Networking events can be crucial for making connections and advancing in your career, but starting conversations with strangers can often be awkward. One common question asked at networking events is “What do you do?” While this question can be helpful in understanding someone’s profession, it can also be limiting and fail to spark a deeper conversation. To go beyond this common question, consider asking more open-ended or thought-provoking questions that can help you establish a genuine connection with the person you are speaking with.
One way to move beyond the typical ‘What do you do?’ question is to ask about the person’s passions or interests outside of work. This can help you get to know the person on a more personal level and find common ground beyond professional responsibilities. You can ask about hobbies, travel experiences, or even books or movies that the person enjoys. By showing a genuine interest in the person beyond their career, you can build a stronger connection and potentially uncover shared interests that can drive the conversation forward.
Another approach to starting a networking conversation is to ask about the person’s career journey and what led them to their current role. This question allows the person to share their experiences, challenges, and successes, which can lead to a more meaningful conversation. By showing curiosity about the person’s career path, you demonstrate your interest in their story and create an opportunity for them to share valuable insights and lessons learned from their professional journey.
In addition to asking about passions and career journeys, you can also ask about the person’s goals and aspirations. This question can help you understand what motivates the person and what they are working towards in their career. By discussing goals and aspirations, you can create a more engaging conversation that goes beyond surface-level discussions about job titles and responsibilities. This can also help you identify ways in which you can support the person in achieving their goals or offer valuable insights and connections that can help them progress in their career.
Networking conversation starters can also involve asking about the person’s current projects or initiatives. By inquiring about the person’s work projects, you show interest in their professional endeavors and create a conversation around their recent accomplishments and challenges. This can lead to a discussion about industry trends, innovations, and best practices, providing valuable insights that can benefit both parties. Asking about current projects can also open up opportunities for collaboration or partnership in the future, as you identify ways in which you can work together to achieve mutual goals.
Overall, moving beyond the standard ‘What do you do?’ question in networking conversations can help you establish more meaningful connections and build relationships that go beyond professional networking. By asking about passions, career journeys, goals, and projects, you can create engaging conversations that lead to valuable insights, shared interests, and potential collaboration opportunities. Approaching networking conversations with curiosity, openness, and a genuine interest in the other person can help you make lasting connections and advance in your career by building meaningful relationships within your industry.
