“Am I asking the right questions?”
By Swati Garg / December 8, 2025
That is something both candidates and hiring managers think about far more than they admit.
As we move toward a new year, this is the perfect moment to pause and reset. Hiring teams are planning for growth, candidates are reflecting on what they truly want next, and everyone is trying to make better decisions than they did last year. When things finally quiet down, it gives you a chance to get intentional.
If you are a candidate, use this slower season to really think about the criteria that matter most in your next role. What do you want more of? What do you want less of? What will it take for you to feel fulfilled? The clearer you are, the easier it becomes to ask the right questions in every interview and confidently evaluate whether an opportunity aligns with your goals.
If you are a hiring manager, this is the time to look closely at your entire talent process and see if you have all the pieces. How healthy is your hiring? Do you have a clear role profile? Is internal mobility part of your strategy? Does your interview loop evaluate what actually predicts success? Are you moving with enough speed to close strong candidates before they accept other offers?
Take this 2-minute Hiring Health Check to get your hiring grade and a clear view of where you need the most improvement. It helps you identify gaps across three core areas: your external recruitment process, your internal mobility strategy, and your interview structure. Even small gaps can lead to missed hires, and those missed hires often show up as delayed timelines, increased costs, and frustration for everyone involved. Check it out.
At Melo Associates, we guide both sides through this work every day. Whether you are preparing for your next opportunity or planning who you want on your team next year, the way you approach this moment matters.
Takeaway: Slow seasons are a gift. Use them to get clear, get aligned, and prepare for what is next.
Candidates - Use our Interview Question Suggestions tool to help you ask smarter, more aligned questions in your next conversation.
Hiring Managers - Take our Hiring Health Check to see where there may be gaps in your hiring process. It only takes two minutes to find out.
