At a party or corporate event, people are usually inclined to talk, but sometimes it can be difficult to take the first step and start a conversation. If you're sitting next to someone who seems interesting to you, use an informal question: "So, what's your story?"
This is an alternative to standard questions: "Tell me about yourself" or "What do you do?". You yourself will be surprised by the result, because the interlocutor can reveal a completely unique story from his life that will help you get to know him better. It is always more interesting to look at a person through such a prism than to hear: "Yes, yes, I am a programmer."