"What do you do for a living?" Is the best ice breaker question, amirite?

Nothing I love more than working 40+ hours a week, and then spending my free time talking about it 🙄

by Anonymous 6 hours ago

I ask someone what they are most passionate about. I don't care what they spend 40 hours a week doing if it's not something particularly meaningful to them.

by willmsgarnet 5 hours ago

See to me, that question comes on half a step too strong for a conversation starter. It's like, "Woe, buddy. We just met." We'll get there but we need a foundation first.

by Anonymous 5 hours ago

Woah or whoa. Woe is sadness.

by Anonymous 5 hours ago

"What do you like to do?" Is the chilled out version of that. And the answers are much more interesting than someone telling you about work, but if they like their job they will talk about it anyways

by Anonymous 5 hours ago

TBH, the layoff piece is a good point. I'm surprised I haven't stepped in that one yet.

by Anonymous 5 hours ago

OP, you sound like an engaged conversationalist. I'd love to tell you about my career, if we ever met. However, most people who've asked me what I do for a living really don't care to hear the details. They just want you to name your title so they can figure out how to treat you based on how much money you make.

by Clean-Low 4 hours ago

In my case this question immediately makes me dislike you. I always hated that question with a passion. Now that my situation changed, I hate it even more.

by Jacquelyn24 4 hours ago

idk ice picks are pretty good for breaking ice

by rhea77 4 hours ago

The best ice breaker was where we were told to give one very boring and mediocre fact

by Anonymous 4 hours ago

Alright, I dig that! Gives me Severance vibes.

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

Sports? If they're a Browns fan, you know they're...

by Apprehensive-Tie8375 3 hours ago

Well, what I do for a living and what I do to pay the bills might be completely different. For a living I give hand jobs by the rail yard, but I have a day job 9-5 that would make you think I'm normal.

by Augustine24 3 hours ago

If you have a boring job, then why would that be the first thing you'd want to talk about with strangers? Wouldn't you rather talk about something that interests you? It's hard to have a good conversation when you're asking someone about something they find boring.

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

Most people my age are unemployed :(

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

Really? 'Cause I think "What's your favourite curse word?" is much better

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

It'll be very awkward when I tell them I have no job.

by Leon02 3 hours ago

The ice is there for a reason.

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

A growing number of Canadian and European people will see this ice breaker question as a potential identifier that you value people by the work they do instead of the person. Or tone deaf of the unemployment situation. It also suggests you are maybe a person who lives to work instead of the more balanced works to live. You need to understand the person before trying this one as a first question . It may work where you live but it doesn't work in a lot of places.

by Flashy-Cranberry 2 hours ago

No. Because it always ends up either A) medical questions or B) "what's the worst thing you've ever seen"

by Rbartoletti 2 hours ago

It's not a bad question. I prefer the "What did you do on the weekend?" Or "Got much planned for the weekend?" Depending on which end of the weekend I'm at. Peoples works can be interesting but I prefer to learn about hobbies, holidays, family and the like.

by OkAccountant5329 1 hour ago