First-Year Series: Speed Networking
Are you a first year who wants to get the most out of networking but doesn’t know where to start? Or wants to become more confident with how to approach these conversations? This post summarizes key takeaways from our event held on November 5, 2020 on speed networking and coffee chats.
Check out the slides from the event here. Recording is available here.
How do you go about setting up a coffee chat with someone?
Finding someone to chat with
Not sure who to reach out to? Some people that you can approach for a coffee chat include…
- UofT alumni who are employees at the company of interest. Using LinkedIn, navigate to the employees section of a company and apply a filter that searches to only students from UofT.
- Alumni from schools clubs you are a part of
- People in roles that you aspire to be in 5–10 years from now
- UofT Engineering Connect is a great hub to find and meet engineering alumni
Reach out to someone you have questions for or something you want to learn from them.
When reaching out in a cold email or message, ensure that you also state who you are, how you found them, and why you’re reaching out. When stating who you are, it’s ideal if you can also personalize your message to them by including something you both may have in common. It helps your message stand out! Finally, be polite and clear in your message when asking for their time (“are you free for a 15 min coffee chat on November 15 or 16 at 5 pm?”).
Make sure to verify your online presence and that your LinkedIn and other profiles are up to date.
Select an objective
Your goal could be to get to know someone or learn about their team. If you are looking for a new role, think about what you want to achieve beforehand — but be realistic, don’t expect a job offer after one coffee chat! The conversation will allow you to better understand how to get there and get to know other people.
Just do it!
Reaching out can be intimidating, but rest assured that reaching out to people you don’t know is common. Try to leverage a connection, like the same school or club, and build your network.
Remember to keep your expectations realistic. Remain open-minded and focus on getting to know the other person rather than only what you want to get out of it. This will help you build deeper long-term relationships.
Preparing for the coffee chat
Come prepared
Make sure you have done research about the person you are meeting and what they do. Reflect on why you want to meet this person and what interests you about their career path. Have an idea about questions you want to ask them and experiences you want to know more about.
Be courteous
Be clear and specific when and where you are meeting (i.e Zoom link and password). Be punctual — they are talking the time out of their day to speak with you.
During the coffee chat
Introductions
You want to begin your conversation with a smile and greet them so they feel welcome and comfortable. You can start with asking them how they are doing, a personal icebreaker about their plans for the weekend or interest in sports or pop culture, and thank them for taking the time to meet with you.
Give your partner a short overview about where you are today: your past roles, what you’re working on right now, and what you’re targeting in the future. Start to share your personal brand with your partner.
Listen and be curious
Nod, smile, and make eye contact. You want to show your partner that you are listening and are engaged in the conversation. Make only brief notes if necessary, but preferably after the meeting when the ideas are still fresh. Respond to a point they shared rather than focusing on your own agenda. Asking questions about something that they just said shows that you are listening.
Don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation if there is something that you do not understand. The purpose of the meeting is to learn as much as you can from them.
Be genuine
Focus on developing a genuine relationship. Making a lasting connection depends on building a relationship. It takes time and energy to successfully connect with others. Better networking occurs when you’re truly interested in the person and their experiences. Your partner can tell if you’re trying to find a way into an opportunity or if you’re truly looking to connect with them and learn from them.
Respect their time
Keep your networking date on schedule. Wrap up your chat at the agreed upon time and thank them for the time they did give you.
While you may feel like your coffee partner has all the power or connections, asking “Is there anything I can do for you?” leaves a positive impression and your partner may want to learn more about your own experiences.
Closing
Consider asking for another meeting in the future. Don’t be disheartened if they can not commit as some people prefer to organize meetings based on their changing schedule.
After the Coffee chat
Follow up with a thank you
It’s always a good idea to thank people for offering their time to have a coffee chat with you.
Keep in touch
End your networking chat by talking about staying in touch. If you researched or attended something you talked about in a coffee chat, use it as a conversation starter for a future meeting. Keep the connection alive!
Don’t give up
Not everyone is meant to have perfect chemistry. If you and your coffee partner did not connect that well, then move on. There is always someone else you can learn from.
Coffee chats are a great way to make connections, grow your network, and learn from people who have great experience!
The event was a success and students had the chance to practice their networking with upper-year students.
If you are ever looking for more advice, check out the More Resources section below. Feel free to contact YNCN on social media or email for any other questions!
More Resources
- How to Ask a Professional for a Networking Coffee Meeting
- What You Need to Know About a Virtual Coffee Chat
- 3 Steps to Ask for a Professional Coffee Meeting
- 5 ways to turn a coffee chat into a real connection
If you found this content helpful, definitely connect with YNCN on social media to stay up to date on our future career development events, career fairs, and content! Follow us on Medium to never miss an update!
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