Stop Asking “What Do You Do?” at Networking Events

Priyal Maru · 2026-08-27T12:16:25.511Z

{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"“So, what do you do?” is probably the worst opening question at a networking event.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Because now someone has 30 seconds to explain their entire professional identity to a stranger.","type":"text"},{"type":"hardBreak"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Try:","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"“What brought you here?”","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Much better","type":"text"},{"type":"hardBreak"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Suddenly you're talking about why they're interested in the event, what they're working on, what they want to learn or who they came with.","type":"text"},{"type":"hardBreak"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Good conversations start with better questions.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"hardBreak"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"Meetups","label":"Meetups","mentionSuggestionChar":"#"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"Networking","label":"Networking","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"NetworkingTips","label":"NetworkingTips","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"CommunicationSkills","label":"CommunicationSkills","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"ProfessionalNetworking","label":"ProfessionalNetworking","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"CareerAdvice","label":"CareerAdvice","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"PersonalBranding","label":"PersonalBranding","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"},{"type":"hashtag","attrs":{"id":"Confidence","label":"Confidence","mentionSuggestionChar":"@"}},{"text":" ","type":"text"}]}]}

Back to WorkNation feed

Priyal MaruVIP

Lvl. 1Entrepreneur In Residence at XTechBuzz

1d ago•discussion

Stop Asking “What Do You Do?” at Networking Events

“So, what do you do?” is probably the worst opening question at a networking event.

Because now someone has 30 seconds to explain their entire professional identity to a stranger.

Try:

“What brought you here?”

Much better

Suddenly you're talking about why they're interested in the event, what they're working on, what they want to learn or who they came with.

Good conversations start with better questions.

#Meetups #Networking #NetworkingTips #CommunicationSkills #ProfessionalNetworking #CareerAdvice #PersonalBranding #Confidence

•0 Reposts

About Community

A global opportunity hub for career growth, hiring intelligence, and practical professional visibility.

CategoryYour gateway to global opportunities.

Visibility public

CreatedMay 2026

Similar Communities

Cybersecurity Experts 12K Members

Data Science Network 8.5K Members