A trade show is a great place to network, look for a job, find a new employee or develop a partnership.

Are you in the market for a change? Maybe. Maybe not. But it's always smart to be willing to chat.

CAVEAT - Don't gossip. Don't be negative. Don't burn bridges. Every industry is a closed loop, so what goes around comes around. You never know who knows what.

HERE'S A START - 50 QUESTIONS.......

These can be asked in an official interview or during a random, casual conversation. Listen carefully not only to the words but the tone and context.

1) Why did or do you want to leave your last employer?

2) What is your favorite aspect about your job?

3) What is your least favorite aspect about your job?

4) Have you ever had to tell your Boss "no"?

5) Have you ever had to tell your client "no"?

6) What is the last trade magazine you read?

7) What trade associations do you belong to?

8) How important is travel? Are there restrictions?

9) Are you a team player? How? Give some examples

10) If your Boss asked you to do something, and your client asked you to do something different, what would you do?

11) If your Boss asked you to do something, and my Boss asked you to do something different, what would you do?

12) Tell me about your experience with software programs

13) What is one fundamental need when you negotiate a contract?

14) If you just finished a task and had nothing else assigned, what would you do?

15) If you needed new or additional resources to do your job better, what would you do?

16) What is your opinion of the XYZ industry? Where do see the industry going in the next year?

17) Why are you interested in working at this firm?

18) Why should we hire you?

19) What would you do if you don't receive information or a contract by a deadline? What could you do to prevent this in the future?

20) What do you do when you know you are right, your supervisor disagrees and cannot be swayed otherwise?

21) Have you thought about leaving your present position before? If yes, what held you back?

22) Tell me about a conflict you faced in your prior job and how you resolved it

23) Describe the best qualities of your previous Boss

24) Describe a time when you worked on an unsuccessful team. What made it unsuccessful? What could have saved the team?

25) Describe a time when you worked on a team when everything clicked

26) Describe yourself by using action verbs

27) Tell me about the last time you broke the rules

28) Tell me about the last time you had to tell someone something that they did not want to hear

29) How did you prepare for this interview?

30) Name a time when you had to bend company policy to better serve a customer

31) What do you see as the role of support staff in an organization?

32) How do you handle conflict within the office?

33) Do you have any language or cultural skills?

34) What type of special skills can you bring to this company?

35) Do you prefer to work as part of a team or by yourself?

36) Do you prefer to be incentivized as part of a team, or individually?

37) Are you an innovator or an implementer?

38) How do you make your workplace a good place to work?

39) What is your top pet peeve?

40) What is the last non-industry book you read?

41) Tell me about a speaker you heard that you really enjoyed, and why?

42) What do you like to do in your free time?

43) Have you ever fired anyone? Why? How did it make you feel?

44) What are some things you would like to avoid in a job? Why?

45) What kind of problems have people called on you to solve? Tell me what you did

46) What was your most difficult decision in the last six months? What made it difficult?

47) What specifically do you do to set an example for your staff?

48) Would you rather write a report or give a verbal report? Why?

49) Do you make a lot of lists? How do you prioritize?

50) Is there anything I've neglected to ask you about yourself?

These questions are just a start. Bring your imagination, sharp ears and your own questions to the show.

Julia O'Connor -- Speaker, Author, Consultant --is an expert in the psychology of the trade show environment. She is the author of The Trade Show Reader and president of Trade Show Training, inc., a sales training and marketing consultation firm.

TradeShowTraining.com