What do you recommend as an alternative? I prefer the phrasing, “what matters to you” or “what are you currently excited about”, but it’s the same basic thing.

I like being asked such questions because they let me guide the conversation and decide how much I want to disclose, which is the reverse of how many people here interpret these questions. Beats getting stuck in a shallow conversation that neither party really cares about. You have to actually be interested though and open for any response. I’ve had great conversations about everything from Warcraft to politics to medical school just by being interested in what the other person is saying