Almost everyone works and earns a living in one way or the other. If someone’s lifestyle or way of reasoning resonates and appeals to you, you may be prompted to ask them where they work.
However, this question comes out as uncomfortable for some people, especially those who feel you asked them in a condescending manner.
If that’s the case, then it becomes important that you figure out the right way to ask someone where they work. Luckily, you don’t need to do anything about trying to figure out what to say while asking someone where they work.
In this article, I’ll be discussing 20 ways to ask someone where they work. Keep reading to know more!
Best 20 Ways to Ask Someone Where They Work
To avoid sounding condescending when you ask someone where they work, you have to pattern your questions in a way that they come from an angle of sheer inquisition or curiosity. That way, the person won’t give it a thought that you may be sounding derogatory or nosy.
Some of the best ways to ask someone where they work include ‘what type of work are you into?’, ‘what activities have you caught up from Mondays to Fridays?’, ‘tell me what pays you?’, and ‘I’m into sales, what about you?’ Let’s get into the main course of this post, shall we?
- Where do you make a living?
- You mind telling me how you afford this lifestyle?
- I like how you talk, what do you do?
- I would love to patronize you, just tell me where?
- What exactly do you do for work?
- What type of work are you into?
- Could you let me into what you do to pay rent?
- I’m into sales, what about you?
- I work down the road at Stephen’s, do you mind telling me yours?
- You look Brazilian, you work there too?
- What company keeps a mansion like yours sparkling?
- What activities have you caught up from Mondays to Fridays?
- You’re always busy, are you an entrepreneur?
- Which type of industry are you into?
- Tell me what pays you?
- Can you tell me about your job…it’d sound cool
- You look cool; I guess your job is cool too, what is it about?
- Tell me more about what you do?
- You work in the health sector?
- Let me into your area of expertise
1. Where Do You Make a Living?
‘Where do you make a living?’ is a good start of a question if you’re looking for ways to ask someone where they work. It is a straightforward question, with plain and understandable words plus a direct formula that conveys your query to the person without mincing words.
Since our aim is to develop questions that show sheer Inquisition, it’ll be safe to say that this line embodies that essence with grace.
2. You Mind Telling Me How You Afford This Lifestyle?
‘You mind telling me how you afford this lifestyle?’ is yet another question which you can use to ask someone where they work or what they do for a living. Here, you’re leveraging their lifestyle as a tool of curiosity that prompts you to ask the person what they do for a living or where they work.
You’re now asking them if they mind telling you what work they do that allows them to afford the type of lifestyle you see them with. Perhaps, they’re living quite well and good, and you’re pressed to decipher the source of their sustenance.
3. I Like How You Talk, What Do You Do?
‘I like how you talk, what do you do?’ comes as a question that factors the way the person talks as to why you want to know where they work or what they do.
If the said person talks with so much assertion and confidence, coupled with physical demonstrations, you can assume he or she is a legal or paralegal personnel but that’s all assumptions.
This type of question helps clarify things and aid you discover if your guess is as good as the reality or not.
4. I Would Love To Patronize You, Just Tell Me Where?
Every business owner or worker in a firm thrives on patronage. ‘I would love to patronize you, just tell me where’ is one question you can use to inquire from someone about what they do.
Judging from this construct, it is clear that you want to use patronage as a bait to get whatever information you want the person to give out. Hopefully, the person would fall for that since they probably want to make more sales or they want to add another person to their list of subscribers.
5. What Exactly Do You Do for Work?
‘What exactly do you do for work?’ could be your go-to way of asking someone where they work.The unique thing about this question is its conciseness and precision. It imbibes a direct and a precise way of querying which makes it cool.
The use of the term “exactly” emphasizes more on this aspect and triggers the person to answer down to the last detail. Therefore, if you’re looking for a well-detailed response from the person you’re asking where they work then this line is the best you can employ.
6. What Type of Work Are You Into?
‘What type of work are you into?’ comes in handy as a good question to pose when asking someone where they work. Here, you’re not only asking the person where they work but also what type of work they are involved in. This way, you tend to get a better understanding of whatever it is they’re into.
7. Could You Let Me Into What You Do To Pay Rent?
‘Could you let me into what you do to pay rent?’ is another question that banks on something abstract in trying to get answers from the person you want to. You’re asking the person to tell you what gives them the revenue to pay for their accommodation.
Perhaps, they live in a well-furnished apartment with all the needed appliances that improves life. If that’s the case and you’re wondering what they do, simply ask them the above question.
