[cjohnson318]

Very important to be able to read the room on this one. Some people love to talk about themselves, and are turned off if you do not engage with them. Others are very private and don't want to discuss anything outside of work. A fair number of people are right in the middle.

A good strategy is to listen to other person, read what they want to talk about, and ask follow-up questions in that direction. Is the person only talking about work? Fine, talk about that. Did they mention their favorite team, or offer up an anecdote about their partner? Then follow up on those.

I find this all very difficult. I don't like asking personal questions because it feels like prying. I don't like talking about myself or my family until, like, at least a year goes by. But, everyone is different, and it's important to meet people halfway, not just wherever you are, on the social spectrum.