Welcome back to another blog, everyone! This week, I took advantage of the warm outdoor weather and asked a colleague to get coffee from a partnering, external organization. Doing so not only helped us build a professional friendship but was all the more meaningful in person. This got me thinking… as the Spring weather warms up, now is a perfect time to regroup on the importance of networking through professional coffee chats! For those of us who work at large corporations, this can feel like a super attainable activity. However, we encourage you to think beyond the walls of your company and consider external partnerships and professional key players that impact your role. How can YOU put yourself out there to establish these connections for your professional network? Find out everything you need to know below!

Networking through Professional ‘Coffee Chats’

• Preparation and Purpose: Before engaging in informational chats, it’s crucial to conduct a quick search on the person’s background, and a light gauge of their current work to avoid taking a large portion of time dedicated solely to introductions. Make sure to prepare specific questions relating to their career trajectory, project success, company experiences, etc. If you could ask your prepared questions to anyone, that’s a sign that they are not meaningful enough for the person you’re speaking with.
• Ask Specific Questions: As it relates to our point above, you should not be asking questions like, “How’d you get here?” or “So, what do you do?” If you’ve initiated a chat, it is likely for a specific purpose to learn more about a role. For example, if you’re speaking to someone on the public relations side of the business, focus questions around, “How have you handled our company’s relationship with X topic/company/etc.? How much of your time do you spend avoiding negative PR vs creating positive PR?” Always make the employee feel valued! After all, they dedicated a portion of their day specifically to you.
  • Extra Tip: If you’re meeting with a professional whose role impacts yours by PROVIDING a tangible output (for example: you are an insurance broker meeting with an insurance carrier who procures insurance ‘quotes’, or deals, for you) think about questions you can ask that relate to their workflow. How can you better partner with this person? What information can you provide to them upfront when submitting a request to ease their tasks? How can you provide additional value so that you can both succeed?
• Thank Them for their Time! Always always always make sure to express gratitude to the person for taking up a part of their day to speak with you. Thank the person for discussing their role, opening up about a certain topic, offering advice or direction, etc. We also encourage you to follow up with a thank you note or email to wrap up the chat in a kind way.
  • Extra Tip: If you feel that the chat was particularly successful, the end of the call is a fantastic time to ask if the person you’re speaking to has other colleagues, business partners, teammates, mentors, and employees at a company that they recommend you speak with. This is a great way to continue getting your foot in the door and to increase your reach at a potential dream role/job. So, make sure to gauge the level of connection between yourself and the person you’re speaking to, and capitalize on the moment at hand!
• Maintain the Relationship: A coffee chat might be a periodic occurrence, but communication should not be. Make sure to maintain the relationships that you’ve worked to schedule and cultivate! Whether this means a weekly check-in, an email update of your accomplishments quarterly, or a quick link to a relevant article, make sure to keep in contact and follow up after your thank you note!

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