How to Prepare for a Coffee Chat
First, what is a coffee chat?
Coffee chats are conversations designed to help you learn more about companies that you are interested in and understand what life would be like working there, explore available opportunities, and provide a chance to network with recruiters and alumni.
You can get a lot out of the sessions if you come prepared. See below for some tips on making the most of your next coffee chat.
- A quick search online or on Handshake of the company you’re meeting with is important. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should know current happenings and specializations (e.g. if they’re a tech-focused bank or a construction firm focused on LEED-approved buildings). This will allow for a more meaningful conversation and show the representative you are excited and prepared for the conversation.
- If you know who you will be meeting with, you can look up the representative on LinkedIn to get a better idea of their career journey and their current position.
- Prepare questions for the representative. They can be personal or professional; just make sure to keep them appropriate. Do not directly ask for a job/internship, information about their compensation, or anything else too personal or confidential. You can use our networking guide to see a list of commonly asked questions.
- It’s okay to start the conversation with small talk. Be genuinely curious to learn more about the individual and the industry.
- Don’t focus so much on getting a job or nailing an interview; instead, come willing to learn about the individual and their journey, the company, and what is going on in the news/industry.
- Coffee chats are typically casual and informative in nature. Especially if you are meeting with a Villanova alumnus, they want to help you succeed in your career journey and are available to help. Make the most of this awesome opportunity!
- Connect with your contact on LinkedIn.
- Send a thank you follow-up (if you got the contact information of the representative). You can use our guide for professional communication for examples.
- Let your contact know if you’ve applied for a position at their company, and keep in touch with them throughout the application process.