not asking "what do you do for work?" when meeting someone

Let them tell you what they love most. We all know first impressions are scientifically proven, so why not make your first impression as someone who shakes it up a bit? You can ask a variation of the question "what are you into in this season of your life?" Others can be:

"Taken up a hobby recently?"
"What are you hyper-fixating on these days?"
"What's your favorite season and why?"

I always receive really interesting responses and immediately get past the small talk (which I hate). I spent my 20s & early 30s in L.A. where people only cared about what you did for work and if it could help them too. I was determined to change that little by little with each introduction. It made them feel refreshed, heard & seen, and helped me actually enjoy the conversation. It's a win-win, try it!