Forget CVs: Mamaearth's Ghazal Alagh's 3 questions to spot and avoid bad hires

Resumes can be polished to perfection, but they rarely reveal the person behind the paper. Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh believes the real magic in hiring lies in asking the right questions — the ones that dig beneath rehearsed answers and uncover a candidate’s true motivations, values, and mindset. On LinkedIn, she shared three simple yet powerful questions she now always asks before bringing someone onto her team or even partnering with them. Here are the top 3 questions:

1. What’s a mistake you made at work, and what did you do next?

According to Alagh, most people can list their achievements with ease. But it’s in talking about failures that their real character shows. This question reveals whether someone takes ownership or shifts blame, and how they handle setbacks. For her, a thoughtful answer signals maturity, resilience, and the ability to learn — qualities far more valuable than just a flawless track record.
2. Who do you admire most, inside or outside your field, and why?

Your heroes say a lot about who you are. Alagh uses this question to uncover a person’s values, ambitions, and definition of success. Whether they look up to an industry pioneer, a mentor, or even a family member, the qualities they highlight often reflect their own principles and work ethic. It’s an easy way to see beyond skills and into the heart of someone’s character.


3. If you secretly had your way, what’s the one thing you’d change about how we work?

This one, Alagh says, isn’t just for candidates — it works wonders with existing team members too. By framing it as a “secret wish,” she invites honesty without the pressure of formal feedback. The responses often reveal innovative thinking, hidden frustrations, and unspoken ambitions. Sometimes, she notes, people’s eyes light up when they answer, offering clues to what truly motivates them.

For Alagh, these three questions have repeatedly saved her from hiring mismatches and helped her discover unexpected talent. They cut through the surface and spark the kind of conversations that no CV could ever capture.