Welcome to another week of actually useful job search tips you won't find anywhere else.

(You probably know me from one of my freebies (resume templates, interview prep, questions to ask your interviewer), or from social media. 👋🏾

You ever cringe at yourself mid-sentence?

Like when your brain short-circuits and you accidentally say “Love you!” to your boss? And now you have to change your name, move cities, and start a new life?

Yeah... also kinda how it feels when you realize you just asked a bad interview question.

You know the ones. “So what’s the culture like?” Yawn.

Let's fix that.

Say this, not that

❌ "So... what's the culture like?"

✅ "During peak busy seasons, how does the team typically balance deadlines and workload?”

Why this works better:

Everyone asks what the culture is like, and you'll probably get a generic answer like “We have a grrreat culture!” 🙄

The improved version digs deeper into how the team actually operates when things get tough.

You’ll get real insights into work-life balance, expectations, and team dynamics (without sounding like you're trying to dodge long hours).

❌ "What do you look for in a hire?"

✅ “What did the previous person in this role do particularly well that you’d love to see continued?”

Why this works better:

The former invites a generic response full of buzzwords (“someone proactive, a team player…”). The latter makes it specific.

Instead of vague traits, you’re asking about real actions that were valued.

You’ll get a clearer idea of what actually matters in this role, which helps you position yourself accordingly.

You can also flip it and ask: What do you think needs to change going forward?

❌ "What's your typical day like?"

✅ “What was the biggest challenge you faced during onboarding, and how long did it take to feel fully up to speed?”

Why this works better:

The original question will likely lead to a surface-level answer.

Asking about onboarding challenges tells you how the company supports new hires, what obstacles to expect, and whether they set people up for success.

Plus, this invites storytelling, which means you’ll get a more detailed, thoughtful answer instead of “🤷‍♀️It depends on the day.”

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