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5 Important Questions to Ask on the First Date

The answers you get will tell you a lot about the person sitting across the table.

Contributing Writer
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The first date is always a big deal. You're trying to get to know one another to determine a few important things: Do we enjoy each other's company? Do we have enough mutual interests to keep a conversation going? Does our connection have the potential to turn into a long-lasting relationship? While there's nothing wrong with scheduling a second (or third or fourth!) date to figure out where you two are going, asking a few important questions during your first night out is an easy way to see if sparks are flying.


Related: Things to Remember While Dating


What do you do for work and how long have you been doing it?

Are you looking for someone who is committed to a career and extremely passionate about what they do? If you ask this question and the answer seems to be all over the place or they have changed their mind multiple times, this could be a red flag for you. While it doesn't necessarily mean this is how they treat relationships, it could reflect on how they commit to things overall. 


What do you do for fun?

They say opposites attract, but having at least a handful of mutual interests means you may be compatabile. If he's an outdoorsman and you want absolutely nothing to do with Mother Nature, that might be a good thing to know early on.


What kinds of things make you laugh?

Are you a fun-loving, down-to-earth person? Then you may want to look for a partner with a similar outlook on life. Ask your date what makes them laugh—it'll give you a good sense of who they are as a person and their overall personality.


What is one thing you are looking forward to this week?

This question will give you some insight into what their day-to-day life usually looks like. Are they introverted or extroverted? Social or a homebody? You want to make sure you're with someone who is similar to you socially.


How did you and your best friend meet?

This asks a slightly deeper question, but the answer will help you get to know this person on an emotional level. Does their closest pal date back to kindergarten, or is this a relatively new friend? While neither answer should make you nervous, it's a good bit of information to know about as you head into a second date.