Before going on your first speed date, think about what questions you want to ask to help determine if the person you’re meeting is someone with whom you’d want to have a second date. What is most important to you in a member of the opposite sex? Shared interests, shared values, shared background, or all of the above? Here are some possible speed dating questions that will help you get to know your speed dating partner as quickly as possible:

Do you believe in love at first sight?
What do you think is the most important value in a relationship?
When was your last relationship? How long did it last?
What are you looking for in a relationship?
What you don’t want in a relationship?
What is the one job in the world that you would really like to do?
If you had three wishes, what would they be?
If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?
If you had only six months to live, what would you do first?
If you could travel through time, what mistake would you correct in your life?
What do you do for fun?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Who was your hero as a child?
What makes you laugh? What makes you cry?
What are you most proud of in your life?
What is the one thing you would most like me to know about you?
What words would your friends use to describe you?

Some dating experts advise avoiding topics like religion and politics, but getting these issues out of the way quickly can help weed out potential long-term mismatches and help you to find someone who is truly compatible with you.  Remember to maintain eye contact during the conversation, but keep it light and friendly and don’t turn the conversation into an interrogation.

Above all, trust your gut. If something feels right, go for it! If it doesn’t, take a pass. Asking the right questions, listening carefully, and following your intuition will help you find the potential man or woman of your dreams.