5 Networking Questions to Ask
Posted December 9, 2013 & filed under Job Search
Social gatherings are perfect for networking and, with the sheer number of parties sprinkled throughout the month of December, no active job seeker can afford to silently hang about like garland trimming the wall. Just because people are converging on the dessert trays and eggnog doesn’t mean you have to check your job search at the door. Instead, mingle with your fellow partygoers in a way that blends both professional and personal topics of conversation. Most importantly, ask these 5 networking questions to make a positive impression that lasts beyond your night of merrymaking.
Ask an icebreaker question
Every job seeker needs to have a good icebreaker question. Maybe it’s about the weather or that mouthwatering piece of peppermint cream pie you’ve been eyeing. Maybe it’s an inquiry into how the person you’re talking to knows the host. Whatever it is, these type of networking questions should extract more than just a concise yes or no. You want to lay the groundwork for continued questions while asking something light and fluffy that encourages the person to engage with you.
What do you do for a living?
After introductions and the usual name exchange, this networking question is a great next step. It can help you move the conversation forward from a state of inertia to an active, free-flowing discussion.
Whether or not you are a part of the same industry doesn’t matter. Most people are more than willing to talk about themselves – it’s what they know best – and you can count on the majority to have been employed at some point or another (unless you’ve decided to network with a small child or a sea urchin). After getting this answer, make sure to explain what you do in a way that creates subtle connections between your mutual careers.
What got you into the industry?
This networking question is a natural transition into deeper conversation. It shows that you’re interested in more than just idle small talk without forcing you to overexert your brain. If you’re in the same industry, it’s a great way to find commonality. If not, it still helps you to get a better understanding of the person’s professional ambitions.
All throughout, you should be asking little questions to nudge the conversation in the right direction. On top of that, you should be providing snippets of your own professional story. It should never feel like you’re domineering the dialogue to suit your own agenda. A natural feeling in a conversation can help to create the type of bond that bears fruit down the road.
What types of project are you working on currently?
Bring the conversation into the present. If networking is like a song or Christmas carol, this question is the verse that leads into the central refrain. By asking what someone is currently working on, you help to set the stage for a discussion of your own work. That’s why you should concentrate on connecting your two careers and identifying yourself as a dynamic asset.
Where is your company going?
Here is where everything comes together. By finding out where his or her company is going, you can determine if there’s any way you can help achieve their ultimate objectives. When selling your skills, you want to respond with tact (screaming that they should hire you is never the way to go). Offer your services, give your contact info, and leave it at that.
A final thought
As the conversation winds down and you get ready to amicably part ways, make sure to exchange business cards. A reserve of business cards should always be at the ready to hand out at a moment’s notice: you don’t know who will help you land the job of your dreams.
by James Walsh
