How to Answer 'What Do You Do?'

By Sadie L. Harper of Southern Ambition

When you meet someone for the first time – whether in a social setting, on a date, at a bar, at your
child’s activity – what are the first two questions they ask?

  1. What’s your name?
  2. What do you do for a living?
How do you answer the second question? Sometimes it’s not so simple as “I’m an engineer” or
“I’m in website development”. If you’re an indy biz owner, this is an opportunity to communicate
your company and brand to get more exposure and possibly more connections.


This is another place, besides your networking groups or events, where having a 30 second commercial
is not only beneficial but could be crucial. Do you stumble on your words, or are you prepared? The
more prepared you are, the more confident you will appear. Confidence is what sells you to your
clients – not your services or products, but you as a person.


Everyone knows the saying “people buy from those who they know, like, and trust”, and trust is built
in those first few moments. Our biz identities are integral to the image we present to the world, and
consistency with message is key to building a successful brand. This begins with your 30 second
commercial. The more you practice, the more naturally you will speak when presented with an
opportunity.

However, this is a more conversational approach, not the same delivery as in your networking group.
It is possible to break your commercial down into three parts, allowing for the other person to ask
questions. Want to know how to use your 30 second commercial as a conversation starter? I cover
this in my video tutorial…

 Meet Sadie

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