I’m not one for talking to strangers.  Yeah, I’m in the “people business,” but that doesn’t mean I enjoy engaging in idle chit-chat that will likely go no where. If you’re ever seated next to me on a plane, don’t even try to say hi.  (Unless, of course, you realize you are sitting next to me, and well, if you know it’s me, that’s pretty cool, and I’d love for you to say hi!)  But otherwise, if you are just trying to pass the time, pass it some other way.  I’ve got music to listen to and celebrity magazines to read.

As you can probably tell by now, one of my pet peeves is strangers who feel as though they need to break otherwise un-awkward silences with cute little one-liners.  I started thinking about this topic over the weekend when a restaurant server thought it was charming to comment on my slight sunburn with a loud, “Oooh.  Ouch!”  (It looks a lot worse than it feel; yes, I wear sunscreen; and guess what?  I already noticed it this morning when I looked in the mirror.)

For me, the two most grating stranger-greeting-lines are:

1) I’m walking down the street / through a mall / wherever, and someone (usually a middle aged guy) yells over, “Smile.  Life isn’t that bad.”  Dude!  My face just naturally sits in a sort of frowny position.  I know life isn’t bad.  That doesn’t mean I need to walk around with a fake smile plastered across my face.  But thanks. Now, you have put me in a bad mood, and future passers-by may get an intentional frown.  I’ll be sure to blame you.

2) I’m walking my dogs.  Yes, they are big dogs, but they are usually under control.  Again, I’m walking down the street, minding my own business.  “Hey, are you walking those dogs, or are they walking you?”  Ohmigod. You are SO funny.  I haven’t heard that line in, like, 10 minutes.  Oh, and since you think you’re so cool and my dogs look strong, how about I just let them go loose on you and see what they do?  Walk on, ma’am, walk on.

A lot of recruiting is about making small talk, and anyone who has ever conducted an interview or attended a career fair probably has a little toolbox full of one-liners, and I often think that, as a candidate, those icebreakers must get awfully tired.  How many times have you heard?

Well, you sure got great weather today! 

How was your flight?

You aren’t nervous, are you? Don’t worry; we don’t bite.

Have you been to our city before?  What do you have planned?

Did you find our location ok? Any trouble?

As a previous interview candidate, have you heard any creative ice-breakers?  As an interviewer, what’s your favorite one-liner?

gretchen