How to Successfully Network Over a Cup of Coffee

Meeting a professional in the industry or company you’re interested in entering can be the first step to a career. Exciting as it is to schedule a one-on-one meeting with someone working in your dream career, there are a lot of things to consider beforehand; things that can turn the meeting into one of excitement and opportunity, into something downright awkward and ugly. To help ensure that your next coffee meeting goes as smoothly as possible, we’ve listed out a few tips to keep in mind to make the most out of your chat!

Reach out!

Odds are their day-to-day is relatively busy, so to be meeting with them for coffee is essentially taking time out of their packed schedule to chat with you. So what can you do to not only get their attention, but convince them to meet up? A few things!

• Send a personal message. The easiest way to reach out is probably sending a short and snappy message per email (if you have their address) or through LinkedIn. Make this message personal, upbeat and energetic to ensure they will actually want to meet you. Although these tips were crafted for salespeople, we’re convinced you could use them to craft your perfect cold email for a coffee invitation.
• Be upfront. When reaching out to them, be direct that you would like to meet with them. Being vague on your goal is a sure-fire way to leave them confused, and more than likely uninterested in responding.
• Be humble. Acknowledge that you would be taking time out of their day, and that you’re grateful! Coming off as inconsiderate at this stage is not going to get you anywhere.
• Add value to your request. You’re the one benefiting from the meeting but it’s wise to reciprocate by giving something back. Do you know someone that could be a good fit for the accounting position the company is recruiting for? Mention it in your message or during the meeting. Heard of an event the person could be interested in? Why not include the link in your invitation!
• Keep it up. You’ll probably have to send a few invitations before getting a positive answer. One thing to keep in mind though: never ever harass people. If you get declined, don’t take it personally, and move on.

Do your homework!

Okay, this is a good one to start out with, because it’s safe to assume you’ve already done some online research to determine who you’d like to meet with. Once you’ve found the right industry expert, connect with them on LinkedIn or Twitter, and with any luck, they’ll be willing to meet up for a chat. Now what?

• Know your facts. Do your best to familiarize yourself with who you’re meeting with, and their background. This can be done by searching their name on LinkedIn or browsing their personal website.
• Stay current. Do your best to stay up-to-date on the latest industry news. Odds are industry talk will come up at some point during your conversation, so it is always wise to know your stuff
• Compile some questions. Consider preparing a few thoughtful questions based on what you learn. Maybe ask about their transition from college to their current career?
• Set boundaries. With that said, don’t dig too deep. Doing so can result in you coming off a bit… Creepy? Know your limit and keep your questions respectful and within the bounds of their professional privacy.

Know your meet-up etiquette!

If this is your first or fiftieth coffee meeting, it’s always a good idea to review some simple ideas for how to conscientiously conduct yourself during the chat. First impressions are everything and if you’re not careful, they may already be formed by the time you meet.

• Go to them. Choose a cafe in their part of town, not yours. As convent as it might be to say “meet me halfway”, at the end of the day, the person you are meeting with is doing you a favour. Keep it as easy for them as possible, and allow them to choose a time that is the most convenient.
• It’s on me. Assuming you’ve invited them for coffee, pick-up their bill. It’s an easy way of saying thank you and helps to keep the meeting stress-free.
• Respect their time! Arrive a few minutes early, and keep the meeting brief. It can be tempting to continue your conversation as long as they are willing to talk, but knowing when to conclude your chat shows that you respect their time.
• Dress the part. Arrive dressed like you would to an interview! First impressions matter, and odds are they’re coming from work themselves, so it is important to dress the part. Don’t forget to smile!

Have some questions at the ready!

There are few things more unfortunate than a long, awkward silence during a coffee meeting. Especially one that you organized. Fortunately, there is an easy remedy to ensure this doesn’t happen: prepare a handful of questions to ask.

• What’s in a day? Asking about their day-to-day in their position is a great place to start, and a great place to gain the bulk of your insight into your future career.
• Any hobbies? As mentioned prior, having questions about their background are always good, and if you share any interests outside of work, consider briefly touching on these.
• Are they involved in professional committees? Often times professionals in the creative industry are involved in various organizations, often times part of a board that helps organize events. Getting your foot in the door by volunteering for one of these groups can be invaluable when starting out.
• Most important of all: listen! You’re here to learn after all, and only talking about yourself is not a great way to make a good impression.
• Looking for more? Here are a few other ideas if you need help coming up with some questions for your meeting.

Set reasonable expectations.

As nice as it might be to conclude your conversation with a job offer, the odds of that happening are unfortunately rather slim in most cases. That’s okay though! Keeping your expectations in check help to relieve pressure and allow you to come off a lot more natural as a result. Stay open-minded and focus on the conversation at hand, not your potential end-goal.

Stay in touch!

Once your coffee meeting has concluded, it’s always a good idea to follow up with an email a few hours afterwards, thanking them for meeting with you. Depending on how the meeting went, here are a few other potential things to include in your message.

• Call back to a conversation point! If there was a book, blog, or podcast mentioned during your chat, reference back to it and consider mentioning that you’re looking forward to starting reading/listening!
• Discuss some of the key takeaways from your meeting. This is a great way to show that you’re grateful for the meeting and that you valued the discussion.
• Keep your line of contact open. Let them know you enjoyed your conversation, and that you look forward to staying in touch. Who knows, you might be hearing back from them sooner than you’d expect!

Meeting for coffee is a great first step when networking, or just trying to decide what your next step should be when job-hunting. So what comes next? If you’re feeling ready to dive into your next big career you’ve come to the right place! At CreativeCareer you’re only a click away from a new opportunity, so if you’re ready to take that next big step, why not give our job listings a browse? You’ll be glad you did.