The First Coffee Chat: Part 1

You made it! You got through the crowd and someone agreed to talk to you. What should you expect, and how do you prepare?

The first coffee chat is an introduction. You’re there to learn about them. 

It’s fairly simple, but some leg work is required to ensure you don’t leave feeling like an idiot.

1. Do some light research

I once had a call with a guy and didn’t know the name of his company. It was a bit embarrassing when he called me out on it. We’re still in touch, so mistakes aren’t the end of the world!

Before the call, look them up on LinkedIn. If they're not there, try Google, Facebook, or their Company website.

Beyond the company name, look at their background: where they’re from, where they went to school, what they studied, and their career path. Note changes in industries/topics/locations.

2. Write down questions

I’ve gotten on many calls where I thought “I’ll just wing it and think of questions as I go”. 

Don’t do that.

After you’ve stalked their page, think of open-ended questions about their experience and trajectory. The goal is to get them to open up.

What drives them, what have they done, and how does that shape their perspective on the world.

These should not be yes or no questions. You want to prompt them to go on about their life. People love talking about themselves, so the more they’re doing that, the better. 

Here are some questions to get you started: