Graduates, are you asking enough questions… and what’s the sweet spot?

Starting out in your career can feel like walking a tightrope. On one side: asking too many questions. On the other: not asking enough.

Some grads hold back because it can feel daunting. You don’t want to seem inexperienced, or like you’re slowing others down. Others go the opposite way: asking every question without first trying to problem-solve themselves.

So, where’s the balance? 

Asking questions is essential for learning. It’s how you build understanding, avoid mistakes, and grow faster. But there’s a difference between asking to learn and asking out of laziness to problem solve yourself.

The sweet spot is this: Ask the questions that help you get it right, but back yourself enough to try first. Real growth comes from attempting, failing, and trying again. If you never take that step, you risk confusing learning with dependency on your mentor, and that can come across as a lack of initiative.

At the same time, not asking anything at all can leave you stuck, isolated, and unsure, especially being new to the industry.

Mentors – this balance matters just as much

We often see two extremes:

– The graduate who asks questions they could easily figure out themselves

– The environment where questions aren’t encouraged at all

Neither sets someone up to succeed.

Creating space for questions, while also encouraging independent thinking is where the real development happens. The best mentors guide grads to think, not just to ask.

Graduates, questions help you grow! Give it a go BEFORE asking, and be brave WHEN asking!