How to Prepare for Coffee Chats

If you’ve landed a coffee chat — don’t wing it. You’ve got 20 minutes. Make them count. Here are 9 questions that actually lead to clarity and connections: → How did you get your first break into this role/industry? Every path has a lesson. Learn from theirs. → If you were starting out again, what would you do differently? Real advice > polished career tips. → What does success look like in your current role? This helps you think like someone in the role already. → What underrated skill has helped you the most? You’ll get gold here. → What challenges should someone in this role be ready for? Cuts through the fluff. → How do you stay updated or keep learning in your field? Podcasts? People? Places? Take notes. → What do you love most about your work? Find what lights them up — it’s contagious. → What are your thoughts on growth in this industry right now? Shows you’re thinking long-term. → Is there anyone else you think I should speak with? The connection that changes everything might be next. And if I could suggest 2 people to learn from? → Austin Belcak — for job search strategy that actually works → Linda Raynier CPA, CA — for actionable career clarity One coffee chat. The right questions. A whole new direction. Make it count. #CoffeeChat #Networking #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #InternationalStudents #STEMCareers #CareerGrowth #AskBetterQuestions #LinkedInNetworking #InformationalInterview #MBALife #CommunityDriven

You don't need a $5,000 coach to stand out and build a network. You just need to do what 95% of people won't. I was a nobody when I joined Microsoft. No fancy connections. No Ivy League degree. But I landed 100 coffee chats in my first year. Those conversations led to many of my career breakthroughs. Here's what I learned (for free): 🌷 Make it easy to say yes — Ask for 20 mins — Be clear about why them & what I want to learn — Offer 2-3 time options — Attach my career walking deck (one pager) to the invite 🌷 Show up ready to make a strong impression — Confirm the time in advance — Share an optional pre-read w/ mini agenda — Research and prep 3-5 unique questions — Break the ice with my career walking deck (~1 min) — Take notes (when appropriate) 🌷 Send a thoughtful thank you note — Recap my key learnings from the conversation  — Share next steps/goals (gives you something to follow up on) — Ask for feedback or ways to pay it forward Many people don't do this. And then say networking sucks. If you show a little respect and effort, people will be open to connection. ✨ Bonus tip ✨ — Send a holiday note to thank them again for their time and share interesting updates. — This opens the door to reconnecting in the new year (I spend hours sending 100+ of these every December)! Here's to you having better conversations that help you grow 1% everyday ☕️ P.S. I share 1 big takeaway from my now hundreds of career conversations in my monthly newsletter 👉 kkarenism.com/substack

Having had many coffee chats recently, I’ve realized: Genuine curiosity drives the best conversations. And the way to show curiosity is by asking great questions. I believe asking great questions is the most important skill in any conversation—far more valuable than saying something clever/impressive. In fact, asking great questions is impressive in itself as it involves multiple skills: - Intellectual insight (grasping + building on context) - Emotional understanding (active listening + empathy) - Strong communication (verbal + non-verbal) So, how to ask great questions? We often ask about facts, processes, and surface-level opinions. But the goal should be to go one level deeper. What works for me is asking open-ended questions in these big five: 1. Motivation — "What inspired you to do X?" 2. Decision-making — "How/Why did you decide X?" 3. Emotions — "Are you happy with X?" 4. Challenges — "What was hardest doing X?" 5. Vision — "Where do you see this going?" It’s simple, but it must come from genuine curiosity. You really have to want to know. Be fascinated by people’s lives and stories. Combine this with deep listening, thoughtful contributions and a touch of humor - You'll connect more with almost anyone. And you'll be more memorable to them.

1:1 coffee chats are the best way to network ☕ Here's how I turned them into interviews at companies like Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Amazon. My 9-step formula for virtual & in person coffee chats: (I did this with acquaintances, old coworkers, and complete strangers at my target companies to get job referrals)  1/ Watch the Clock Before you start the conversation, thank the other person for their time and confirm how much time they have. Don't be the person who goes over the allotted meeting time by assuming. 2/ Nail Your Intro This is your elevator pitch that should include these 3 things: - Brief background on who you are - Why you wanted to meet with them - Your goals 3/ Ask Great Questions Come prepared with questions. Some ideas: - their background/role - challenges they overcame - specifics about their company, culture, product, etc. 4/ Show You're Worth It When you talk about your experience, tie it back to how it relates to the role/team you're interested in at that person's company. Does the role require managing multiple clients? Great! Weave in how you've done something similar. 5/ Ask for Feedback It's ok to ask for feedback and if the other person thinks you're a fit for certain roles or the company. If they think there's a skills gap, ask for their advice on how to bridge it. 6/ Ask for Intros "Is there anyone else at your org or outside the org that would be helpful to talk to?” The best opportunities can come from this ask. The other person might intro you to 1-3 other people in their network. 7/ Offer to Help Them Don't just ask how you can help. Ask them what their goals are for the year. Then use that information to see how you can help. 8/ Winding Down At the end of the call, thank them for their time. Then ask if it's ok to keep them updated so you have a reason to reach out in the future. Don’t forget to send a thank you note after the call. 9/ The Follow Up If they gave you any advice (resume tips, resources to look into), do it and follow up to let them know you did it. This is the best way to keep the conversation going beyond the first call and establish trust. Important: Use this as a guide, not a script. Not all your 1:1 coffee chats will happen this way but having structure is helpful. Don't expect to land a referral on the first meeting either. It may take several interactions before someone is comfortable enough to do that. Give this strategy a try and level up your networking game! --- Reshare ♻ to help someone’s job hunt. And follow me for more posts like this.

