You nailed the behavioral questions. Your STAR stories landed. Then they ask: "Any questions for us?" And most people blow it right here. I've seen great candidates tank their chances in the final five minutes. Not because they couldn't do the job, but because their questions were basic. Your questions are your final performance. Make them count. 🎯 The Strategy Your questions should show: - How you think about problems - You understand organizational complexity - You can see beyond your immediate role - You're already thinking like an insider 📋 The 5 Questions That Matter 1. Uncover Real Challenges Ask: "What's the one problem this team has been trying to solve for the last year that's still unresolved?" Follow up: "What's been tried before? What made those approaches fall short?" Why it works: Shows you understand persistent challenges exist and you're already thinking about solutions. 2. Understand Power Dynamics Ask: "When decisions get stuck, who typically breaks the tie? How do cross-functional disagreements get resolved?" Follow up: "Can you give me an example of a recent decision where stakeholders disagreed?" Why it works: Shows you know organizational charts don't tell the whole story. 3. Probe Cultural Reality Ask: "What behavior gets rewarded here that might not get rewarded elsewhere?" Follow up: "What surprised you most about the culture when you joined?" Why it works: Shows you understand every company has unwritten rules. 4. Assess Your Manager Ask: "What's currently taking up most of your mental bandwidth about this team?" Follow up: "How do you prefer to hear about problems: early when forming, or later with recommendations?" Why it works: Positions you as someone who solves their problems, not creates them. 5. Evaluate Growth Ask: "Looking at people who were in this role 2-3 years ago, where are they now?" Follow up: "What skills are most senior leaders here missing that the organization needs?" Why it works: Shows you think beyond the immediate role while understanding progression isn't guaranteed.

If you were impacted by the recent layoffs, you’re not alone. I’ve been through it myself and I know how disorienting those first days can be. That’s why I put together a clear, practical checklist to help you slow down, protect yourself, and regain control. Inside you’ll find guidance on what to do before you sign anything, how to capture your career wins, understanding your numbers, and rebuilding momentum without burning yourself out. This is the same foundation I walk clients through in our early calls. It’s also grounded in real experience advice I received after my own layoff. Download it, use what you need, and share it with anyone who could use some stability right now. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

I just launched a new AI inside Career Acceleration Lab. It’s built to help you sharpen your interview skills and get comfortable telling your story with clarity and confidence. Use it to practice behavioral questions, prep for technical rounds, or tighten your examples so you show value without rambling. This is built for high achievers in tech who want to land the next role without guessing what to say. Jump in, try it out, and let me know what you want it to do next. Link: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-691b6e9be9bc81919ede2934268e5f45-tech-interview-trainer-career-acceleration-lab