
Hobbies and Interests to Put on a Resume (List of 20+ Examples)
Should you put interests and hobbies on a resume? Learn the answer to this question, and pick up 5 tips that will help you do it right.
Having some tried & tested conversation starters or conversation topics up your sleeve can help you save the day. Learn how to start a conversation with anyone on any occasion.
Whew, that was close.
You almost had to start a conversation.
Sounds familiar?
Of course it does.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this article.
But—
You’ve had enough.
No more hiding in the corner. No more saying awkward things, and pondering them for a week afterward.
Our selection of best conversation starters will help you strike up a conversation on any subject, and boost your self-confidence.
This guide will show you:
Looking for other ideas? Read our guides on:
1
You might have heard it before—
Context is key.
Being aware of your immediate surroundings works wonders.
Just think about it.
The conversation topics at your disposat could range from the place you’re at, to the food you’re eating, to the training session you’ve been in, to the clothes someone is wearing.
Look at the below examples:
Pro Tip: Did you know your clothes could actually attract people to start a convo with you? How? Try wearing a funny tie. Or earrings. Or put on clothes that break out of the convention. See what happens!
The subjects to spark a conversation about are plentiful.
It’s crucial to stay on the safe side, though. Avoid taboos, or being too forward.
Not really sure you'll be able to make a random conversation based off of your immediate surroundings?
Prepare before the actual event. Here's a couple of conversation ideas for you to use:
If you’re about to attend a conference, read a couple of articles on the subject. Go through the list of speakers, and read their bios.
You’ll know exactly what to say to start a conversation during your coffee breaks.
Similarly, when attending a company event you can always discuss new QR procedures, OKRs, or your new office.
Remember:
Good conversation starters are the ones your conversation partners can easily relate to.
Go that extra mile, and learn about the people you’re be mingling with. Tap into what they care about.
How?
Read your company’s newsletters or about page. Look at your colleagues’ social media profiles.
This way, your list of conversation starters might be close to perfect.
Pro Tip: If you google someone or check out their social media profiles, be careful not to creep them out. Be subtle, or you may come across as a stalker.
Your clever conversation starters could look something like this:
As you see, a person's social media presence can generate numerous topics of conversation.
2
Here’s the secret:
Once the conversation starts, just keep stoking the coals. You don’t need to spark the flame over again.
How to do it?
Become an active listener.
It’s not complicated, and once you get the hang of it—
You’ll be able to keep a conversation going indefinitely.
Just follow these proven tips:
Pro Tip: Your questions to keep a conversation going don’t have to be fully formed questions. It’s enough to repeat the last word or sentence your conversation partner said with rising intonation. Try it. It’s called parroting.
3
There’s one thing all great conversations have in common.
What’s this?
A good question.
Literally.
All interesting conversations start with good conversation questions.
What are they?
Treat the list of conversation topics below as a source of inspiration.
A simple “What’s your favorite…?” does the trick most of the time. But you’re free to play around with these conversational topics:
As the conversation unfolds, you can become more specific and ask fun conversation questions, such as:
The more you get to know your conversation partner, the easier it will be for you to hold a meaningful and interesting conversation.
4
Awkward silence.
…
That’s the least you can expect if your funny conversation starters fall on deaf ears.
In the worst case scenario—
You may end up offending somebody.
The sense of humor is not universal, unlike the blue IKEA Frakta bag.
A good rule of thumb is—
Don’t try to be funny from the very start, because you may end up… trying to be funny. I don’t mean the conversation needs to be dry, though. Not at all.
If you’re mingling with people you don’t know much about, get to know them a little first. Introduce yourself, smile, be mindful of their reactions—this will prove sufficient.
Just make sure what you believe makes a conversation funny doesn’t offend anybody. In general, avoid joking about taboo subjects such as religion, politics, or sex.
Plus—
Have a light-hearted attitude towards yourself. A self-deprecating joke might be ok.
But stay on the safe side.
Now, if you find any of the weird conversation starters below funny, go ahead and use them in your conversations.
And remember—
You’ve been warned.
The list could go on and on, but it’s not the point. The point is—
You never know what will or won’t work unless you’re familiar with your interlocutors.
Pro Tip: If the conversation is going nowhere, or it’s become too awkward to continue, go ahead and finish it quickly. A simple Right, I need to go now. See you around. will do the job most of the time.
Starting a conversation doesn’t have to be painful when you know how to approach it. Here’s how to start a conversation and keep it going:
How do you go about striking a casual conversation with people? Do you have your own strategies? Want to share advice or ask a question? We’d love to hear from you. Give us a shout out in the comments below!
Should you put interests and hobbies on a resume? Learn the answer to this question, and pick up 5 tips that will help you do it right.
Absolutely 100% free resume templates for 2021. Downloadable, printable, and exportable in different formats.
Meet Elle Torres who got her dream $100,000+ in her twenties, *before* finishing her degree. And the best part? She used a strategy you can replicate and network your way into any job you want.