2 years ago, when I first moved to the U.S. as an international student, I didn’t know anyone in my industry. No “network,” no referrals, no roadmap. So, I made a rule for myself: If I couldn’t get a job yet, I’d at least get a conversation. At first, I was awkward. I had no idea what to ask or what to say. But after 120+ coffee chats (yes, that number is accurate), I learned exactly what to say to make the conversation meaningful, without it feeling transactional. Here’s my <15-second guide to a great coffee chat: 1️⃣ Start strong: Thank them for their time. Share your name, background, and why you’re interested in the company. 2️⃣ Ask questions related to industry & company fit, like: “What sparked your interest in your industry, and how did you end up at Company X?” “Why did you choose Company X, and how’s your experience been so far?” 3️⃣ Ask questions related to work & career insights, like: “Can you share a memorable project or challenge you’ve worked on?” “From your experience, what should someone in my role/college do now to prepare for this field?” 4️⃣ Ask questions related to personal & growth advice, like: “If you could go back to your early career, what advice would you give yourself?” “How do people typically grow within the company?” Honestly, many of my internships and roles came from these conversations, not cold applications. If you take one thing away from this: The right coffee chat can change your career. It definitely changed mine. To get more job-search tips like this, I have a weekly newsletter, subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dMKTvb8w What’s the best question you’ve ever asked in a coffee chat? ☕

If you're not prepping for your 1:1 meetings... Don't bother showing up at all. 99% of people are still getting this wrong.  They show up unprepared, talk about themselves, and leave empty-handed. Every meeting is an opportunity to build a life-changing relationship. But only if you treat it as such. I've had thousands of 1:1 meetings over the years. The ones that turned into partnerships and deals had one thing in common: I treated them like they mattered. Here's how to make every meeting count: Before the meeting: - Look up their latest LinkedIn activity and company updates - Prepare one specific insight or resource you can share - Write down your top goal for this conversation - Think through their biggest pain point right now - Know who else is involved and what they care about During the meeting, use these 3 modes strategically: 1️⃣ Discovery Mode: Ask open-ended questions and take detailed notes. 2️⃣ Value Mode: Connect their challenge to your experience. 3️⃣ Action Mode: Define clear next steps before ending. Ask questions that open doors: "What's taking up most of your time right now?" "Where do you want this to be in 6 months?" "What's the biggest blocker you're dealing with?" "Who else should be part of this conversation?" "What am I missing that I should know?" After the meeting: ☑️ Send your follow-up message within 24 hours with one key takeaway ☑️ Complete any commitments you made within 48 hours ☑️ Write down the most important details about this relationship ☑️ Track where this relationship stands and what comes next Every meeting should move your business or life forward. If it doesn't, you're wasting time. What's your top meeting prep tip? Drop it in the comments. For more strategies to build real relationships that pay you back,  My weekly newsletter, Network to Net Worth is your playbook. Subscribe here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gFp5bEbt ♻️ Repost to help your network make the most of every meeting. And follow me Rohan Sheth for more on networking and growth.

I turned 1 simple coffee chat into a job offer. Here's how it happened. In September 2024, I found an opportunity. A product owner role. It was my dream field but with a catch, I was competing against 500 other applicants. So instead of my resume, I used networking as my competitive edge. I reached out to the hiring manager for a coffee chat. For 30 minutes, we dove deep into product management. I asked about team dynamics, ongoing initiatives, and the company's goals. But not once did I bring up the open position. Why? Because I genuinely wanted to learn, not pitch myself. Our conversation flowed naturally because my curiosity was real. The next day, I sent a thank-you email and casually mentioned the open role. His response was an invitation to interview for it. (Check image below) Here's what made the difference: ✅ I didn’t ask for any favors in our chat ✅ I approached with a genuine curiosity ✅ I focused on learning, not extracting an outcome People often ask me: "How do you turn networking into job opportunities?" Here's your answer: Focus on learning or giving value. The opportunities will follow. ~~~~~~ ♻️ Repost this if you find it useful! ✍️ For more networking stories like this, connect with me (Michael Ly). 📌 And for a deeper dive, visit my newsletter where you'll find 4000+ readers getting actionable networking advice.

