3 ms·
Do you do something interesting or unusual? Something worthwhile or dangerous? No? Then people aren't going to ask you any follow up questions; they're making s
by edent 3y ago
Do you do something interesting or unusual? Something worthwhile or dangerous? No? Then people aren't going to ask you any follow up questions; they're making small talk.
Imagine it's the other way round - you're at a party and meet the host's sister's boyfriend's cousin and ask what they do "Oh, I do reinsurance claims for mid-sized retail acquisitions in the aluminium industry." You can either get into a tedious conversation about that, or ask about literally anything else.
If you want people to be interested in you - you need to be interesting. You don't do software engineering (what?) at a fintech (huh?) startup (like Facebook?) - instead you say "I am building an app that helps X do Y."
All of a sudden you're using an active word (building) related to something people understand (an app!) and they might even know about X or Y. If they do, you can have a little conversation.
If not, well, how about that local sports team? I hear they played a few games.
- GianFabien 3y agoYou hit the nail on the head. Software development is a means to a greater result. Applying CS/SE skills with domain expertise is the key.
- philomath_mn 3y agoThis is a great response, thanks! I will definitely lean into the "I am building an app that helps X do Y." Unfortunately a platform for helping portfolio managers understand sources of risk/return is also very abstract, but I can focus on more tangible elements of the product. Also I am definitely not expecting a long discussion about me and what I do, I expect the convo to move on but wanted to have a better handling of this part of it.
- kojeovo 3y agoEven that sounds boring though. And that's coming from another software engineer. I would keep it simple "I make apps". I think that's more likely to get a question back. Try to avoid giving all the info up front