MBA programs stress the importance of “coffee chats” in successfully navigating the internship and full-time job recruitment process. A coffee chat is another name for an informational interview where one person requests to talk to another person about some specific personal experience. The generic term coffee chat is used even if talks are done virtually and outside a coffee shop setting.
At Transcend Admissions, we advise our clients to get in the habit of requesting coffee chats knowing that the connections they make with current MBA students and alumni will yield huge benefits once they reach the challenging interview stage and face the inevitable “why our school?” and “how can you contribute?” questions. Thus, we give them tips on how to properly contact previous Transcend clients on LinkedIn, which will hopefully lead to coffee chat appointments. But once the appointment is set many clients express a sense of trepidation and confusion about how to approach the conversation. Let’s discuss some best methods for ensuring a successful coffee chat experience.
Have an Agenda
The conversation is unlikely to be fruitful if you are unsure of what you want to talk about. Jot down a list of specific questions, topics of interest, or conversation starters that you might ask the person. If you are planning to discuss the person’s MBA experience, consider asking about specific elements of the program you want to know more about, such as the program’s startup accelerator or angel network. If you wish to learn more about the person’s company, your questions might center on certain products or services they offer, or current industry trends. Since you may only have limited time to talk to the person, having an agenda will ensure that the time is spent productively.
Show Up with Genuine Curiosity
Many people’s favorite topic of conversation is themselves! Let this work in your favor by showing genuine interest in what they tell you, even if it is outside your original agenda. By being curious, you are more likely to form the foundation of a solid conversation and open the door to more information sharing than you anticipated. Making the other person comfortable in the conversation, will invite them to reveal deeper personal and professional insights, often surpassing the information you were originally hoping to collect.
Focus on Relationship-Building
Try not to think of the meeting as a one-off event, but rather, as the beginning of a long-term relationship. This is another reason why approaching the conversation with genuine curiosity is important, as this attitude is more likely to foster a warm conversation. The more positive the interaction, the more likely you can come back to the person with another question or request in the future.
Add Value
Building on the previous point regarding relationship-building, be sensitive to any opportunities to add value yourself. If the person tells you about their personal goal in learning more about AI tools, and you have substantial knowledge of machine learning models, do not hesitate to share resources with them. Or if the person admits that they wish to explore a new industry and you have contacts in that field, be sure to offer to make a connection. In the days or weeks following the initial meeting, you might share the occasional news story about a topic you’ve discussed with them.
Keep the Momentum Going
When job searching or applying to graduate programs, your goal should be to regularly do coffee chats to build your knowledge base and relevant connections. Since cold LinkedIn reach-outs yield a low response rate, aim for the conversation to lead to another coffee chat or perhaps an event. Be direct in asking if there are any other alumni from their school they recommend you talk to, or any events they recommend you to attend. There is no need to limit yourself to contacts from the same school. You could ask the person if they know anyone else that would be willing to talk to you about a career in consulting or working in product management. In short, avoid dead ends and open the door to personal introductions with a higher probability of a follow-up response.
Be Courteous
While it might seem obvious, assume that the other person is busy and that they have no obligation to spend their valuable time talking to you. Be especially mindful of punctuality, and make it a practice to show up or log on early. Show gratitude by sending them a thank you note and offering to assist them in some way.
Don’t be Shy
Many people avoid or dread coffee chats because they don’t want to bother others or feel social anxiety when meeting new people. While not everyone will respond to you, remember that people are often nicer and more generous than you imagine. Moreover, for the shy people among us, research shows that people almost always underestimate how much they would enjoy a conversation or social interaction with a stranger. So keep a positive mindset and make coffee chats a core part of your graduate school application and job search process!