# Member profile questions: community onboarding questions to ask

> Good community onboarding questions ask only what you will use to welcome, introduce or support a member. Start with name, city and what they can help with, add two to four questions for your type of community, and tell members why you ask each one. Copy the question set, pick the version for business networks, founders, alumni or accelerators, and check the list of questions to leave out.

Source: https://milvao.com/templates/member-profile-questions · Updated 2026-11-05

## Key takeaways

- Ask what you will use. Every extra question is one more reason to stop.
- Show a one-line reason with each question, so members see why it matters.
- Make anything sensitive optional, and never ask for government ID numbers.
- Ask permission to send introduction requests as its own question.

## Community onboarding questions to copy

Use the basics as they are, pick two to four community questions, and keep the reason lines: members are more willing to answer when they can see why.

Profile question set:

```text
BASICS
1. Your name, as you'd like other members to see it
   Why we ask: so people you're introduced to know who you are.
2. The city you're based in
   Why we ask: so we can connect you with people nearby.
3. What can you help other members with? (pick from our list)
   Why we ask: so requests reach someone who can actually help.
4. Other cities you serve (optional)
5. One line about you (optional)

COMMUNITY QUESTIONS (pick 2 to 4)
6. Company or business name
   Why we ask: so the person you're introduced to knows where you work.
7. Industry or sector
8. Years in business
9. Company website (optional)
10. What are you looking for in the next three months? (optional)
11. Who would you most like to meet? (optional)
12. Are you hiring? (yes or no)
13. Happy to mentor newer members? (yes or no)

PERMISSION
14. Would you like to receive introduction requests from other members? (Yes, send them / Not now)
    Why we ask: we only send you requests if you say yes, and you can change this any time.
```

## Questions by type of community

| Community | Questions to add | Why they help |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business network | Company name, industry, years in business, website | Members can judge fit before agreeing to an introduction |
| Founder community | Startup name, stage, sector, hiring or not | Founders at the same stage can help each other most |
| Alumni group | Batch year, programme, current organisation, open to mentoring | Shared batches and employers make introductions warmer |
| Accelerator or incubator | Cohort, startup name, where you need help, deck or website | Programme staff can match founders with mentors and peers |

## How many questions to ask new members

As few as you can use this month. If nobody on your team will read an answer, or no introduction depends on it, drop the question. On WhatsApp each question is a separate message, so a list of fifteen feels long very quickly.

Make most questions optional and require only the ones you need to make an introduction. You can always ask more later, once members have seen the community is useful.

## Questions to leave out

- Government ID numbers such as Aadhaar, PAN or passport numbers. No introduction needs them.
- Health, religion, caste, sexual orientation, political views and personal finances, unless your community genuinely needs the answer. If it does, make the question optional and explain why.
- Phone number, if members join from WhatsApp. You already have it, and asking again looks careless.
- Questions you ask "just in case". Data you don't use is still data you have to protect.

## Profile questions in Milvao

Milvao asks name, city and skills, then your community's own [profile questions](https://milvao.com/help/community/profile-questions). Each question has a type (text, number, choice, yes or no, date, link or email), a reason members can read, required or optional, and who can see the answer. Members answer in the WhatsApp chat right after joining, one question at a time, or on their private profile form. Answers are never sent to the AI that reads requests, and are deleted with the member. Starter sets for business networks, founders, alumni and accelerators are built in.

## Frequently asked questions

### What should I ask new community members?

Their name, city and what they can help with, plus two to four questions specific to your community, such as company name or batch year. Add a one-line reason to each question.

### Should onboarding questions be required?

Require only what you need to welcome or introduce someone. Optional questions get answered more often than you might expect when the reason is clear.

### Can I ask about sensitive topics like health or religion?

Only if your community genuinely needs the answer. Make the question optional, explain why you ask, and limit who can see the answer. Never ask for government ID numbers.

### Where should members answer profile questions?

Wherever they already are. In a WhatsApp community, asking in the chat right after someone joins works well, with a form as a backup for longer answers.

## Related pages

- [Profile questions (Help Center)](https://milvao.com/help/community/profile-questions)
- [Community onboarding checklist](https://milvao.com/templates/community-onboarding-checklist)
- [Member directory](https://milvao.com/glossary/member-directory)
- [Who sees what](https://milvao.com/privacy-and-consent)