When reaching out to someone for a coffee chat, whether a mentor, industry expert, or potential business connection, it can be tricky to know what to say. You want to come across as professional and respectful of their time, while also communicating why meeting over coffee could be mutually beneficial.
Why Ask for a Coffee Chat?
There are a few key reasons you may want to request a coffee chat:
- To pick someone’s brain and get advice on your career or business
- To learn more about a company, industry or role you’re interested in
- To expand your professional network and make a new connection
- To get insights on a project you’re working on or problem you’re trying to solve
- To potentially discuss career opportunities, mentoring or other forms of collaboration
The casual coffee chat setting makes it easy to have an informal, low-pressure conversation and learn from someone with more experience. It’s less intrusive than asking to pick their brain over a lengthy phone call or formal meeting.
How to Word Your Coffee Chat Request
When reaching out for a coffee chat, keep your email or LinkedIn message brief, casual and considerate of their time. Here are some tips:
- Open with a warm greeting like “Hi [Name]” or “Good morning [Name].”
- Jog their memory of how you met or your connection in 1-2 sentences. For example, “We met at [Event] back in [Month] and had a great chat about [Topic].”
- Explain why you’d value meeting them for coffee in 1-2 sentences. For example, “I’d love to take you up on your offer to continue the conversation over coffee sometime.”
- Suggest a few dates and times that work for your schedule. For example, “Would you have time for a coffee chat sometime in the next few weeks, maybe Tuesday the 5th or Friday the 15th?”
- Thank them for considering and let them know you look forward to hearing back.
Here are a few email template examples you can modify:
Example 1:
Hi [Name],
It was great meeting you at [Event] last month and learning more about your work at [Company]. I’d love to take you up on your offer to continue the conversation over coffee sometime.
Would you have time for a coffee chat in the next few weeks, maybe Tuesday the 5th or Friday the 15th? Let me know what dates might work for you.
Looking forward to catching up over coffee soon!
[Your Name]
Example 2:
Good morning [Name],
My name is [Your Name] and I came across your profile on LinkedIn. As a [your industry/role] at [Company], I would love to take you up on your offer to meet new connections over coffee.
Would you have 30-45 minutes in the next couple weeks to meet up? I’m free on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If not, just let me know some dates that work for you.
Hope to hear from you soon!
[Your Name]
Example 3:
Hi [Name],
I hope this email finds you well! We connected briefly at [Event] about [topic], and you mentioned you’d be open to continuing the conversation over coffee.
If you have availability in the next few weeks, I’d love to take you up on that offer and hear more about your experiences with [topic]. Some dates that work for me are next Thursday at 10am or next Friday at 11am.
Let me know if either of those times could work for you or if there’s another day that’s better. Looking forward to chatting!
Best,
[Your Name]
Tips for a Successful Coffee Chat
Once they accept your invite, here are some tips to make the most of your coffee chat:
- Arrive early to secure a table and get your drink order in.
- Have a list of 3-5 key discussion topics or questions you want to cover.
- Let them guide the majority of the conversation and ask questions.
- Offer to cover their coffee as a small thank you for their time.
- Exchange contact information so you can follow up afterward.
- Send a thank you email recapping the conversation and any next steps discussed.
- Follow up on any commitments you made, like introducing them to someone or sending relevant articles.
- Consider connecting on LinkedIn and staying in touch periodically if it was a fruitful discussion.
The goal is to build new relationships, learn from their expertise and determine if there are ways you can collaborate going forward. With the right preparation and follow up, a coffee chat can lead to meaningful connections.
Sample Discussion Topics
Here are some sample discussion topics and questions to cover in your coffee chat:
If chatting with a mentor:
- How did you get started in your career?
- What do you enjoy most about your current role?
- What skills or qualities are most important for success in this field?
- What are some common pitfalls to avoid early on?
- Based on my background and interests, do you have any advice on roles or companies I should explore?
- Are there any books, resources or training you’d recommend?
- Are there any networking events or professional organizations I should get involved in?
If chatting about a company:
- What excites you most about [Company’s] mission and vision?
- How would you describe the culture at [Company]?
- What types of candidates tend to thrive here?
- What does the typical career path look like for [Role]?
- What types of training or professional development opportunities are offered?
- Is there anything important I should know about the interview and hiring process?
If chatting about an industry:
- Based on your experience, how would you describe the [Industry] landscape right now?
- What are some of the key challenges and opportunities in this industry currently?
- What advice would you give someone looking to break into this field?
- What are some must-attend industry events, publications or resources you’d recommend?
- In your opinion, what are the 3 most important skills for success in this industry?
- What does the career progression look like in this field?
If chatting about a problem:
- Here is the business challenge I’m trying to solve: [Describe problem]
- Based on your experience, what potential solutions come to mind?
- Are there any case studies or examples you can share that faced a similar challenge?
- What do you see as the pros and cons of option A vs option B?
- What am I not considering that I should factor into my approach?
- If you were in my shoes, how would you look to tackle this?
Tailor your talking points based on your unique situation and the expertise of the person you’re meeting. The goal is to make the conversation productive and valuable for both parties.
Following Up After the Coffee Chat
It’s important to follow up after your coffee chat to keep the relationship building momentum going. Here are some things you can do:
- Send a thank you email recapping any helpful insights and next steps discussed.
- Connect on LinkedIn and add a note referencing your chat.
- Share any articles, resources or introductions they mentioned.
- Let them know if their advice led to any progress (like you applied to a job).
- Consider periodically keeping in touch by sharing relevant articles or updates.
- Invite them to future events where you’ll be speaking or receiving an award.
- Ask if they’d be open to another coffee chat in 6-12 months.
The goal of follow up is to show you valued their time, found the discussion useful, and would welcome opportunities to stay connected going forward.
Conclusion
Coffee chats can be hugely beneficial for expanding your professional network, gaining new mentors, learning about companies and industries, and gathering insights on challenges you face. Use these tips to craft an effective coffee chat request, make the most of the meeting itself, and follow up in a way that builds ongoing relationships.
With the right strategy, coffee chats can produce connections and knowledge that boost your career or business for years to come.