8. I’m Into Sales, What About You?
‘I’m into sales, what about you?’ will be you using a brief introduction of what you do and where you work to hypnotize the other person into telling you where they work.
While this could be a form of manipulation, it is in no way condescending enough to be dismissed by the person.
9. I Work Down the Road at Stephen’s, Do You Mind Telling Me Yours?
You can choose to first introduce where you work so as to chip it in when you want to ask someone where they work. Having said ‘I work down the road at Stephen’s, do you mind telling me yours?’, the person is expected to come out with information on where they work.
This question imbibes how genuine you are and also shows you have no interest in making the person appear bad.
10. You Look Brazilian, You Work There Too?
‘You look Brazilian, you work there too?’ sounds great if you use it as a way of asking someone where they work. Here, you’re assuming that since the person looks like a certain race then there’s a possibility they also work there.
I know this is not a calculated guess, but it could get you a response regardless.
11. What Company Keeps a Mansion Like Yours Sparkling?
‘What company keeps a mansion like yours sparkling?’ is a good way of asking someone where they work. This is because this particular line leverages extolling the beauty of the apartment of the person you’re questioning to launch your question.
By asking them what company keeps their apartment sparkling, you’re indirectly appealing that they tell you where they work or what type of job they do.
Since this form of question is a tad friendly and convenient, the person wouldn’t hesitate to spill the beans. All you have to do is to deliver it with a corresponding facial expression or gesture and you’ll get your result.
12. What Activities Have You Caught up From Mondays to Fridays?
‘What activities have you caught up from Mondays to Fridays?’ is a smart way of asking someone where they work. This is because it is obvious that most workplaces operate only during weekdays, which is from Monday to Friday every week. Judging from that, it is safe to assume that whatever the person does between or within these days is what pays them.
The person could answer in affirmative if they’re employees that work from Mondays to Fridays, or they may be different and also let you into what they do within these days.
13. You’re always Busy, Are You an Entrepreneur?
‘You’re always busy, are you an entrepreneur?’ is a good way of asking someone where they work by considering their scheme of daily activities.
Perhaps, you’ve seen them on tablets or laptops more than usual and you want to know what it is that keeps them stuck with their devices. If so, then this question is right on point.
14. Which Type of Industry Are You Into?
You can ask someone ‘What type of industry are you into?’ as a way of finding out where they work. The workforce is divided into different departments and industries, hence, most people who work 9-5 work within the range of these divisions.
Coming from this angle with asking someone which industry they’re into is clever.
15. Tell Me What Pays You?
‘Tell me what pays you?’ is a question that I will love to have in mind always, especially when I want to ask someone where they work. It is not only a bold question, it is also an intentional question.
While this question may sound a tad rude or too direct, your mode of delivery could soften it’s impact and get you the desired result.
16. Can You Tell Me about Your Job…It’d Sound Cool
If you’re looking for a question that puts you under the light of friendship, this is it. Here, you’re telling the person that it’d be cool to know where they work. That says a ton about how your social skills can get you answers to any questions.
17. You Look Cool; I Guess Your Job Is Cool Too, What Is It About?
Just like the previous question, this one’s success is also dependent on your social skills. With this question, you’re asserting that the person you’re asking the question is cool and the same should be with where they work or what they do.
If delivered well, the person may buy into it and tell you where they work.
18. Tell Me More About What You Do?
‘Tell me more about what you do?’ is a query you can employ if you’re still unsure or unclarified about what it is the person does for a living. Maybe, they hinted on something and you want to fully grasp the details. If that’s the plan, you can bank on this line of question.
19. You Work in the Health Sector?
‘You work in the health sector?’ uses a trick to get answers from the person that you want to know where they work. That trick is assuming that they do something, hoping they either cosign it or says no.
If they co-sign it, you have your answer but if they don’t, you can press on by asking ‘What then?’ or ‘Where then?’. These two last questions can land you your desired response.
20. Let Me into Your Area of Expertise
If you want to sound welcoming while making the person feel great, you can say ‘Let me into your area of expertise’.
With this, you’re insinuating that the person is great at something which is a compliment, and you’d love to know about that. Trust me, the person may tell you where they work without picking offense with the question.
Wrapping Up
There’s nothing wrong with being inquisitive. However, depending on how you convey it, it could trip off some people. This article covers a broad selection of the best ways to ask someone where they work.
Featuring 20 different questions, you have a wide range of options to choose from and get your desired result. Look for what works best for you and the person you’re asking i.e. if you know them well, and employ it with confidence.