“What do you do?”— be unforgettable (in a good way!)

'If you can move beyond the boring basics when you’re asked “What do you do?”, you’ll set yourself up for new relationships, opportunities and revelations.'— Joanna Bloor


Mingling at a work event inevitably means being asked the question: 
“What do you do?” over and over again. After years of repetition and conditioning, most of us respond with “I’m job title X at company Y.” And while this is the answer people expect, it’s also likely to linger in your new acquaintance’s mind only until it’s replaced by what the next person says to them.

'You are not just your job'
“Answering with your title and company is the cultural norm. But when you do, you’re missing out on an opportunity for the other person to know who you actually are. You are not just your job,” says Joanna Bloor, CEO of Amplify Labs. She specializes in helping people discover and articulate what makes them distinctive so that they can form deeper connections with others.

It all starts with how you introduce yourself
When you get your introduction right, the opportunity is not only to genuinely connect with people, but you’ll also be allowed to do the work you really want to do. Be warned: crafting your intro takes a bit of time and effort. But as the world of work continues to change in ways we can’t anticipate, knowing what sets you apart from the pack is crucial. Here, Bloor tell us how you can come up with your new response to “What do you do?”— Go beyond your title. These Ideas Are Worth Sharing:

How to introduce yourself so you'll be unforgettable (in a good way!)

Mingling at a work event inevitably means being asked the question "What do you do?" over and over again. After years of repetition and conditioning, most of us respond with "I'm job title X at company Y."

Citation: Kara Cutruzzula via TEDTalks

About the author
Kara Cutruzzula is a journalist and playwright and writes Brass Ring Daily, a daily motivational newsletter about work, life and creativity.