A recruiter friend recently told me about an applicant who had obviously used AI to…
10 Questions to Ask at a Networking Event That Lead to Real Relationships
Some people love networking events because the energy, introductions, and possibilities inspire them. Others need a moment before walking through the door to give themselves a pep talk; I can do this, they tell themselves.
Whether networking is your favorite part of professional life or something you approach with reluctance, how do you use it to build real relationships? When you have a solid list of questions to ask at a networking event, you can transform your initial conversations into relationships and increase your network.
However, most people aren’t great at optimizing their experiences at networking events, regardless of how comfortable they feel in the room. Often, conversations default to the same exchange (“What do you do?” “Where do you work?” “What type of job are you looking for?”) and then either drift off to awkwardness or turn to negativity or venting. While many people find camaraderie in complaining (“The job market is so hard right now…” “I got ghosted by a recruiter…”), it is not productive.
If this sounds relatable, I have good news: You can easily improve your networking skills by learning how to ask better questions. If you initiate conversations with these questions, keep the conversations going with real curiosity and warmth, and close interactions gracefully, you’ll quickly become known as someone people genuinely enjoy talking to and bolster your reputation as a result.
Most people aren’t great at optimizing their experiences at networking events. Often, conversations default to the same exchange and then drift off to awkwardness or turn to venting. While many people find camaraderie in complaining, it is not productive.
10 Questions to Ask at Your Next Networking Event
Below are 10 questions you can ask to level up your networking skills and build relationships. Each one is designed to move beyond the surface, invite a more interesting answer, and signal you’re a good person to know.
1. “What’s a project you’re really excited about right now?”
This shifts the conversation from job title to enthusiasm. People light up when they talk about something they care about, and their answer will dive deeper than what you’ll find on their LinkedIn profile.
2. “What does a great day at work look like for you?”
This question provides insight into what someone values. The person’s answer reveals what energizes them, how they define success, and whether their day-to-day aligns with what matters most to them. It’s a question that can generate surprising answers that spark further conversation.
3. “How did you end up in your field?”
Everyone has a career origin story, and very few people get asked to share it. This question invites a narrative rather than a resume recitation, and narratives are what we remember. You’ll often uncover an unexpected path, pivot, or passion. You might also be able to link their story with another person’s whom you know and offer to make a connection. Recently, I offered to connect two leaders in biotech who I learned through conversation share an interest in dog training.
4. “What’s something your industry is getting wrong?”
This is for when you sense someone has something to say and wants permission to say it. It positions the other person as a thoughtful insider and invites you to offer your perspective.
5. “What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?”
Few things are more flattering than being asked to share wisdom. It prompts reflection and the answer almost always gives you a window into how the person thinks about work and growth. Bonus: You might walk away with advice worth keeping.
6. “What’s a skill you’ve been working on developing lately?”
This question signals that you value growth. The answers often open the door to a deeper conversation about professional development, resources, and mutual interests.
7. “Who in your network should I know?”
This is a bold question that should only be asked later in a conversation if you feel like the conversation is going really well—it is absolutely not a kick-off question. It shows confidence and an understanding that great networking is about building a web of relationships. It also positions you as someone who thinks about the bigger picture and who people will want to introduce others to.
8. “What’s something you wish more people understood about what you do?”
This question gives people the chance to correct misconceptions, share what makes their work meaningful, and what makes them feel seen. Asking it conveys that you’re interested in a person’s real story and can often get at their motivations.
9. “What are you hoping to get out of being here tonight?”
A question like this cuts to the heart of why networking events exist. It creates an immediate opportunity to be helpful: maybe you know someone they should meet, or you’re looking for the same connection.
10. “Outside of work, what are you passionate about or involved in?”
People are so much more than their job titles, and this question opens the door to the fuller picture. Whether someone is enthused about a volunteer cause, a creative pursuit, or a community project, you’re inviting them to share who they are, not just what they do. Those personal connections are often the ones that are most memorable, and they lay the foundation for a relationship that goes far beyond a business card exchange or new LinkedIn connection.
Equipped with thoughtful questions to ask and the intention to listen deeply, you can become a great networker regardless of how you feel walking in the door.
How to End a Networking Conversation Smoothly
Once you’ve pulled from this list of questions to ask at a networking event and had a good conversation, you also need to know how to wrap it up smoothly so you can meet more people. When it’s time to move on, try something like “I’ve really enjoyed this conversation, and I’d love to stay in touch. Why don’t we connect on LinkedIn?”
At that moment, you can open your LinkedIn app, initiate a connection request, and then follow up later. This act of ending a conversation with a clear result—a new LinkedIn connection for both of you—can be motivating.
If the conversation felt like a genuine connection, you can also add something like “I’d love to continue this conversation. Would you be open to meeting for coffee or hopping on a virtual call sometime soon?”
Networking is about building real relationships, and you simply cannot do that in a 10-minute conversation at an event. Showing up is a start—following up is what actually builds the relationship.
By wrapping up a networking conversation as indicated above, you will avoid an awkward ending. (Please don’t say “I’d like to talk more, but I have to use the bathroom.”) You’ll demonstrate you’re a master networker who knows how to have a warm, intentional ending that leaves the other person feeling valued.
Remember that showing up and the conversation at the event is only the beginning. The real relationship forms in the follow-up.
Takeaway
Great networking is about making the other person feel heard. Great networkers aren’t necessarily the most extroverted, the most senior, or the most polished—so don’t worry if you’re none of these three things—they’re the people who make others feel interesting. Equipped with thoughtful questions to ask at a networking event and the intention to listen deeply, you can become a great networker regardless of how you feel walking in the door.
Last, remember that the conversation at the event is only the beginning. The real relationship forms in the follow-up. So set a goal: Commit to reaching out to at least one new connection after every event you attend, whether that’s once a week, once a month, or simply whenever you meet someone you want to know better. Schedule that coffee meeting, send that LinkedIn message, or book that virtual call.
Related Posts
Comments (0)