The 17 best icebreakers to use at a holiday party where you don't know anyone

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/flickr

You may not think you need them, but these icebreakers are great to pull out in a pinch.

• Parties where you know virtually no one can be awkward, especially if you're not sure how to start a conversation.
• You could rely on the classic, "So what do you do for a living?" But then you run the risk of coming off as the least interesting or original person at the party.
• The following icebreakers should help you get an interesting conversation going with ease.

Maybe you're interested in making a new professional contact, or perhaps you simply want to make a good impression on a friend of a friend.

Whatever the reason, busting out the clichés upon the first introduction is never a good idea.

To mix the conversation up a bit, try using one of these 17 icebreakers. They should help ease you into an engaging conversation with people you've never met before.