Hello, my name is….and, this is what I do.

You’re at a neighborhood get-together meeting some interesting people who you've seen out and about walking their dogs these past few months. You strike up a conversation with one or more of them who ask that most common of ice breaker questions, "So, what do you do?" This should be an easy question to answer, right?  Most people reply with the typical response of a job title:  "I'm a lawyer.” "I'm an executive coach.” "I'm the Chief People Officer for company Y."              

And with that quick, generic response, your neighbor is already writing your backstory in their head based on the perception about these jobs and the people, like you, who do them:

            "Lawyer"                   Probably makes a ton of money over-billing the clients.

         "Executive Coach"             WTH? Eyes glaze over; this is not a real job!

            "Chief People Officer" This has to be one of those new jobs that makes everyone think the company is cool!

 And just like that, your new acquaintance has hi-jacked your story!  

First impressions are hard to change, and you just made it so easy to do. How can you avoid using your job title as the answer? How can you answer that question in a way that leaves a lasting impression about you—a distinctive you?

 Think of what you do as a verb. What you "do" rather than what your job is called. Titles, after all, are nouns.

            “I am a Lawyer  who manages real estate transactions.”

            “I am an Executive Coach who helps people navigate change in their careers.”

            “I am a Chief People Officer who guides the company's policies and programs for employees.”

If you are not currently working you still have an occupation that you are skilled in, and it is still relevant to say:

"I'm an accountant specializing in the financial services industry; and I am looking for new opportunities." This response is far more engaging than to say you are not currently working.

And for those of you who have this important job—staying at home taking care of your children, it is absolutely important to explain it this way:

  "I stay at home and raise my kids."  Not only is this enough; but it is powerful and memorable.   This is the kind of response that can generate a lot of back and forth instantly if the person is also a parent.

Why is it so important to answer with more than a job title? At gatherings like these sometimes you just don't have the opportunity to get much beyond Hello, I am Bob, Mary, Joan: a Lawyer, a Coach, a Chief People Officer.   These occasions can work much better for you if you leave an impression that lasts beyond “Hello”.  Make use of a new meet-up wisely and memorably. Leave your neighbor in a position to recall what you do.  Now your neighbor has a reason to recall you, know you better, and possibly connect with you; and you have a resource to add to your own network, too.

There are many reasons to focus on establishing new connections and relationships. It's critical for a job search and equally as important when you start a new job; and it's just as important, as these past few months have shown us, in life itself. As we emerge out of COVID-19 with its social-distancing and isolation, we have all pretty much learned at least one essential thing; it can be very difficult to go through life without other people to connect with and get to know. Just one small shift in answering a typical ice-breaker question, “So, what do you do?” can communicate and connect you to so many other people beyond “Hello, my name is...”