Have you noticed how, at every networking meeting you go to, there are people who start a conversation by asking “What do you do?” And have you noticed how most people either don’t like being put on the spot to answer that question; or they don’t have a good (concise) answer?

I’ve never enjoyed being asked that question. It feels as if the person asking it just wants a quick answer, so that they can get on with telling me what they do! So I’m on a mission to get business owners looking at different ways to open conversations, which really allow you to get to know the person you’re talking to. There are so many other questions you could ask, that help you find a real connection with the other person. They show that you’re interested in them – and that you’re not just interested in selling to them!

I’ve put together a list of 101 alternative questions to ask. They’ve all been posted separately as tweets and here is the full list! Have fun with them and see how you get on with using them. Let me know which ones are you favourites and which work best for you!

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 1 “Where do you want to be in a year’s time?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 2 “What brings you to this networking meeting today?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 3 “Do you come here often?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 4 “What car do you drive? How does it make you feel?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 5 “Are you local to this networking group?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 6 “Have you had far to come to this networking event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 7 “Is this a regular networking group for you? Do you attend frequently?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 8 “Is this your first time here? Would you like me to share how it works?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 9 “What’s the biggest challenge facing your business right now?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 10 “What sort of help are you looking for from this networking event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 11 “How long have you been in business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 12 “Do you run your own business? What made you decide to set up on your own?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 13 “Is there just you in your business or do you have a team working with you?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 14 “What other networking meetings do you go to?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 15 “Are you a member of this networking organisation or just visiting?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 16 “I’m new here; how does this networking meeting work?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 17 “Do you know many people here? Can you introduce me to them?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 18 “Who would you like me to introduce you to today?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 19 “Who is your ideal client? Who would you really like to work with?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 20 “Does this networking group work for you? Have you got much business from it?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 21 “May I join you?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 22 “So what are you up to right now?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 23 “How did you get started in your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 24 “Why did you set up your own business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 25 “What’s the name of your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 26 “Do you find face to face networking more effective than online networking?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 27 “Do you do more face to networking or online networking?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 28 “What are you most proud of in your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 29 “What’s been your biggest achievement in your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 30 “What two things has your business accomplished this month?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 31 “What two things has your business accomplished this year?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 32 “What did you watch on TV last night?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 33 “Did you see the programme on TV about X last night/last week?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 34 “Why do you do what you do?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 35 “What gets you out of bed in the morning?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 35 “Who inspires you?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 36 “Who is your business hero?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 37 “So you run your own business; do you come from a family of business owners?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 38 “Do you run your own business or work for someone else?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 39 “What are your goals for this year?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 40 “What do you love about your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 41 “How did you get started in your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 42 “We’ve met before; can you remind me where?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 43 “We’ve met before; can you remind me what business you’re in?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 44 “Do you know many other people here?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 45 “How many other people do you know here?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 46 “Is there anyone here you’d like me to introduce you to?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 47 “Have you heard this speaker before?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 48 “What do you think of the speaker at this event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 49 “What are you expecting from this meeting?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 50 “How often do you go networking?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 51 “Are you speaking at this event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 52 “How many networking meetings do you go to each week?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 53 “How many networking meetings do you go to every month?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 54 “Can I get you a drink?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 55 “Would you like something to eat?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 56 “Who are you hoping to meet at this event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 57 “How did you hear about this event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 58 “How well does networking work for you?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 59 “Does networking work as a way of promoting your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 60 “Don’t you just hate that “What do you do?” question?!”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 61 “Do you have a good answer to the “What do you do?” question?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 62 “How many people have already asked “What do you do?””

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 63 “What’s your favourite icebreaker question at networking meetings?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 64 “What’s your name?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 65 “What’s your company called?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 66 “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 67 “Would you like a glass of wine?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 68 “Would you like something to eat?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 68 “What do you do when you’re not working?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 69 “What would you do if you had the rest of the day off?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 70 “Have you ever spoken at this event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 71 “What other networking do you do?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 72 “Did you get stuck in the traffic too?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 73 “I love your jacket/tie/dress. Where did you get it?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 74 “Did you have any problems finding the venue?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 75 “Have you seen X the latest film that’s just be released?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 76 “What’s your current focus?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 77 “Where did you get your glasses?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 78 “What can you do for me?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 79 “What do you do for businesses like mine?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 80 “What do you do for people like me?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 81 “What do you do for other people?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 82 “What do you do for other businesses?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 83 “Why do so many people just ask ‘What do you do?’?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 84 “What do you do at weekends?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 84 “What did you do at the weekend?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 85 “Tell me about your business.”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 86 “Are any of your clients here?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 87 “What are your objectives for this networking event?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 88 “What space are you in?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 89 “Do you play sport?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 90 “What’s your favourite sport?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 91 “Tell me about your business name.”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 92 “What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 93 “What sort of business are you in?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 94 “Is your business B2B or B2C?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 95 “How has your business changed in the last few years?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 96 “What did you do before setting up your own business?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 97 “Where have we met before?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 98 “Have we met before?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 99 “How has your business changed since we last met?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 100 “What would your favourite clients say about you?”

#Tips: 101 questions to ask instead of “What do you do?” 101 “What are you an expert in?”

 

That’s all of them! Get in touch if you have any other good questions that you’d like to share. Click here to email them and we’ll add them to the list.