Best Practices for Virtual Coffee Chats

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.

Coffee chats can change your career. But if you’re asking generic questions, you’re missing out. Think of a coffee chat as your secret weapon for insider info. More than just networking or getting a referral - it’s a chance to learn about the company from someone on the inside. Here are 3 questions that will set you apart: 𝟭. “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆?” Get the real scoop on the culture: Is it fast-paced? Collaborative? High turnover? This helps you figure out if it’s the right fit for you. It’s also open-ended enough to where they can go ANYWHERE with the answer. 𝟮. “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 (𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿) 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴?” This one digs a little deeper. If they know the hiring manager, even better—ask about their specific challenges. This gives you insight into what they’re working on, so you can tailor your responses in a future interview. 𝟯. “𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?” This question unlocks insider tips that you won’t find in job postings and shows you're serious about the role. By asking these, you’re not only learning about the company—you’re also arming yourself with valuable context for the interview. You’ll stand out by showing you’ve done your homework and already understand the company’s challenges. And trust me, hiring managers notice that. Of course, you’ll want a list of 10 or so questions to keep the conversation going. 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗽 Ask for only a 15-minute chat. At 12 minutes, say, “I want to respect your time, can I ask one last question?” Got a coffee chat lined up? Try these questions and let me know the difference they make.

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! 🎃)

The best coffee chats always start with a great message. I recently spoke with a recent graduate who reached out in a way that really stood out to me. Here’s why it worked: 1. They were specific. Instead of sending a vague request to connect, they clearly listed which companies and parts of my experience they were curious about. It was obvious they had done their research and knew what they wanted to learn. 2. They were respectful. From the initial message to the actual chat, they were intentional with time. They asked thoughtful questions, kept the conversation focused, and made sure it felt like a two-way exchange. 3. They focused on building a genuine relationship. They didn’t ask for a referral. They didn’t treat the chat as a transaction. Instead, they shared their own creative work, asked for feedback, and left space for future conversations. If you’re reaching out to someone in the industry, this is a great blueprint. Be specific. Be respectful. Build something real. #NetworkingTips #CoffeeChats #EntertainmentCareers #Mentorship #FilmMarketing #LinkedInStrategy #CreativeIndustry