- Everyone has hobbies and passions, whether it be painting, stamp collecting or rooting for a favorite team. Find out what the girl enjoys by chatting with her about her pastimes. Look for areas of mutual interest: things that excite you as much as her, or at least things you may be interested in learning more about. Be honest when discussing your own likes and dislikes; don't feign interest in a hobby you don't enjoy (though obviously there's no need to be rude). When you hit upon a passion of hers that sounds interesting, explore it further by asking more in-depth questions.
- Discussing work constitutes a bit of a risk, since the girl may not be happy at her job and/or have specific issues there she doesn't wish to talk about. But career aspirations make a very good general topic. Ask her what she hopes to accomplish through her work and where she sees herself going from her current position. If she has a job she really enjoys, ask her what kind of projects she's working on, or the specific skills her work entails. The same principle holds true if the girl is still in school. Talk to her about classes she's taking, her major (or anticipated major) and what she hopes to do with them after she graduates. Again, look for things that pique your interest as well as hers--common ground that can facilitate a more detailed conversation.
- Pop culture is a bit of a cliché, but it still makes for a good generic conversation starter: movies, television, music, favorite YouTube videos and so on. It's easy enough to ask if she's seen the latest movie, what her favorite rock band is, or whether she enjoyed the most recent New York times bestseller. If you want to get to know her as more of an individual, however, look for creative ways to engage the topic. Ask her about her favorite movies growing up, or about fad bands she loved when she was a teenager. See if she has some cult TV show she enjoys watching, or the wildest concert she ever attended.
