When meeting for the first time, the greatest fear is awkward silence. Two people just sit there, not knowing what to say. The following list of topics can help you safely get through the first 30 minutes.
Category 1: Talking about “the present” The most natural topics are right under your nose. For example: “How did you come up with the idea to come to this store? “Do you usually like to come to places like this? “The decoration of this store is quite interesting.” Starting from your shared experiences, it requires no brainstorming and is unlikely to go wrong.
Category 2: Talking about “hobbies and interests” “How do you usually spend your weekends?” “Have you watched any good movies/TV series recently?” “Do you like sports in your free time?” There is no standard answer for hobbies and interests. Just follow up with questions after the other person mentions one. For example, if the other person says they like hiking, you can ask, “Which mountains have you been to? Which mountain did you hike most recently?”
Category 3: Talking about “light daily life matters” “Is your work far away? How long does your commute take? “Is there any delicious small restaurant near your company? “Have you learned anything new recently?” These topics are stress-free, do not involve privacy, and allow you to understand the other person’s lifestyle.
Topics to avoid: Don’t ask about income, property, why you’re not married, or ex-partners during the first meeting. These topics are too heavy and can instantly cool down the atmosphere.
Remember one principle: You are not interviewing the other person, you are getting to know someone. Listen more, nod more, and smile more. It doesn’t matter what you talk about, what’s important is to make the other person feel “comfortable chatting with you”.