If the thought of unproductive small talk during networking puts you off from putting your best foot forward, this is for you. Here are a few icebreaker questions to help you get the ball rolling.
Photo credit: jopwell
Networking is crucial to anyone's career. It can help you put yourself out there, meet people who can contribute to your career advancement, and even get better business opportunities. However, even with all these significant benefits, most people still have difficulty networking regardless of whether they are highly introverted or extroverted, and reasonably so.
Trying to spark meaningful, work-related small talk with new people using the same old professional pick-up lines is an intimidating endeavor. Someone is bound to roll their eyes in response to their 57th "So what do you do?" before cracking a fake smile and giving you a generic answer. Next thing you know, both of you are enjoying a healthy serving of awkward silence with a side of darting stares across the room. Sounds uncomfortable, right? Especially when you gathered all your energy to come to the event, which is half the battle. Now all you need to do is find a way to talk to these people to allow you to establish new connections.
Here are 10 icebreaker questions to ask during networking events to help you find a way in.
1. “Hi, how are you?/Hello, how's it going?”
You may be thinking, "Isn't this is too generic?" Well, yes…but it has a 100% success rate. Icebreakers don't have to be that complicated or forced; treat the other person like a person and not just a potential business contact/career opportunity. Ask how their day was, whether they're enjoying the drinks/appetizers, pay them a compliment, or better yet, ask about the weather! In case you're too nervous about what to say, fall back on this networking icebreaker and for a sure bet.
2. “So, what brings you here?”
When breaking the ice, you need to chip away little by little instead of digging too deep too fast. Asking the other person about their motivation for coming to the event gives you insight into their goals /objectives and more about what they do. Once they open up to this question, the conversation flows smoothly with relevant follow-up questions.
3. “What's keeping you busy these days?”
This icebreaker makes the other person go into more detail about their personal and work life. Think of it as a spicier way of asking, "What do you do?" without boxing them into a corner topic-wise with their response. You'll know what they do, where they work, and their experience depending on how you steer the conversation from there.
4. “What are some exciting projects you're working on right now?”
Asking someone about their favorite ongoing projects gives you an idea of what they are passionate about. It also allows you to learn more about their experience and interests while knowing them more professionally and personally. You never know, maybe you might have similar interests.
5. “Do you know anyone else here?”
This networking icebreaker helps gauge the other person's comfort level at the event. Someone with lots of friends or co-workers at a networking event probably won't be as anxious as someone who came by themselves. If they don't know anyone there, that's your chance to make a professional connection with them, and they'll probably be happy you talked to them. If they know people at the event, you can ask them to introduce you after chatting.
6. “What do you like to do when you're not working or networking?”
Networking is also about getting to really know the people you meet and not just trying to get a job or selling yourself. Remember that you're also trying to develop genuine business relationships. Ask about their hobbies, interests, favorite foods, music, books, or TV shows. This is a great question to help people open up further about themselves.
7. “What was your first job?”
You'll definitely get some interesting responses with this networking icebreaker. As simple as this question is, you'll be surprised to find out how some people started in their careers and where they ended up.
8. “Have you ever met anyone famous?”
This is a fun question that may have you both bonding over your mutual interest in Issa Rae or laughing over a hilarious celebrity meet-up in a random location.
9. “Have you been pleasantly surprised by anything lately?”
This question may prompt random yet intriguing responses from each person you ask because I like to think happiness is subjective. Something that can make you smile, another person may not care for, and vice versa. They might tell you about a pleasant experience with a client or an interesting anecdote about how they discovered they like a particular food. If you find yourself in a group of people who are already a bit familiar with each other, this icebreaker is your way in.
10. Look for an opportunity to comment on them
Now, this last one is more of a tip than a question, but you may get more than a few questions from it.
Pull out your observation skills and see if they are wearing something unique like a t-shirt with writing on it or if they mention something interesting. Use your observations to jump into a conversation, but do it in a non-creepy way so you don't freak them out. Tact is critical with this strategy; you can't just jump in and interrupt when the person is in the middle of another conversation.
I know that doesn't sound easy to do, but here are some examples you're free to tweak and use:
-
"Hi there, I couldn't help noticing you're wearing a House Lannister t-shirt. You do know they're the bad guys, right?" (Hopefully, they get the Game of Thrones reference)
-
"Hello, if you don't mind my saying, I love your jacket/shoes/bag/outfit! Maybe you could give me some style pointers."
-
"Hi there, I've been meaning to get those same headphones you have. How would you rate them on a scale of 1 to 10?"
-
"Hello, I couldn't help overhearing that you mentioned something on topic x, do you mind if I pick your brain a bit on that?"
Once you've broken the ice…
Try not to ask one question after another during the conversation to avoid making it feel like an interrogation or a job interview. A good conversationalist will show interest in what you have to say while also incorporating statements and an element of storytelling. This way, everything flows smoothly, and both of you enjoy the conversation.
Speaking of storytelling, this is the time to break out those good anecdotes you've been saving for a rainy day. Talk about something interesting you heard or saw; feel free to share something about your life. Just proceed with caution regarding what you share. This is not the time to mention how you were throwing back tequila shots on your birthday and ended up three counties over without a phone on the next day.
Lastly, use transitional statements to signal that you want to end the conversation, such as:
-
"Do you have a card?"
-
"It was great seeing you again."
-
"It was nice meeting/talking to you."
In conclusion
These icebreakers work anywhere from meetings to networking events, and when used correctly, they will help you ease the anxiety and avoid awkward small talk. If all else fails, shoot for a compliment; everyone loves an appropriate compliment!
The more networking you do, the easier it becomes to approach people and build professional connections in the future.
