Most interviews kick off with the classic, “Tell me about yourself.” It’s safe, predictable, and almost always rehearsed with the same answers starting with “I am a passionate and dedicated (job role) with this amount of experience…”
Veteran recruiter Paddy Lambros, CEO and co-founder of Dex, does something else entirely—he lets candidates ask him the first question. His reason? “Your questions are a huge tell.”
By flipping the script right away, he avoids canned answers and learns what candidates truly value. That’s where things get interesting.
What Great Questions Reveal
Strong candidates don’t settle for small talk. Lambros says the best ones ask things like, “How would you know I’m a top performer in 60 days?” or “What outcomes matter most to you?” These aren’t throwaway lines. They reveal ambition, research, and genuine curiosity about impact.
If you want to see who’s serious, pay attention to how they frame the unknown. Their curiosity speaks louder than their resume will ever do.
The AI Problem In Interviews
These days, many applicants refine their answers until they sparkle, sometimes with the help of ChatGPT or other AI chatbots. Lambros estimates that he has interviewed over 10,000 candidates, and he has seen how “incredibly groomed answers” blur the line between authentic and scripted. But here’s the catch: “A large language model can’t feign interest,” he says.
That’s why starting with questions matters more than ever. You can fake a reply, but you can’t fake curiosity.
Better Conversations, Better Results
Asking candidates to lead test preparation. It also changes the tone of the interview. Lambros explained that opening with their questions sparks “deeper and richer answers.” It feels less like an interrogation and more like a real conversation. Both sides walk away with clearer insights about whether the fit is right.
And isn’t that what interviews should be? A two-way street instead of a one-sided exam?
Where This Works Best
Not every role benefits equally from this method. Leadership consultant Elizabeth Lotardo told Business Insider that it’s especially useful for jobs that rely on people skills, such as sales or management. For task-heavy positions, the payoff may be smaller.
Still, in fields where initiative drives success, the upside is enormous. Think about your next hire. Does the job demand dialogue? If yes, give this approach a shot.
Closing Thought
Lambros makes a sharp point: “The very best people are assessing you as much as you are assessing them.” That’s the truth many interviewers forget. By starting with their questions, you’re showing respect and getting to the good stuff faster.
So, next time you sit across the table, ditch the tired opener. Hand them the floor—and see what happens.
