Worth Reading – I Stopped Asking “What Do You Do?”

When I was laid off, I thought a lot about this question and how it’s become the default way to interact with someone the first time we meet them.

“What do you do?”

For the thousands of tech workers who’ve gone through layoffs recently, the answer is “nothing.” This was usually followed by an awkward conversation about being laid off, and what industry you work in, etc. I thought about how much nicer it would be if we had a different default for this, especially in a non-professional setting. (Getting asked this at my niece’s graduation party isn’t necessary, but it’s what we all default to when meeting someone new.)

The author below points out that maybe it shouldn’t even be our default when we are at a professional event. I’m at ILTACON this week, and after day one, I read this and then thought back about the conversations I’ve had. Yes, I’ve been asked this question, and I’ve asked it. They are right, it’s boring. I’m not going to remember much about that conversation, but I’m sure as hell going to remember the conversation about finding the best Mexican food in New York. (Apparently, you want to go to Brooklyn.)

There are so many more interesting things we could be talking about. Yes, we are all here to connect and learn from each other about our work, but it doesn’t have to be the beginning and end of every conversation. Maybe instead of “what do you do,” I’m going to start asking folks what one thing they have learned this week that has them most excited? No offense to your job, but that conversation is going to be more interesting, in my humble opinion.

What have you learned this week?

https://www.humanskillsedition.com/p/i-stopped-asking-what-do-you-do

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