It happens everywhere. Kids’ sports activities. Church classes. Neighborhood cookouts. You name it.
You meet someone and one of the first things they want to know is what kind of work you do.
There are lots of motives and reasons driving this. A shared connection is one. A potential need fulfilled is another.
But here’s the kicker — most people suck at answering this question.
Should you state your job title and company name?
Should you give a general description of the work you do — “I head sales for a large carpet manufacturer?”
And what if you’re currently unemployed? How do you negotiate that in a proactive way?
The job of this post is to help you think about that question and craft a response for the next time you’re asked what you do.
After all, we’re talking about the story you tell about yourself. So it better be interesting!
That Was Then, This Is Now
Once upon a time, people only had one job.
They were a welder. Or a doctor. Or a hospital executive. Or a home builder.
Today, most of the professionals I encounter have a primary job, as well as one or more side projects. And they do multiple jobs and wear multiple hats. I call this a “portfolio life.”
Take me. I head marketing and content strategy for a large healthcare staffing company. That’s my primary job. I analyze and advise executives and entrepreneurs on their organizational narratives on the side. I also write children’s poetry and literary nonfiction.
So am I a corporate marketing professional, an independent advisor or a creative writer? Of course, I’m all of these. And more. Which makes responding to the question, “So what do you do?” rather challenging.
Think in Threes
When it comes to telling your story, the kitchen sink approach is not the way to go. Nor is the job title or description approach.
Unless you’re at an event surrounded by people in your industry or profession, they’re not really interested in what you do. When someone asks you what you do, the primary thing they’re listening for is whether you are a person worth knowing, liking and trusting.
That’s it.
So your story should be crafted to quickly interest (or satiate) the inquiring person. But please don’t interpret this to mean you should come up with some “catchy” (which is a synonym for “cheesy”) or gimmicky turn-of-phrase.
Think in three.
In other words, when someone asks you what you do, give them a “me in three” response. What this means is that you offer three quick points of interest about yourself.
It might go like this…
“So what do you do, Samantha?”
“You know how lines in grocery and department stores get backed up at the worst possible time? Well, I help them avoid this problem. I’m also a blogger and mom of two teenagers.”
Which leads to further discussion of customer logistics or blogging or parenting.
See how it works?
In addition to in-person introductions, the “me in three” technique also works exceptionally well in social media bios, article bylines and your website’s “about” page.
But There’s a Catch
Context matters. A lot.
Don’t use the same “me in three” responses with everyone everywhere. Tailor it to your audience.
For example, in my organization and industry (healthcare), I am a marketing strategist, writer and analyst. With you, I am a storytelling coach, writer and content advisor. With my literary friends, I’m a poet, creative writer and mentor.
Take a look at how the Management Innovation eXchange (MIX) uses the “me in three” approach for their bios. (If you click that link, scroll down to the section subtitled, “Meet the MIX Team.”
The 3Ws
An alternative approach to the “me in three” technique is what I call the 3Ws. With this approach, you clearly and succinctly answer three questions:
- Who are you?
- What do you do?
- Why do you do it?
This approach is most effective when you are among your industry colleagues or professional peers.
Why? Because the more specific you can get, the more engaging your story will be.
When I tell the story of what I do to healthcare executives, it may sound something like this:
I am a marketing strategist who can help you create, deliver and measure content that grows your business. I do what I do, because I believe in what you do as a healthcare executive. And through the increased reach and impact of your organization’s story, I have a hand in impacting the lives of patients, physicians and clinical workers.
Now it’s your turn.
Create a master list of blurbs that describe interesting pieces of what you do. Then, choose the best three next time someone asks.
Also, write (and re-write) your responses to the 3Ws. Succinctly capture and communicate who you are, what you do and why.
Now it’s your turn — what advise do you have? What are some of your techniques for tackling the “what do you do” question? Share it in the comments.
And, speaking of sharing, please share this post with others you think could benefit. Or, even better, write your own post!