🧭 Networking 

Memorable Networking Questions

1. Uncommon wisdom "What helped your career that people don't talk about enough?" Gets unique, actionable advice beyond common knowledge

2. Mentor lessons "Who influenced you most and what did they teach you?" Creates personal connection, reveals their values

3. Insider scoop "What's exciting in your field that most people don't know?" Positions them as authority, gives you trend insights

4. Myth busting "What do people get wrong about your job?" Lets them correct the record, share insider perspective

5. Expert advice "I'm trying to [goal]. Should I do [A] or [B]?" Makes them feel expert, creates natural follow-up

6. Indirect referral "If you were me, how would you find opportunities?" Invites referrals without pressure, gets actionable advice

7. Network expansion "Who else should I talk to?" Creates warm introductions, builds networking flywheel

Deep Dive

1. Uncommon career wisdom - Ask about underrated skills or mindset shifts that helped their career, which encourages them to share unique insights and actionable advice. 

i.e. “What’s a skill or mindset shift that helped you the most in your career, but not necessarily often talk about?”

People love to share wisdom that isn’t “common knowledge.”

• This question opens the door for that and allows them to explore a number of different options.

• It will also lead to some great advice you can take action on.

2.  Influential mentors - Ask who influenced their career and what they learned, which creates a personal tone and reveals what they value in relationships. 

i.e.  "Who’s been a major influence in your career, and what’s the best lesson they taught you?"

This question helps set a more personal tone for the conversation.

• It allows your contact to tap into mentors they love who shared meaningful lessons.

• It will also tell you more about what they value when it comes to relationships and growth.

3.  Industry insider knowledge - Ask about exciting developments most people don't know about yet, which positions them as an authority and gives you trend insights. 

i.e. "What’s something exciting happening in your field or company that most people don’t know about yet?"

This question positions them as an “insider.”

• It gives them a chance to share knowledge that most people don’t have and they’ll feel like they’re in a unique position of authority.

• It also gives you more insight into industry trends!

4.  Industry misconceptions - Ask what people get wrong about their role or field, which lets them correct the record and share insider perspectives you won't find online. 

i.e. "What’s a misconception people have about your role or industry?"

People love to have the chance to set the record straight about their industry or their job.

• This question gives them the chance to do that.

• It also gives you more insight into what’s actually happening in these fields / at this company that you might not learn from some online searching.

5.  Specific advice request - Present a personal goal with two action options and ask for their recommendation, which makes them feel like an expert and creates a natural follow-up opportunity. 

i.e. "My current goal is to improve [Relevant Skill]. Would you recommend I do [Action A] or [Action B]?”

This positions your contact as an expert, while making it easy for them to reply.

• It also opens the door for the next conversation.

• When they give their answer? You can tell them you’ll do it and then follow up with them.

Just make sure to follow through on that :)

6.  Indirect referral opening - Ask how they'd approach finding opportunities if they were in your position, which invites referrals without awkward pressure while still providing actionable advice. 

i.e. "If you were in my shoes and looking for your next opportunity, how would you go about it?"

Asking for a referral outright can feel pretty awkward.

• This question opens the door to that conversation without pressuring your contact to commit to anything.

• If they want to refer you? They’ll probably mention it.

• If not? You’ll still get advice you can act on.

7.  Network expansion - Ask who else you should connect with based on your conversation, which creates a "networking flywheel" through warm introductions rather than cold outreach. 

i.e.  "Based on our conversation, who are one or two people you’d recommend I connect with next?”

This question creates a networking flywheel.

• If your contact shares a name, you can ask for an introduction.

• Now you can expand your network without needing to send cold messages!