Question 1

Tips to Keep the Conversation Going

Accepted Answer

• Relax and treat them as peers.
 • Be curious.
 • Do not respond with one word answers (e.g. “Good,” “Yes,” or “No”). Give them details and more information so they can ask follow-up questions.
 • Listen actively to their responses. Ask follow-up questions to something they say.
 • Ask open-ended questions. They get the other person talking more than “yes/no” questions.
    • Open ended: How do you feel about rainy days?
    • Close ended (yes/no answers): Do you like the rain?
 • Ask their question to you back to them. For example, if they ask about your favorite book, you give your answer and then ask them what their favorite book is.
 • After they answer your question, give your opinion on the same question.
 • Remember the importance of non-verbal cues. Maintain eye contact, smile, and act engaged.

Question 2

Good Small Talk Questions

Accepted Answer

These first sections are great for the 5 minutes of small talk in an interview setting.
 
The basics
 • How is your day going so far?
 • How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?
 • Do you have any good plans for the weekend? What are they?
 • How did you spend the winter break/holidays/long weekend?
 • Do you have any plans for the winter break/holidays/long weekend?
The weather
 • I heard it’s going to be beautiful/rainy/cold/foggy this weekend. How does that impact your plans?
 • This weekend was so cold/hot/rainy/beautiful. Did it impact your plans at all?
 • What is your favorite kind of weather?
 • If you could live anywhere based on weather, where would it be?
 • Non-question: You can always commiserate together on how people can’t drive in the rain or snow and the impact it has on traffic. This is a common small talk topic!
Your location/surroundings
 • Have you ever been to this coffee shop, town, conference before?
 • What do you recommend to order? What are you going to order?
 • (If you’re new to the area) Where do the locals go?
 
The rest of these are better for networking situations or situations when you have more time.
 
Entertainment
 • Are you reading any good books right now?
 • Have you seen any great shows/movies lately?
 • Are there any apps on your phone that you can’t live without? I’m always looking for recommendations.
 • I’ve recently gotten into podcasts. Do you listen to them and have any suggestions?
 • What are your favorite accounts to follow on Instagram?
 • What type of music do you listen to?
Hobbies
 • What do you do in your free time?
 • How did you become involved in that hobby?
 • What do you love about it? What is hard about it?
 • Are there any hobbies that you’d like to try or classes you’d like to take?
Food
 • Do you eat out around here often? Do you have any good recommendations?
 • Do you like to cook? What types of things do you like to make?
 • If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
 • What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
 • What’s your go-to comfort food?
 • Are there any foods that you absolutely would not eat?
 • What are the best cheap eats around here?
 • Does your family have any “secret” or famous recipes?
 • What’s your favorite restaurant that other people don’t tend to know about?
Travel
 • If you could fly anywhere for free, where would you go?
 • What’s the coolest road trip you’ve ever been on?
 • Where’s the last place you traveled? What did you do there?
 • Do you prefer action-packed vacations or relaxing on the beach?
 • What’s the next trip you have planned?
 • If you could take a workcation or sabbatical, where would you go and what would you do?
 • What’s your favorite thing to do around here on the weekends?
Sports
 • Did you watch the game this weekend?
 • Do you follow any sports/sports teams?
 • How did you get interested in that sport? Did you play growing up?
Life
 • Are you from around here? Where did you live when you were growing up?
 • How is that different from here/now?
 • What’s the weather/people/hobbies like there?
 • Do you have any pets? Are you a dog person or a cat person?
 • What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Just for fun (not for an interview or formal setting)
 • If you were in charge of picking the eighth wonder of the world, what would you choose?
 • What do you wish you had placed in a time capsule 15 years ago? What would you place in a time capsule today for people to open up 100 years from now.
 • What’s the strangest compliment you’ve ever gotten?
 • Have you ever thought of a cool invention or company, only to discover someone had already invented or started it?
 • If you could teach a college course on any subject you want, what would it be?
 • What’s the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done?
 • What would be your ideal superpower?
 • If you could have any type of animal for a pet, what would it be?

Question 3

Topics to Be Careful Around

Accepted Answer

• Religion
 • Politics
 • Race/Gender/Sexuality
Do:
 • Follow their lead. Typically, you wouldn’t engage in one of these topics until the other person brings it up.
 • Continue the conversation if you share similar beliefs and are comfortable talking about it! You can form great relationships with others by discussing these topics.
 
Do not:
 • Argue with people who do not share the same beliefs.
 • Take it as an opportunity to lecture or educate them on why they are wrong.
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You should steer the conversation to benign, non-combative topics. There is a time and place to discuss opposing views on hot button topics, but small talk while interviewing, networking, or on the job are not going to be those times.