If you’re a student, coffee chats might feel intimidating. “How do I even ask?” "Who should i reach out to?" “What if I don’t know what to say?” Trust me—I’ve been there. But the truth is, coffee chats aren’t about asking the perfect questions or landing a referral. It's about learning what other people's career paths are like and applying their advice through years of experience to 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵. Coffee chats are 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 a two-way street. If you're a student, professionals aren't going to expect to be 'learning' from you. They're going to be sharing advice based on the 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 questions that you ask. That’s why for #3 on my list of 44 'productive' things to do this summer, we’re tackling how to actually do coffee chats. Check out the full list here: https://lnkd.in/g9W5BCWa Here’s a simple roadmap 👇 1️⃣ Start small Message someone from your school, a club alum, or a professional you admire. The worst they can say is “no,” and most will say yes. 2️⃣ Reach out with curiosity, not an agenda The message should focus on learning, not asking for opportunities. People can tell the difference. 3️⃣ Prepare a “conversation starter” list What inspired you to choose this career? What does a day in your role look like? What do you wish you knew as a student? 4️⃣ Do your research Read their LinkedIn, browse their projects, and prepare tailored questions. This shows respect for their time. 5️⃣ Let it be a conversation, not an interview Ask open-ended questions, share your own experiences, and let the dialogue flow naturally. 6️⃣ Listen more than you talk Take notes if you want—but focus on truly listening. Sometimes one sentence from them can change how you see your path. 7️⃣ Express gratitude Send a thank-you note within 24 hours. Mention a specific insight that resonated with you. 8️⃣ Keep it going Relationships are built over time. Share updates, engage with their content, or reconnect in a few months. ✨ Bonus tip: Use LinkedIn’s “Alumni” feature to find professionals from your school who’d love to support students like you. Or if you have companies that you're interested in, go to their 'People' tab on LinkedIn in their company page, type in your school as a filter and find your alumni working at that specific company to coffee chat! 🔔 Follow me to keep up with this series of 44 'productive' things to do for your early career journey before the summer ends + recruitment ramps up! _____________ 💙 Like or share the post! ☻ Follow Arlina Yang to join my journey as a non-technical major pursuing tech

I’ve officially completed over 50 coffee chats in my 4+ months with The Walt Disney Company. With this experience under my belt, here's the cheat sheet I wish I had when I first started networking: 📝 Write down your questions: The last first impression you want to make is that you’re unprepared, so don’t put yourself in that position. Write down the questions you really want to ask (and a few extra, just in case!), so you don’t forget them. 👋 Introduce yourself: A crucial first step in the “meeting” part of a meet & greet. Explain your background, why you wanted to meet, and what you’re hoping to learn. ✍ Take notes: Show the person you’re chatting with that you’re actively listening, and that you want to get the most out of the short amount of time you have with them. ✉ Send a thank you note: Gratitude goes a long way. Take a moment to thank your coffee chatter for taking the time to connect with you! 🍀 Be different: Denny Tu once told me, “at this stage in your career, you shouldn’t be focused on being the best. You should focus on being different.” Ask unique questions, take a different approach to introducing yourself, send a thoughtful thank you—do what other people aren’t doing. Coffee chats can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. As long as you do your due diligence and put your best foot forward, you can make any coffee chat worthwhile—for yourself AND the person on the other end of the Zoom room 😊 (P.S. Happy Halloweek! 🎃)

Every meeting either builds momentum - or drains it There is no neutral If it’s not designed with intention: 👉 No one is clear on next steps 👉 Nothing actually moves 👉 And you spend more time following up than moving forward This applies across the board: Strategy calls, financial reviews - even casual coffee chats If there’s no clear reason to meet, You’re not building the business You’re just gambling with your calendar 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: Every meeting - no matter how casual - is either building clarity or burning profit Here is how I think ahead so calls stay focused and move things forward: ✅ Know the goal What does a “win” look like for this meeting? ✅ Prep the context Bring the right numbers, insights, or angles - not everything ✅ Respect the room What matters to them? What helps them take action? ✅ Ask sharper questions The kind that shift thinking - not just check a box 📌 Example: Five minutes of prep One targeted question That turned a lovely intro chat into a second conversation - with real business conversations on the table Great meetings don’t just save time They create clarity, build trust, and unlock cash - even when nothing is being sold 😊 What is the one move that makes your meetings worth the time?