How to answer “What do you do?”

What is the most asked question at a networking event? If you said, “What do you do?” Then you are correct! We have been pre-programmed our entire lives to ask this question because it helps us understand a little bit about the person we just met. It also serves as a good conversation starter.

Unfortunately, it can also quickly end a conversation! “How so?” you may ask. Let me share a little story with you.

How to end a conversation

In my previous life, I was a special education teacher in the public school system. Whenever people met me for the first time and learned of my occupation, I would often get comments like:

• “You must be a very patient person.”
• “You are obviously a special person to do that.”
• “You must be a saint.”

Then, it would most likely lead to a conversation about their child or someone else’s child. They might even introduce me to another person, excitedly telling them how wonderful I am since I am a teacher.

I’ll be honest: I loved the assumption that I was wonderful. Who wouldn’t? Then, I became a stay-at-home mom and eventually started working with my late husband in his roofing company.

Talk about a huge shift in the conversation!

When I started attending events and answered the question of what I did with, “I work with my husband in our roofing company,” you could literally see the look on their faces change from friendly to not interested.

I felt like apologizing for my new career!

Answering the age-old question of “What do you do?” with roofing ended most of my conversations. Sometimes, they even start one about a bad experience they had with a roofing company.

It was not the impression I was hoping to make!

I started asking myself how I could create interest instead of turning people off with my boring answer. After some research, I found three smart ideas to help me sound interesting, keep the conversation going, and potentially gain a new relationship.

Create an interesting tagline

Most networking experts suggest creating a tagline that briefly shares what you do, but in a creative way that helps get the conversation started.

It took me some time to figure out a good one for roofing. A couple of examples I started using were:

• “I work on the most expensive thing on the most expensive thing you own.”
• “I help people rest easy during storm season.”
• “We are a concierge service for all your roofing needs.”

Even if it’s not said perfectly, it creates curiosity in the person with whom you are speaking to ask you a question, which is perfect because the goal is to get a conversation started!

Ask questions about them

Another technique that I use successfully is to answer their question about me by downplaying what I do and asking what they do instead. I then cater my questions to their response.

I listen and respond accordingly. My body language lets them know I am listening and interested. I keep my eyes focused on them instead of roaming around the room, looking at other people.

Get their contact information

As your conversation winds down, ask for their contact information. I will only hand out my business card if asked. Otherwise, my goal is to get theirs.

When you have a great conversation with a new contact, follow up with them! In my follow-up, I like to reference points from our conversation and ask to meet for coffee or lunch. This is hopefully the beginning of a new friendship!

The next time you head to a networking event, church, or your kid’s school event, be ready to give a creative answer as to what you do. Try out a couple of different statements and see which one gets the best reaction and starts a conversation. Use these techniques to help you build mor relationships and ultimately gain more business.