Fun questions can help interns feel welcome, learn about their teammates, and find an easy way into workplace conversations. The best prompts are light, inclusive, and optional: they invite people to share without turning an introduction into an interview or asking anyone to reveal something personal.
Use the steps below to choose questions, set a comfortable tone, and adapt the activity to your team. You do not need special materials. Before you begin, decide whether this is a quick welcome, a team meeting activity, or a conversation for a small group, and make sure interns know they can pass on any prompt.
What You’ll Need
- A few questions that suit the group and the time available.
- A facilitator who can model a brief, appropriate answer and keep the exchange welcoming.
- A meeting space or call where everyone has a fair chance to participate.
- An alternative way to take part, such as typing an answer or listening, for anyone who prefers not to speak.
Step-by-Step
- Choose the purpose. Decide what you want the activity to do. For a first-day welcome, choose easy questions that help people learn names and interests. For a recurring team meeting, use a quick prompt that creates a relaxed start without taking attention away from the agenda. If interns are meeting colleagues from different roles, questions about work preferences or learning goals can help start useful conversations. A clear purpose makes it easier to pick prompts that feel relevant rather than random.
- Select a small set of questions. Prepare more options than you expect to use, then choose only a few for the session. For example: “What is a small thing that makes your day better?”, “What skill would you enjoy learning?”, or “What kind of project gives you energy?” Low-pressure prompts about food, hobbies, favorite ways to spend a free afternoon, or a useful piece of advice can also work. Keep the questions open enough for different answers, but specific enough that people are not left wondering what to say.
- Check that the prompts are appropriate. Read each question from an intern’s point of view. Avoid asking about family, dating, health, finances, religion, politics, or other sensitive personal matters. Do not ask someone to explain a gap, disclose a difficulty, or share a story that could affect how colleagues judge them. Avoid questions that assume everyone has the same background, resources, or interests. If a prompt could put someone on the spot, replace it with one that lets them choose how much to share.
- Explain the activity and the option to pass. Say why you are asking the questions, how the activity will work, and that short answers are welcome. Make clear that passing is fine and does not need an explanation. For example, you might say, “We’re doing a quick welcome round so we can get to know one another. Share as much or as little as you like, or pass.” That simple framing gives interns control and prevents a friendly exercise from feeling like a test.
- Model the kind of answer you want. The facilitator should answer first with a concise, work-appropriate example. If the prompt is about a skill to learn, an answer might be “I’d like to get better at giving clear presentations.” Avoid a long personal story or an answer that implies there is a correct response. A brief example shows the expected level of detail and makes it easier for quieter participants to join in.
- Invite participation without calling people out. In a small group, offer a round in which each person can answer or pass. In a larger meeting, invite volunteers, use pairs, or ask people to share in chat. Give participants a moment to think before expecting a reply. Do not single out an intern who has not spoken, repeat the question directly to them, or interpret silence as a problem. Some people need more time, and some prefer to listen first.
- Respond warmly and move the conversation along. Acknowledge answers without ranking them or probing for private details. A simple “Thanks for sharing” is often enough. If an answer opens a natural, relevant conversation, allow a brief follow-up, but watch the time and make room for others. Close by connecting the activity to the day ahead, such as introducing a teammate who can help with a stated learning goal. This makes the exchange feel purposeful rather than like a game imposed on the group.
Common Mistakes
Making every answer mandatory. A compulsory round can feel intimidating, especially for someone who is new to the group. Offer a genuine pass option and do not ask for a reason. If participation is important for the activity, let people choose a lower-pressure format, such as writing an answer privately or discussing it with a partner.
Choosing prompts that are too personal. Questions about childhood, relationships, money, or difficult life experiences can create pressure and expose private information. A question may seem harmless to the person asking it but feel uncomfortable to someone with a different background. Keep the focus on interests, preferences, ideas, and work-related hopes that participants can answer at their own comfort level.
Letting the activity become a performance. Questions that reward the funniest, most impressive, or most unusual response can make interns feel they need to entertain senior colleagues. Do not compare answers, tease someone, or turn the exchange into an unofficial assessment. The purpose is connection, not judging confidence or personality.
Taking too long or ignoring access needs. A long sequence of prompts can delay the work people came to do. A fast spoken-only format may also exclude people who need more time or use another communication method. Keep the activity brief, share prompts clearly, and allow speaking, typing, or listening where practical.
Tips
- Match the question to the setting. A relaxed team lunch can support a playful prompt; a formal introduction may call for a question about what someone hopes to learn.
- Use prompts with many possible answers. “What is a small everyday convenience you appreciate?” is easier to answer in different ways than a question that assumes a particular hobby or experience.
- Let interns know in advance if you plan a round of introductions. A little preparation can help people who dislike being asked to improvise.
- Keep your own response proportionate. A facilitator who shares briefly signals that nobody needs to give a polished speech.
- Offer choices when useful. Let people pick from a couple of prompts, or invite them to answer a different question on the same theme.
- Adapt for remote or hybrid groups. Read the prompt aloud and show it in writing. Give remote participants a clear opening to contribute, and do not let the room conversation leave them behind.
- Use follow-ups with care. Ask a neutral question such as “What made you choose that?” only when the person seems comfortable continuing. Acknowledge that a short answer is complete.
- Notice whether the format is working. If people seem tense or the conversation stalls, switch to a lighter prompt, use pairs, or move on without making anyone explain their reaction.
Troubleshooting
If nobody answers: Pause rather than filling the silence with pressure. Repeat the prompt in simpler language, give an example, or offer a choice between two easy questions. You can also let people think quietly and invite answers through chat or written notes. If the group still does not engage, close the activity and continue with the meeting. Participation is not a measure of whether interns are interested in their work.
If someone gives a very personal answer: Thank them without asking for more detail. Do not invite the group to comment or make the disclosure part of a joke. Shift gently to the next participant or prompt. If the person appears distressed or asks for support, speak with them privately afterward and follow the workplace’s usual support process rather than trying to resolve a sensitive issue in front of the group.
If a question lands badly: Acknowledge the misstep plainly, apologize briefly, and move to a safer question. Avoid defending the prompt or asking the person who objected to explain their reaction. Review the question before using it again, and consider whether the activity needs a different format.
If one person dominates: Thank them, then create room for others with a neutral transition such as, “Let’s hear from anyone who would like to add something.” Set a gentle time expectation at the start if needed. Do not cut someone off harshly, but keep the group’s purpose and schedule in view.
If the activity runs over: Stop after the current response, thank the group, and move to the agenda. You can save other prompts for a later conversation. Ending on time shows that the activity is a welcome addition, not a barrier to the interns’ actual work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good questions for interns on their first day?
Choose easy, optional prompts, such as what they are looking forward to learning or what helps them settle into a new environment. Avoid expecting a detailed personal introduction.
How many questions should I prepare?
Prepare a few alternatives, but plan to use only a small number. The right amount depends on the group size and the time available; leave room for introductions and the workday itself.
Should interns have to answer?
No. Make passing acceptable and do not ask anyone to justify it. An optional activity is more likely to feel welcoming than a round where every person is put on the spot.
How can I include interns who are shy?
Give people time to think, let them respond in writing or in pairs, and avoid calling on someone without warning. A shy person can participate meaningfully without speaking first in front of the whole team.
Are funny questions a good idea?
They can be, as long as they are kind, easy to answer, and not based on embarrassment or personal disclosures. Use humor that invites different answers rather than making one person the joke.
Can I use these questions in a remote meeting?
Yes. Share the prompt in writing, explain how people can respond, and allow a little wait time. Invite chat answers as an option, while making sure participants can pass just as they could in person.