"What do you do?" "What brings you here?" "Do you have a job?... What is it?" Now it isn't that I don't like to answer questions such as these above, though I just wish to not always be confronted with them immediately at the front of the conversation with a lady (or man for that matter). I myself try to avoid bluntly asking questions to others until some sort of rapport has already been established. Many people haven't gotten the memo that unless you're at a job fair or some similar venue, then you probably shouldn't ask such questions at first. I guess that talk may work for some, but it's like nowadays people can't visit with you long enough to get to know you without asking directly these type questions. Please add to here some advice, methods or ways to deflect questions which would extend the conversation. From another source I found a good one to be "So, how has your week been?" This seems much better to ask than "What do you do?" IMO. What ideas are yours?