a book, who would you be and why?

Work and career  

Work and career icebreaker questions should be used in moderation. Candidates may become confused between these questions and genuine interview questions. However, when used properly, they can give insight into a candidate’s motivations for working in your industry. 

1. Tell me what initially inspired you to work in this industry?

2. If you could switch careers for a week, which industry would you like to try out and why?

3. What’s a skill you’re currently trying to improve to better your career?

4. What motivates you to do your best work?

5. Tell me about a project you found especially rewarding and why.

Fun icebreaker questions

Fun icebreaker questions are always a safe bet and allow candidates to showcase their personalities. Answers will help you measure a candidate’s creativity and sense of humor. 

1. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you have and why?

2. What’s your go-to karaoke song?

3. If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

4. What’s your favorite (clean) joke?

5. What’s the strangest food combination you’ve ever tried and liked?

“If you could…” icebreaker questions

It’s unlikely that candidates will have been able to prepare for such questions, so these hypothetical situations help you measure their communication style and ability to think on the spot.

1. If you could have dinner with any celebrity – dead or alive – who would it be and why?

2. If you could travel back and witness any historical event, what would it be and why?

3. If you could visit any planet in the solar system, which would it be and why?

4. If you could switch places with any fictional character, who would you choose and why?

5. If you could spend a day in the life of any celebrity, who would it be and why?

Remote interview icebreaker questions

Remote working has grown in popularity in recent years, and most people will have some experience with it. However, it’s important to remember that these questions may not be suitable for everyone. Keep these questions for candidates interviewing for office or computer-based roles. 

1. What’s your favorite thing about working remotely?

2. Do you prefer to work remotely from home or in co-working spaces?

3. What’s your go-to method for staying productive while working from home?

4. Tell me about your favorite funny experience when working from home. 

5. Have you attended any virtual seminars or lectures since working remotely?

‘Would you rather’ icebreaker questions

Again, it will be difficult for a candidate to have prepared for these questions. As a result, ‘would you rather’ questions are a great way to measure a candidate’s communication, creativity, and ability to think on the spot. 

1. Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere instantly or read minds?

2. Would you rather explore the furthest corner of outer space or the deepest floor of the ocean?

3. Would you rather be able to speak every language or play every instrument?

4. Would you rather have a magic wand that cleans your house instantly or a magic wand that cooks your food instantly?

5. Would you rather only eat sweet foods or savory foods?

‘Get to know you’ icebreaker questions

This style of icebreaker question is a great way to understand what makes your candidate tick. These are standard and expected icebreaker questions, so try asking these if your candidate seems nervous. 

1. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

2. Who would you say is your hero and why?

3. Do you have any party tricks?

4. Tell me about a random act of kindness you’ve taken part in.

5. Tell me about a guilty pleasure you have.

Future-based icebreaker questions

Future-based icebreaker questions help you understand your candidate’s plans for themselves in the next few years. This demonstrates that the candidate is dedicated to their continual development and shows you they are planning for their future. 

1. Tell me about a goal you’d like to achieve in the next five years. What steps are you taking to achieve this goal?

2. If you could make one positive change to the world overnight, what would it be?

3. What’s something you’re hoping to learn in the next year?

4. If you could see a glimpse of your life in 10 years, what aspect would you be most curious about?

5. Where’s somewhere you might like to live in the future?

Academic icebreaker questions

These are great for roles that require specific qualifications. They’re also a great way to understand whether you share an alma mater with your candidate or why they picked the school they went to. Asking academic icebreaker questions can help you understand how your candidate makes big decisions.

1. Where did you choose to go to school, and why?

2. Tell me a research topic you’re passionate about and how you keep up to date with it.

3. What piece of academic advice has stuck with you throughout your education?

4. What’s your favorite book from your academic studies? Why did you enjoy it so much?

5. Tell me about a teacher or mentor who significantly impacted your career.

Location-based icebreaker questions

Your candidate likely made a conscious decision to live where they are now. Asking them questions about this decision will help you understand their values, how they make big decisions, and whether they see projects through to completion. 

1. Tell me your favorite thing about your hometown.

2. Why did you decide to live where you are now?

3. Tell me about a hidden gem you found while traveling.

4. If you could wake up tomorrow anywhere in the world, where would it be?

5. Tell me about a memorable experience you had while on vacation. What happened, and where were you?

Routine-based icebreaker questions

Routine-based questions can offer insight into how your candidate manages their health and well-being. However, they are most useful for understanding how they balance work and personal life. 

1. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

2. How do you take your coffee in the morning, or are you more of a tea person?

3. What’s a daily habit you’ve developed that positively impacts your life?

4. Is there anything you do regularly to promote mental and physical well-being?

5. What do you do to help you wind down in the evenings?

Hometown icebreaker questions

Everyone has a connection to their hometown, whether they love or hate it. Try asking your candidate for anecdotes about where they were born, what they remember, or any festivities that set their hometown apart. 

1. Where’s your hometown?

2. What’s your favorite thing about your hometown?

3. Do you have any special traditions or festivals in your hometown?

4. What’s your favorite local dish from your hometown?

5. Who’s a local celebrity from your hometown? Have you ever met them?

Put your candidates at ease with a range of pre-interview icebreaker questions

Creating a comfortable and relaxed environment for an interview can help candidates feel at ease so that they can perform at their best during the interview process. Asking friendly and engaging icebreaker questions can help with this. 

Icebreaker questions also help you gain insight into your candidate’s personality, communication skills, routines, and more. This, coupled with pre-employment tests can provide you with a thorough overview of who the candidate is and whether they have the required skills for the role.

So, the next time you prepare for an interview, whether in-person or remote, consider using these simple yet impactful icebreaker questions. After all, every conversation starts with a greeting, and these questions are the warm welcome that encourages a genuine and productive exchange.

Meanwhile, master the art of candidate interviewing with the following guides:

• 100 interview questions to assess candidates and review their skills

• 77 best interview questions to ask candidates

• Step-by-step guide to employee interviews