EY Y04 L29 Meeting New People

There are many professions where being able to meet and talk to new people on a regular basis is an essential skill to have. Name one. Do you think you would be good at this job?
Do you enjoy meeting new people? Has this always been the case?
Do you find it easy to make new friends? Why?
Where is a good place to go in your area to meet new people?
There are many topics of conversation that are best avoided when talking to someone for the first time. Name one. Have you ever been in a situation where someone asked you something that you felt was a little too personal or direct? Please give an example.
What topics of conversation are a safe staple in Japan when meeting people for the first time (for example at a work event or wedding)? What topics of conversation leave you feeling unengaged?

Question 1

I have a few friends who work as financial advisors. They constantly need to expand their network and build a wider client base. I don’t think I would be good at this job. Firstly, it requires years of experience and a license is also essential for credibility. On top of that, I am not so good at making first impressions.

Question 2

I enjoy meeting new people if it’s an organized event where attendees have a similar interest or hobby. I love meeting new people when attending workshops or seminars. However, I get nervous if it’s an unplanned meeting and I panic thinking of small talk ideas and start behaving awkwardly.

Question 3

I’m not good at making first impressions. People often say I seem cold and distant. I guess it’s because of my poker face. One of my university friends mentioned that he felt uneasy approaching me when we first met because of my droopy eyes. I also remembered in my first years working as an online English teacher, I had to receive additional training because they want me to have cheerful expressions when greeting students.

Question 4

In the Philippines, people always find ways to socialize. In the morning, we can often find elderly people sitting at the front porch of their houses while drinking coffee. They would always greet people passing by and sometimes they even invite people for a snack or a light breakfast meal. I think these moments are important for community-building. When neighbors are familiar with each other, the security in the area increases and we have better camarederie.

Question 5

I’ve made a golden rule to avoid talking about relationship status, careers or family life when meeting someone for the first time. However, if they initiate the topic’s conversation by themselves, I would indulge and ask subtle follow-up questions. I don’t want to ask anything intrusive and I think the safest topic is to talk about hobbies.

Question 6

If it’s a work event, we can talk about the contents of the event such as the booths, lecture topics, and other work-related information. Consequently, if it’s a wedding event we can talk about how we know the couple or praise the wedding ceremony venue or decorations. It’s best to customize our topics based on the context of the event we are attending.